Bowling Green State University Athletics
Lea Joins Football Staff
February 20, 2012 | Football
Bowling Green State University head football coach Dave Clawson has announced that Clark Lea will join his football staff as the linebackers coach. Lea spent the past three seasons at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA).
“We are very excited to have Clark Lea and his family join our Bowling Green staff,” said Clawson. “Clark's experience at the highest level of college football as both a player and coach will benefit our staff and players from both a recruiting and coaching standpoint. Clark came highly recommended from people I trust and know in the coaching profession and will be an excellent addition to our staff.”
Lea brings six years of experience coaching linebackers, including the past three seasons with the Bruins. Lea was part of two bowl teams (2009 and 2011) and coached linebacker Akeem Ayers, who was a Dick Butkus Award Finalist in 2010 and went on to be selected by the Tennessee Titans in the 2011 draft (39th selection).
In 2009 the Bruins won the Eagle Bank Bowl over the Temple Owls, a member of the Mid-American Conference. That season the Bruins' defense ranked third in the PAC-10 in total defense and scoring defense and was first in turnovers forced.
Lea (pronounced Lee) also served as a Bruins graduate assistant in 2006 and a defensive intern in 2005.
In between his pair of stints as a Bruins coach, he spent two seasons (2007 and 2008) as linebackers coach at South Dakota State University and was recruiting coordinator during the second year. He also coached the kickoff coverage unit and assisted with other special teams units. In 2008, the Jackrabbits finished 7-5, playing six teams ranked in the Top 25, and placed third in league play with a 6-2 record.
In 2007, his three starting linebackers ranked among the top four tacklers in the league and South Dakota State won the Great West Football Conference championship. Two of his players were first-team all-league selections and the third was a second-team choice.
Prior to UCLA, Lea served as an offensive graduate assistant (running backs) at Vanderbilt University in the Spring of 2005. Lea was a three-year letter-winner at Vanderbilt University from 2002-2004, the final year as a graduate student, and was a baseball letterman at Belmont University in 2001-2002 and Birmingham Southern College in 2000-2001.
During his collegiate career, Lea was a member of the SEC Honor Roll and an All-Academic SEC honoree. He was also a John Wooden Cup finalist, a trophy awarded by Athletes for a Better World, and a National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame honoree. He earned a bachelors in political science from Vanderbilt in 2005 and a Masters in political science from Vanderbilt in 2007.
Lea Coaching File
2009-11 UCLA Linebackers
2007-08 S. Dakota St. Linebackers (Recruiting Coordinator in 2008)
2006 UCLA Graduate Assistant (Linebackers)
2005 UCLA Defensive Intern (Defensive Line)
2005 Vanderbilt Offensive Graduate Assistant
BG Football NSD Presser 12.4
Friday, December 05
BG Football Press Conference vs UMass 11.20
Thursday, November 20
BG Football Postgame vs Akron 11.18
Wednesday, November 19
BG Football Press Conference vs Akron 11.13
Thursday, November 13