Earlier this month as UAB confirmed it would revive its shuttered football program in either 2016 or, more feasibly, 2017, it was also confirmed that Bill Clark would remain the head coach.
One issue for Clark, though, is that his current contract only runs through 2016. Given the initial decision to disband the program in the first place, the last thing Clark and his coaching staff needs is for rival schools to have additional ammunition on the recruiting trail in the form of a contract that’s set to expire next year.
Taking all things into consideration, Clark confirmed to al.com that he and the university are currently in the midst of negotiating a new contract.
“It’s going to be a commitment to myself and my family, and my staff that we want to be here, we’re going to be here,” Clark said. “But it’s our school saying, ‘Football is here to stay, this is our coach, this is his staff. We’re going to commit to him and the things it takes to do it the right way.’”
Based solely on his on-field work with the Blazers, Clark is deserving of a new deal.
In 2014, Clark’s first season at the school, the Blazers posted a 6-6 mark, the first time the team had finished a season with at least a .500 record since 2004. That’s the last time UAB was bowl-eligible, although the Blazers weren’t invited to play in a bowl game at the conclusion of this past season because of the institutional uncertainty over the sport’s future at the school.
Last year was just the fourth time in the program’s 19-year history that the Blazers finished .500 or better, with the other two coming in 2000 and 2001.