Dan Clark begins his fifth season on the Illinois State coaching staff and his second as co-offensive coordinator. Clark will oversee the Redbird running attack as running game coordinator and will also oversee the Redbird offensive line. 

A model of consistency, the Redbird offensive line saw all five of its players start every game in 2015, as the Redbirds advanced to the FCS quarterfinals for the third time in the past four seasons.  The group, acnhored by All-Missouri Valley Football Conference First-Team center Mark Spelman, led the way for First-Team All-American and two-time MVFC Offensive Player of the Year Marshaun Coprich, who led the MVFC in rushing yards (1,967), touchdowns (23), yards per game (151.3), all-purpose yards per game (166.4) and scoring (11.2). All five starters return for the 2016 season, setting up what could be another record-setting season for the Redbirds.

The offensive line also kept two-time MVFC First-Team quarterback Tre Roberson upright and gave him holes to run through. Over the past two seasons, Roberson put his name in the record books and ranks No. 1 in ISU history in career yards per rush (6.14), passing efficiency (150.3) and ranks No. 5 in career passing yards (5,446) and touchdowns (48). Roberson also leads all quarterbacks in ISU history with 22 rushing touchdowns and 1,806 yards rushing.

The Redbird offensive line was a key factor in ISU’s historic success in 2014 and helped in setting 15 school single-season records.  ISU also finished the season ranked in the top 10 nationally in rushing yards per game with 241.3 and No. 9 in scoring offense with 38.3 points per game.

Anchored by seniors Jermaine Barton (All-MVFC First Team), Rocco Ammons (All-MVFC Second-Team) and Mike Liedtke (All-MVFC Honorable Mention), the line helped open holes for Coprich, who led the FCS with 2,274 rushing yards and 27 touchdowns.

The group also helped protect the MVFC Newcomer of the Year Roberson, who finished the year ranked in the top 5 in five national categories and set numerous school single-season records in his first season as the Redbird quarterback. 

Following the season, Liedtke (Miami) and Barton (Buffalo) signed rookie free-agent contracts with NFL teams looking to continue their football careers at the highest level.

In his first season with the Redbirds, Clark worked with Second-Team All-MVFC selection Josh Aladenoye, who went on to sign with Dallas Cowboys as a free agent. 

Clark came to Illinois State after serving as the tight ends coach at Northern Iowa for three seasons. In 2010, Clark oversaw the play of Schuylar Oordt, who earned honorable mention All-Missouri Valley Football Conference honors after nabbing 24 receptions and three touchdowns. Following the 2010 season, Oordt took part in the NFL Combine in Indianapolis. In Clark’s first year at UNI, two of his graduating tight ends signed free agent contracts in the NFL. Oordt inked a deal with the St. Louis Rams, while Ryan Mahaffey signed a free agent deal with the Baltimore Ravens.

Prior to his stint at UNI, Clark served as a graduate assistant coach at Iowa (2007-09). Clark assisted with the offense and helped Iowa to three-consecutive bowl berths, including a victory over Georgia Tech in the 2010 FedEx Orange Bowl.

Clark joined the Iowa staff after serving as the defensive coordinator and defensive backs coach at Iowa Central Community College for seven seasons (2000-06). During that time Clark helped Iowa Central compile a 56-20 overall record while advancing to a junior college bowl game in six of the seven seasons.

Clark also served as an assistant coach at Simpson College for five seasons (1996-2000), after spending time on staff as a student assistant coach in 1995. 

Clark earned his bachelor’s degree in physical education from Simpson College in 1995. He was a four-year member of the Simpson College football team as an undergraduate (1991-94) and was the starting quarterback in his final three seasons. He also played baseball at Simpson for four seasons.

Clark is a member of the American Football Coaches Association and the Iowa High School Football Association. His brother Derrik played football at Iowa State and his brother Dallas was an All-American tight end at Iowa before going on to put together an 11-year career in the NFL with the Indianapolis Colts, Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Baltimore Ravens.

He and his wife, Kristin, have three children: Drew, Paetyn and Jace.