Perry Clark Named Head Men's Basketball Coach

July 6, 2000

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CORAL GABLES, Fla. (www.hurricanesports.com) – Perry Clark, 48, was namedthe ninth head basketball coach at the University of Miami today byAthletic Director Paul Dee. Clark comes to Miami from Tulane Universitywhere he served the last 11 seasons as head coach.

Clark’s Green Wave qualified for the NIT Tournament in 1999-2000 and wonthe Conference USA National Division crown. Tulane won 10 of its first 11games in 1999-2000 on its way to a 20-11 overall record.

Clark had compiled a 185-144 record in 11 seasons with the Green Wave.Additionally, he has had six 20-win seasons, seven postseason appearances(3 NCAA, 4 NIT) and won the Metro Conference championship in 1992. He wasthe 1992 National Coach of the Year and a two-time Metro Conference Coachof the Year (1991, 1992). During Clark’s stint at Tulane and previouslyas an assistant at Georgia Tech, he coached eight conference Freshmen ofthe Year recipients and others that were selected on the All-FreshmanTeam. Clark has also coached 13 players who have gone on to play in theNational Basketball Association.

“After an extensive national search we are extremely pleased to announcethat Coach Clark has agreed to succeed Coach Hamilton,” said Dee. “Hisreputation and experience made him clearly our leading candidate.”

“When we first sat down to try to decide what kind of coach we werelooking for, we came to the conclusion that we had a complete coach inLeonard Hamilton and that we would be looking for a complete coach,”commented Ed Williamson, Chairman, UM Athletic Advisory Committee of theBoard of Trustees. “That is what we found in Perry Clark.”

“We are very excited about the arrival of Perry Clark,” said University ofMiami Provost Luis Glaser. “He is an excellent addition to the Universityof Miami athletic program and we look forward to working with him inbuilding upon the great success of our men’s basketball team.”

Clark first joined Tulane on July 16, 1988 and had to rebuild the programafter it had been dismantled following NCAA sanctions. After going 4-24in the inaugural 1989-90 season, Tulane was 15-13 the next year and Clarkwas named the Metro Conference Coach of the Year. In 1991-92, Tulane wouldremain ranked for 11 consecutive weeks en route to a 22-9 season, a firstMetro title, a trip to the NCAA Tournament and a first-round win over St.John’s.

“I am very excited to take over Miami Basketball at this point and time,”said Clark. “I think that what has happened over the last four years hasput Miami Basketball in the position of being able to take the next stepand do some very special things in one of the best basketball conferencesin the country.

“The opportunity for me to come in and continue the direction that LeonardHamilton has started with this program is a great situation. I have beenreally impressed after meeting with the players and talking with Paul(Dee) about the enthusiasm and importance of basketball on this campus andin the community. I look forward to getting started.”

Clark and staff followed up the next season signing one of the nation’stop recruiting classes. In 1993-94, despite half the team’s scoring andrebounding production coming from freshmen, Clark and the Green Wave werein postseason play again, reaching the second round of the NIT.

In 1995, Tulane was back in the NCAA Tournament, winning anotherfirst-round game and posting the second-most victories in school history(23). The next season, the Wave made its deepest run ever in postseason,reaching the NIT Final Four and finishing 22-10. The postseason and 20-winstreaks continued in 1996-97.

Then, there is the story of “The Posse.” It started in the 1990-91season, and when Tulane exploded on the national scene in 1992, it becameone of the hottest items in college basketball.

To describe briefly, Clark would send in mass substitutions about fiveminutes into the game. “The Posse” would then increase the tempo of thegame, usually to its advantage. Part of Clark’s hometown of Washington,D.C., inspired the moniker. “I’m a Redskins fan, and their wide receiversare called ‘The Posse,’ ” he said. “It (nicknaming the bench) just kind ofhappened one day.”

Clark’s Tulane teams have become known for their fast-paced, energetic,all-out style, particularly “The Posse,” which helped Tulane force morethan 20 turnovers a game for a span of four straight seasons.

Clark has also had the chance to achieve on another level – as part of USABasketball competitions. His South team won the gold medal at U.S.Olympic Festival-’94 in St. Louis. In the summer of 1995, he was anassistant coach for the USA team in the Junior World Championships inAthens, Greece.

Clark has had the chance to learn the coaching game from some of the bestin the business. He spent six years at Georgia Tech under Bobby Cremins,the last two as associate head coach.

Prior to coming South, Clark was an assistant to Dick Harter at Penn Statefor four years, and before that, he assisted legendary prep coach MorganWootten at DeMatha Catholic High School for three seasons.

“I think I’ve had the chance to be around great teachers like Cremins andWootten, two people – especially Bobby – who stayed focused. Bobby isgreat at focusing on the task at hand,” said Clark.

“Morgan’s organization helped me understand to organize and prioritize,and that’s helped me avoid distractions. The biggest thing is not takingmyself too seriously. The most important thing is the players and team. Aslong as that’s the No. 1 priority, I don’t get too wrapped up in the otherstuff.”

Clark has gotten wrapped up in is success, something that has followed himwherever he has been as a coach. His success began at DeMatha (107-8record in Clark’s three years) and continued to Penn State (three winningseasons, one NIT bid) and Georgia Tech (123-64 record, four NCAATournaments and one NIT berth).

Success has also followed Clark’s players, particularly in the earlystages of their careers. In his stints at Georgia Tech and Tulane, Clarkwent a phenomenal eight for nine in one stretch in helping produce theconference’s top rookie, including a Metro record three in a row atTulane.

At Tech, it was Mark Price (1983), Bruce Dalrymple (1984), Duane Ferrell(1985), Tom Hammonds (1986) and Dennis Scott (1988). At Tulane, AnthonyReed (1990), Kim Lewis (1991) and Pointer Williams (1992) claimedconsecutive Metro Conference Freshman of the Year honors.

Clark also has coached 13 players who have gone to what he calls “the nextlevel,” the NBA: draftees Anthony Reed and Jerald Honeycutt at Tulane,Frank Brickowski from Penn State, and Dalrymple, Ferrell, Hammonds, YvonJoseph, Craig Neal, Brian Oliver, Price, John Salley, Scott and BrookSteppe from Tech.

Clark was born Dec. 4, 1951 in Washington, D.C. He attended DeMatha andwent on to Gettysburg (PA) College, where he graduated in 1974 with adegree in communications. He started at guard each of his three seasonsand had career averages of 11.5 points and 4.7 rebounds per game. Clarkhas two daughters, Nicole (21) and Pamela (17).

Clark replaces Leonard Hamilton, who accepted a position as Head Coach ofthe NBA’s Washington Wizards after completing his tenth season at Miami.Clark becomes the third coach in Miami history since the program wasreinstated in 1985.

PERRY CLARK PROFILE

COACHING EXPERIENCE:
2000 Head Coach, University of Miami, Coral Gables, Florida
1989-2000 Head Coach, Tulane University, New Orleans, Louisiana
1986-1988 Associate Head Coach, Georgia Tech, Atlanta, Georgia
1982-1986 Assistant Coach, Georgia Tech, Atlanta, Georgia
1978-1982 Assistant Coach, Penn State University, University Park,Pennsylvania
1975-1978 Assistant Coach, DeMatha Catholic High School, Hyattsville,Maryland

PLAYING EXPERIENCE:
1971-1974 Three-year letterman, Gettysburg College, Gettysburg,Pennsylvania
1967-1971 DeMatha Catholic High School, Hyattsville, Maryland

EDUCATION:
1974 B.S. in Communications, Gettysburg College, Gettsyburg, Pennsylvania

PERSONAL:
Born: December 4, 1951 in Washington D.C.
Children: Nicole (21) and Pamela (17)

COLLEGE COACHING RECORD:

CLARK HIGHLIGHTS:

Led Tulane to six 20-win seasons, more than any other head coach inTulane history. Led Tulane to the NIT in 1999-2000 and seven postseason appearancesoverall. Guided the Green Wave to the NCAA Tournament 1992, ’93 and ’95. Named Metro Conference Coach of the Year for 1990-91 and 1991-92. Named UPI National Coach of the Year in 1991-92. Coached eight conference Freshmen of the Year. Coached 13 players who have gone onto the NBA, highlighted by MarkPrice and John Salley (Georgia Tech), Anthony Reed and Jerald Honeycutt(Tulane) and Frank Brickowski (Penn State). Played and coached under legendary Basketball Hall of Famer MorganWooten at DeMatha Catholic High School.