| Current position | |
|---|---|
| Title | Head coach |
| Team | Vanderbilt |
| Conference | SEC |
| Record | 16–33 |
| Biographical details | |
| Born | (1981-11-11)November 11, 1981 (age 43) Nashville, Tennessee, U.S. |
| Alma mater | Vanderbilt University (2004, 2007) |
| Playing career | |
| Baseball | |
| 2001 | Birmingham–Southern |
| 2002 | Belmont |
| Football | |
| 2002–2004 | Vanderbilt |
| Position(s) | Fullback |
| Coaching career (HC unless noted) | |
| 2005 | Harvard-Westlake School (assistant) |
| 2006 | UCLA (GA) |
| 2007 | South Dakota State (LB) |
| 2008 | South Dakota State (RC/LB) |
| 2009 | UCLA (GA) |
| 2010–2011 | UCLA (LB) |
| 2012 | Bowling Green (LB) |
| 2013–2015 | Syracuse (LB) |
| 2016 | Wake Forest (LB) |
| 2017 | Notre Dame (LB) |
| 2018–2020 | Notre Dame (DC) |
| 2021–present | Vanderbilt |
| Head coaching record | |
| Overall | 16–33 |
| Bowls | 1-0 |
| Accomplishments and honors | |
| Awards | |
| |
Clark Lea (born November 11, 1981) is anAmerican football coach who has been the head football coach atVanderbilt since 2021. He previously served as thedefensive coordinator at theUniversity of Notre Dame from 2018 to 2020. Lea began his coaching career as a graduate assistant atUniversity of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) in 2006 and went on to serve as an assistant coach atSouth Dakota State University,Bowling Green State University,Syracuse University, andWake Forest University.
Lea started his college career playing baseball. He helped leadBirmingham Southern to the 2001 NAIA championship his freshman year. Lea then transferred toBelmont University and played one year of baseball (5G, 2-for-5, K).[1] Lea remained in Nashville and finished his college career at Vanderbilt, where he played fullback for theCommodores his final two years.[2]
In 2006, Lea began his coaching career atUCLA as a graduate assistant under head coachKarl Dorrell.[3]
In 2007, Lea joinedSouth Dakota State University as their linebackers coach under head coachJohn Stiegelmeier.[4][5] In 2008, Lea was given an additional role as recruiting coordinator.[6]
In 2009, Lea returned to UCLA as a graduate assistant under head coachRick Neuheisel. In 2010, he was promoted to linebackers coach.[7] Following Neuheisel's firing on November 28, 2011, Lea was not retained by UCLA for the 2012 season.[8]
In 2012, Lea was hired as the linebackers coach atBowling Green State University under defensive coordinatorMike Elko and head coachDave Clawson.[9][10]
In 2013, Lea joinedSyracuse University as their linebackers coach under head coachScott Shafer.[11][12]
In 2016, Lea was hired as the linebackers coach atWake Forest University, reuniting with defensive coordinatorMike Elko and head coachDave Clawson.[13]
In 2017, Lea followed defensive coordinator Mike Elko to theUniversity of Notre Dame to serve as their linebackers coach under head coachBrian Kelly.[14][15] In January 2018, Lea was promoted todefensive coordinator, replacing Mike Elko, who departed to serve in the same role atTexas A&M.[16]
On December 14, 2020, Lea was named the 29th head football coach atVanderbilt University, replacingDerek Mason.[17]
In the 2021 season, Lea led Vanderbilt to a 2–10 mark in his first season as head coach.[18] The 2022 season marked improvement for Lea and the Commodores with a 5–7 record.[19] The Commodores defeated SEC East rivalsKentucky andFlorida to highlight the 2022 season.[20][21] In the 2023 offseason, Lea's contract was extended three years through the 2029 season.[22] Lea coached Vanderbilt to a 2–10 record in the 2023 season.[23] On October 5, 2024, Lea coached Vanderbilt to a 40–35upset victory overNo. 1 Alabama, the Commodores' first ever win vs an AP top 5 team, as well as their first win over Alabama since 1984.[24] Lea led Vanderbilt to a 6–6 mark in the regular season.[25] The team played in theBirmingham Bowl againstGeorgia Tech and won 35–27.[26]
| Year | Team | Overall | Conference | Standing | Bowl/playoffs | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vanderbilt Commodores(Southeastern Conference)(2021–present) | |||||||||
| 2021 | Vanderbilt | 2–10 | 0–8 | 7th(Eastern) | |||||
| 2022 | Vanderbilt | 5–7 | 2–6 | 7th(Eastern) | |||||
| 2023 | Vanderbilt | 2–10 | 0–8 | 7th(Eastern) | |||||
| 2024 | Vanderbilt | 7–6 | 3–5 | T–11th | WBirmingham | ||||
| Vanderbilt: | 16–33 | 5–27 | |||||||
| Total: | 16–33 | ||||||||