G5 COACHING MINUTE: BILL CLARK AN EXCELLENT HIRE FOR THE UAB FOOTBALL PROGRAM

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Last year UAB gave up a jaw dropping 43 points a game on their way to a dismal 2-10 season.  Oh, and don't bother asking Garrick McGee, UAB's head coach last year, how he plans to fix the program. Don't bother asking him because McGee bolted UAB last season faster than a rabbit running from a hungry Alabama hunter. McGee, who earned a paltry 5-19 record after two years as head coach, joined  the Louisville Cardinals as their offensive signal caller in January of this year.

Count this however, as a much needed blessing for the UAB faithful.( UAB FANS ) A blessing in the form of new UAB head coach Bill Clark.  Bill Clark is an excellent hire for UAB. He has coaching experience on the FBS , FCS and High School levels of play. More importantly however,  Clark has taught the programs he has been associated with how to win. In 2006 and 2007 for example, Clark won back to back Alabama High School State Football titles. Last year, he lead his alma mater, Jacksonville State to an impressive 11-4 record including a trip to the FCS playoff  quarterfinals.

Clark will not only bring his  winning record to UAB,  but he will also have an important list of connections  to High School football coaches in the talent rich state of Alabama. Clark will need to utilize both of these tools  if  he hopes to revamp  the  beleaguered UAB  program  in the next several years.

Finally, if you needed one more reason to be impressed with Clark how about the brief story that was published in the Trussville Tribune, an Alabama newspaper , in mid May about Clark.  The newspaper, reported that Bill Clark had been invited to serve as guest speaker for a gathering of local business men and politicians at the  Trussville Civic Center located in Trussville Alabama. At the meeting, Clark told those gathered that when he met the UAB football team for the first time he shared with them coaching legend John Wooden's famous pyramid of success. The Tribune wrote the following about that encounter:

"He(Clark) showed them UCLA basketball coaching legend John Wooden’s Pyramid of Success and delivered three rules. One: Always protect the team. Two: No whining, complaining or excuses. Three: Be ready.That first rule is about players representing themselves well on and off the field, because their actions reflect on UAB. The No. 2 rule is self-explanatory. The final rule is about being on time all the time. “We want to be known for great effort,” Clark said.

One quote of course, does not make for a coaching legend. It is hard however, not to be impressed with Bill Clark. Building a team on the foundation of John Wooden's successful pyramid gives some important insight into the coaching philosophy of  Clark. A philosophy that the UAB program desperately needs right now.

UAB fans are ready for some good news with their football program. Clark may be just the man to deliver their program from the murky underbelly of college football. The hiring of Bill Clark was a smart choice , lets just hope the UAB leadership gives him everything he needs to be successful at UAB. Stay tuned.

TRIBUNE STORY ON BILL CLARK

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