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Clarke steps down from FLC soccer

Women’s coach leaves ’Hawks for Midwestern State University in Texas

Damian Clarke will open his eighth season as a Division II women’s soccer head coach at Dirks Field on the Fort Lewis College campus, but, for the first time, it won’t be as head coach of the Skyhawks.

Clarke, the most decorated head coach in FLC women’s soccer history, announced his resignation Monday after accepting the head coaching position at Midwestern State University in Wichita Falls, Texas. The two teams are scheduled to play Sept. 6 in the Fort Lewis Women’s Soccer Classic tournament.

Clarke first arrived in Durango in 1994 as a player on the FLC men’s soccer team. He assumed the role as head coach of the FLC women in 2007 and amassed a 106-31-17 record to become the all-time wins leader in the program’s history.

“This is tough, no doubt. I leave a piece of my heart here in Durango,” Clarke said. “I have to look forward to making new memories, and I am sure I will make a lot of them.”

Clarke, who guided the FLC women to five NCAA Division II Tournament appearances, including a Sweet 16 finish in 2011 and an Elite Eight trip in 2010, said the biggest reason he decided to apply for the job at Midwestern State was family.

He and his wife, Sherin, hope to adopt a second child after adopting their first son, Taye, while living in Durango.

“This place has done so much for Sherin and I as far as us learning to be adults and growing up,” Clarke said. “At the end of the day, this community stepped up and contributed $14,000 to help us adopt our child; I don’t think there ever has been a day as special as that.

“To be honest, when it comes down to it, this move is a situation that is going to allow my wife and I to really do what we need to do, and that is adopt another child. The cost of living in Texas is quite a bit different than Colorado. It is family first, professional opportunity second.”

Clarke led the Skyhawks to two Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference tournament titles in 2007 and 2009 as well as the program’s first regular-season RMAC title in 2010, the same year the team reached the NCAA Division II Elite Eight.

FLC athletic director Gary Hunter said he is sad to see Clarke leave the college.

“Damian has elevated the program not only to championship status in the RMAC but also a very competitive status in the NCAA,” Hunter said. “He recruited good student-athletes and conducted himself both on and off the field with a great deal of professionalism. For me, it’s been fun to watch him grow, and he, Sherin and his son, Taye, are part of our Skyhawk family always. We will miss all of them a great deal.”

Clarke’s announcement was felt across the entire FLC soccer community, including the men’s soccer team.

“I’ve worked with Damian my whole time here, and this is a huge loss,” FLC men’s soccer head coach Oige Kennedy said. “He is a talented coach who overachieved the last few seasons, and the whole soccer community and Durango as a whole will miss him.”

In four of the seven seasons Clarke coached the Skyhawks, the team finished nationally ranked. The highest ranking came at No. 2 in 2012.

Clarke’s 106 wins surpassed the previous high mark set by his predecessor Jaymee Carozza, who finished with 76 career wins at FLC. He ranks in the top 10 among active Division II coaches in victories.

Clarke began his FLC soccer career as a player on the men’s team. He was part of three conference titles as a player before eventually becoming an assistant on the women’s staff under Carozza. He served as an assistant coach for six seasons.

“I never thought I would be a coach. It just happened after my senior year of playing,” Clarke said. “I was friends with all the girls on the team after growing up, going to school and playing soccer together. I asked Jaymee (Carozza) if she would allow me to help, and I never thought I would be doing it for as long as I have.”

Clarke earned the National Soccer Coaches’ Association of America regional coach of the year honors in 2009 and 2010, the same years he was selected as the RMAC coach of the year. He coached six All-Americans at FLC, and he expects to see many more talented athletes come through the FLC program, including the current incoming freshmen.

“I know what I’m leaving here is absolutely stacked. It is going to be one of the best four-year stretches of FLC soccer ever,” Clarke said. “I’m looking forward to watching them grow, just hopefully not too much against my new team.”

Clarke becomes the fourth head coach for Midwestern State, replacing Jeff Trimble, who coached 16 years for the Mustangs. Trimble finished at Midwestern State with a 194-101-28 record and led the team to four Lone Star Conference titles, including two in the last three years. Trimble departed for Hendrix College in Arkansas.

“I think that Midwestern State is a team that is kind of on the front foot. They’ve got a bunch of mature, junior kids coming back, and I’m looking forward to working with them and finding success,” Clarke said. “Leaving for a solid program makes this a whole lot easier.”

Clarke said he will retain current Midwestern State assistant coach Amanda Snodgrass while looking to fill two other assistant vacancies.

“While we are saddened to lose Jeff Trimble, we are thrilled to have (Damian) Clarke join our staff to direct the bright future of our women’s soccer team,” Midwestern State athletic director Charlie Carr said in a news release. “Everyone in our program, both players and staff, are excited about the values and past success of this great addition to our staff.”

Kennedy, who helped Clarke’s team as a goalies coach in his first year as an assistant at FLC, said it is Clarke’s energy and commitment to his players that will help him succeed at Midwestern State.

“The one thing that always sticks out with me is Damian’s enthusiasm to help players get better. The energy he brings to practice helps the players be excited about learning,” said Kennedy, a two-time national championship coach. “Midwestern State is going to do very well with him there. We are all familiar with that school from the men’s national championship runs, and I’m excited to watch him there.”

Hunter said he understands the move for Clarke and his family; he said FLC will do whatever it can to replace him with a comparable coach who can maintain the program’s growing tradition.

“I am pleased he is getting a significant raise and is joining a program that is fully funded. He won’t have to do a tremendous job fundraising like all of our coaches have to at FLC,” Hunter said. “It is very important to us to keep the programs that are doing well and that are competitive in the RMAC at a place where they can maintain that level of performance.

“We have a very nice women’s soccer support base here in Durango, and we want to show them we are committed to the continued success of the team and give them the very best possible coach available. It is critical that we have a seamless transition.”

jlivingston@durangoherald.com

By the numbers

Damian Clarke

Fort Lewis College Women’s Soccer Head Coach 2007-2013

Overall Record: 106-31-17

RMAC Record: 67-20-11

RMAC Tournament titles: 2 – 2007, 2009

RMAC Regular Season Titles: 1 – 2010

NCAA Tournament Berths: 5 – 2007, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2013



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