Newcomer Shawn Clark promoted to run game coordinator for Flashes

Per a KSU sports release: Head Coach Paul Haynes recently announced the promotion of Shawn Clark to run game coordinator. Clark joined the football staff in early January as the offensive line coach.

“Coach (Brian) Rock and I agreed that Coach Clark’s experience would really benefit us in the overall preparation of our run game,” Haynes said. “Coach Clark has a proven record of success with his offensive lines and his long-term vision for the offense has him prepared for this task.”

Prior to Kent State, Clark spent four seasons as the offensive line coach at Purdue and six seasons as the offensive line coach at Eastern Kentucky.

Following his third season at Purdue, two Boilermaker linemen were selected in the 2012 NFL Draft. In 2010, Purdue had five straight games of 200 or more rushing yards. Three of Clark’s linemen earned All-Big Ten accolades in both 2010 and 2009.

During his time at Eastern Kentucky, nine linemen earned All-Ohio Valley Conference honors, three earned All-America honors and three went on to play in the NFL.

Clark began his coaching career as a graduate assistant at Louisville in 2001 and 2002, where he first worked with Haynes. He later worked with Offensive Coordinator Rock at Purdue.

In preparation for the 2013 season, Kent State begins its 6 a.m. workouts on March 4 and its spring practice on April 2. The Golden Flashes are coming off their first bowl appearance in 40 years and a program-record 11-win season.