Bill Clark will not coach a game for UAB this fall, but that hasn’t stopped him from being the first coach to earn an extension for the promise of what’s to come.
UAB announced a five-year extension for its sidelined head coach Tuesday, which it says reaffirms its pledge to bring back football in 2017.
“The university looks forward to the next phase of UAB Football. We will continue raising philanthropic support needed for facilities and will move forward with our plan to play a complete FBS schedule as a full member of Conference USA in 2017,” AD Mark Ingram said in a statement. “I am as happy as our fans, alumni, donors and community that Bill Clark will continue to be our coach. This is another day of celebration for UAB, with many more to come.”
Clark led UAB to a 6-6 mark a year ago in his first season at the school, before the program was cancelled in December and then resurrected in June. The program will sit out the 2015 and 2016 seasons before rejoining Conference USA in 2017.
“My family and I want to thank UAB, Mark Ingram, Dr. Ray Watts and the Board of Trustees for their commitment to me as UAB’s head football coach. We are doing this and doing it right - today’s announcement sends that message loud and clear,” added Clark. “To all UAB supporters and family, thank you. I appreciate each and every one of you, what you’ve done, and continue to do, to support our program and I am proud to be your coach” Clark continued. “We need you now more than ever to help write the next chapter of UAB football. For my part, I am matching my previous gift and paying it immediately.”