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Clark Lea (born November 11, 1981) is an American football coach who has been the head football coach at Vanderbilt since 2021. He previously served as the defensive coordinator at the University of Notre Dame from 2018 to 2020. Lea began his coaching career as a graduate assistant at University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) in 2006 and went on to serve as an assistant coach at South Dakota State University, Bowling Green State University, Syracuse University, and Wake Forest University.
| Current position | |
|---|---|
| Title | Head coach |
| Team | Vanderbilt |
| Conference | SEC |
| Record | 15–33 |
| Biographical details | |
| Born | November 11, 1981 Nashville, Tennessee, U.S. |
| Playing career | |
| 2002–2004 | Vanderbilt |
| Position(s) | Fullback |
| Coaching career (HC unless noted) | |
| 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 | 15–33 |
| Accomplishments and honors | |
| Awards | |
| |
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Lea started his college career playing baseball. He helped lead Birmingham Southern to the 2001 NAIA championship his freshman year. Lea then transferred to Belmont 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 the Commodores his final two years.[2]
UCLA
In 2006, Lea began his coaching career at UCLA as a graduate assistant under head coach Karl Dorrell.[3]
South Dakota State
In 2007, Lea joined South Dakota State University as their linebackers coach under head coach John Stiegelmeier.[4][5] In 2008, Lea was given an additional role as recruiting coordinator.[6]
UCLA (second stint)
In 2009, Lea returned to UCLA as a graduate assistant under head coach Rick 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]
Bowling Green
In 2012, Lea was hired as the linebackers coach at Bowling Green State University under defensive coordinator Mike Elko and head coach Dave Clawson.[9][10]
Syracuse
In 2013, Lea joined Syracuse University as their linebackers coach under head coach Scott Shafer.[11][12]
Wake Forest
In 2016, Lea was hired as the linebackers coach at Wake Forest University, reuniting with defensive coordinator Mike Elko and head coach Dave Clawson.[13]
Notre Dame
In 2017, Lea followed defensive coordinator Mike Elko to the University of Notre Dame to serve as their linebackers coach under head coach Brian Kelly.[14][15] In January 2018, Lea was promoted to defensive coordinator, replacing Mike Elko, who departed to serve in the same role at Texas A&M.[16]
Vanderbilt
On December 14, 2020, Lea was named the 29th head football coach at Vanderbilt University, replacing Derek 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 rivals Kentucky and Florida 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 40-35 upset victory over #1 Alabama, the Commodores' first ever win vs an AP top 5 team, as well as their first win over Alabama since 1984.[24]
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| 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 | 6–6 | 3–5 | T–11th | Birmingham | ||||
| Vanderbilt: | 15–33 | 5–27 | |||||||
| Total: | 15–33 | ||||||||
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