Sometimes football is bigger than scores, stats and rankings. Our hearts are heavy at Fabulous 15 headquarters this week as we mourn the loss of former Appalachian State player and coach Shawn Clark, who passed away at the age of 50.
Our guiding metric for our Fabulous 15 statewide rankings each week is “which teams are having the most special seasons?” Clark made sure there were plenty of fabulous, special moments during his time playing and coaching in our state.
In Clark’s honor, we’re going to pause our team rankings for this week and give you 15 fabulous reasons, notes and quotes to celebrate Shawn Clark. Please continue to pray for his family and friends as they grieve his loss.
Fabulous 15: Reasons to Celebrate Shawn Clark
1. An App State Man Through and Through – A two-time All-American and three-time all-conference offensive lineman (1994-98), Clark bled black and gold long before he ever became head coach.
2. Part of Appalachian State’s Best Seasons – As a player in 1995, he helped the Mountaineers start 12-0. As a coach in 2019, he was on staff when App won 13 games — still a record for an FBS team in North Carolina.
3. Returning Home to Lead – After two decades coaching across four conferences, Clark came back to Boone in 2016 and rose to become the 22nd head coach in program history.
4. Immediate Impact as Head Coach – Eight days after his introductory press conference in December 2019, Clark guided App State to a 31-17 New Orleans Bowl win over UAB.
5. Signature Upset in Aggieland – In 2022, Clark led App to a 17-14 win at No. 6 Texas A&M, the program’s biggest upset since Michigan in 2007.
As a football coach, this is how you should remember Shawn Clark. pic.twitter.com/oGknSj08Xc — Josh Graham (@JoshGrahamShow) September 22, 2025
6. Bringing GameDay to Boone – The A&M upset triggered ESPN’s College GameDay to visit Boone for the first time. Clark’s Mountaineers delivered with a thrilling win over Troy as Luke Combs picked his alma mater and Lee Corso donned the Yosef head.
7. Winning the Big Ones – Clark posted victories against three ranked foes in three straight years: Coastal Carolina (2021), Texas A&M (2022) and James Madison (2023) – ruining the Dukes’ own ESPN College GameDay experience in Harrisburg.
8. Bowl Game Success – Clark finished with three bowl wins in five full seasons, including the 2023 Cure Bowl victory over Miami (Ohio).
9. Champion of the Trenches – As an O-line coach, Clark’s units consistently ranked among the nation’s best in rushing and fewest sacks allowed, and he developed multiple future NFL linemen.
10. Keep Digging – The rallying cry of the 2023 season, “Keep Digging,” symbolized Clark’s resilience and leadership as App State rallied from 3-4 to win the Sun Belt East title.
11. Family First – Behind every game, Clark was also a husband to Jonelle, a Hall of Fame athlete herself, and a father to Giana and Braxton.
12. A Coach Who Cared – Elon’s Tony Trisciani: “The news of Shawn Clark’s passing hit hard today. He had a special way of balancing the pressures of Division I football while still keeping the joy in the game.”
13. A Loyal Friend – ESPN’s Marty Smith: “I am so sad. Shawn Clark was a dear friend and brother. We shared a million laughs and many tears. He was the best kind of man: caring, hardworking, and infinitely loyal.”
14. Guided by Coach Moore – Clark often spoke of wanting to impact young men the way legendary App coach Jerry Moore had impacted him. As the Black and Gold Podcast wrote this week: “Any Appalachian fan can take .2 seconds and see on their timelines just how much Coach Clark impacted their life. It ranges from fans, parents, admins, staff, players, and fellow coaches. Everyone.”
15. #61Forever – A “universally celebrated human being,” says long-time media personality David Glenn, Clark’s legacy lives on through the people he touched, the program he elevated, and the jersey number he wore.
Shawn Clark’s life and career embodied what we mean when we say “Fabulous.” He was a player, a coach, a father, a friend and above all an Appalachian State man whose impact reached far beyond the win-loss column.
This week, instead of arguing about team rankings, we remember that the most special seasons are built on people like Clark — leaders who leave behind memories, lessons and love that will endure long after the scoreboard fades. Rest well, coach.
NC Sports Network’s Tribute to Shawn Clark
The NC Sports Network is a presenting sponsor of our Fabulous 15 statewide rankings each week. Click on the YouTube link in the X post below to watch a special video tribute to Shawn Clark.
We Remember Our Friend, SHAWN CLARK@coach_sclark 🏈 #shawnclark 🏔️ #61Forever
WATCH 📺 https://t.co/5jWQwhbr1o pic.twitter.com/ad9ZHg5SBl — NORTH CAROLINA SPORTS NETWORK (@TheNCSportsNet) September 22, 2025
