Jacksonville, AL – After more than 30 years in the position of Jacksonville’s Clark isn’t coaching volleyball this year as he prepares to retire”feels like a great time to retire and if ever there was an enjoyable time’
By Al Muskewitz
The moment David Clark first walked into Jacksonville High School as a new teacher and coach at a time in which the world was an entirely different place, he was thrilled for the many things he could accomplish in support of his team, the Golden Eagles and all the transformations that could happen during his time as a teacher. It was never a thought to him that he could become one of the few. For the past 30 many years Clark was the persona for Jacksonville volleyball. He’s also been a coach for other sports in while at Jacksonville, almost every single one at one point or another however, he’s the most closely linked to his team of Golden Eagles netters. In the fall of next year, however it will be another person calling his shots in the courts, as the coach retires and perhaps teaching at the only place he’s held an banner.
“It isn’t an easy decision,” Clark said during an easy 30-minute chat that is packed with the depth and perspective that reporters are used to in his after-game interview. “(Leaving) baseball was not as difficult as I thought – not to say because I didn’t like baseball, but I was an as an assistant coach for many years. I didn’t become involved solely for the sake of having a son. But it was a major reason behind the decision. “Volleyball was more difficult because you’re doing it because and it’s your routine. It was a good thing that we were able to create something with the wonderful students we’ve had here and it’s difficult to leave it at any point. However that sometimes, programs undergo adjustments and I’m not convinced we’re far to where we’ve always been but I’m not certain that my style will change to be a good fit for the player which is emerging at the moment. “It’s been different for me and I’ve had to adapt and that’s fine. I’ve changed, but I’m not sure if I’m able to make the changes needed in the present. It’s just the right time. It seems like a great moment to start If there was ever an enjoyable time.”
The year he turns 55 and along with his kids -who both played for him after finishing high school or not, he’s hoping to spend time with his family. He took a break from playing baseball to see the son Colton play in the NCAA tournament and will watch his daughters Caitlin participate in volleyball games at the Snead University. “That’s the most important aspect; it’s always been my intention as soon as she expressed an interest in playing and began to play,” Clark said. “It is in line with my time in service and her graduation; that was always my idea of what was going to happen. “When Colton graduated and went to play in the next level, I could not imagine myself at the ball field with him in a ball field other where I could be watching him. It’s hard to imagine missing my daughter’s chances in another gymnasium when I feel I ought to be watching her. Because it’s only long.”
He was not ready to speak about what the future might hold however, he does not intend to stay idle. “I think it’s time to take a different path,” he said. “I’m not quite ready to be at home. If COVID has taught me one thing, it was that after two weeks in home when projects that you’ve put off for years have been completed and money isn’t enough to finish projects and you’re looking in the dark, was unable to accomplish it. I was getting bored and the idea of retiring without a clear goal or an idea of where to go is not something I believe I’m able to handle. The idea of just slamming the brakes only to discover that you’re stuck with zero isn’t an appealing idea.”
Clark has been with Jacksonville for a long time. He’s the longest-running head coach in his field within Calhoun County and only four staff members and faculty of his school have been with him for longer. He’s been the coach for almost all the sports they play such as basketball, baseball soccer, softball and even a short stint in running and football. He’s never been officially an athletics coach, however the film he made was on Rusty Burroughs’ teams. He is also the athletic director of the school. However, when March comes around the director will wrap his career at the age of 31 and changing and will hope to leave it in better shape than he found it. If he were to get the time to add up the entire record and comparing his teams, he’d discover that they have won over 1,500 games. That’s more than 2,200 if you compare his achievements with the development teams. [read more…]
