Cal Rugby coach Jack Clark inducted to U.S. Hall of Fame
By Thom Fain
After 31 years as head coach of Cal Varsity Rugby, Jack Clark has been inducted into the U.S. Rugby Hall of Fame. The commencement took place on Saturday night, giving Mr. Clark his rightful place amongst the icons of the USRF Gallery of Honors.
“I am very appreciative of the recognition,” Clark said to the team’s website. “I want to thank all the coaches and support staff who have so significantly contributed to this career as well as my opposition colleagues around the country and rugby world for their friendship and partnership in growing rugby. I am so appreciative of my old teammates and coaches for the game and teamship example they set. Mostly, I want to thank the players I have been blessed to coach.”
Clark led the Golden Bears to 22 national collegiate titles in 15s and, most recently, two collegiate 7s title in the Olympic version of rugby.
A staggering achievement, no doubt.
His teams have also produced 126 All-Americans, 36 of whom have played for the U.S National Team, and three of his players players recently received residency contracts from the U.S. Olympic Committee.
Clark is the all-time winningest coach in college rugby history, leading the Bears to a 577-74-5 (.879) record in 15s and 65-13 (.833) in 7s.
According to the team’s website, Clark is recognized as the founder of the U.S. Collegiate All-American Team, which he coached from 1985-1992. He was also head coach of the U.S. National Team from 1993-1999, during which time the United States won 16 international test matches, the most victories ever by a U.S. national team coach.
As the General Manager of the national team while head coach and continuing in that role until 2003, Clark oversaw all aspects of USA Rugby’s flagship program. Throughout his entire tenure as GM he also handled the dual role of Business Development Director, successfully originating landmark broadcasting and sponsorship agreements which established the national team as a self-sufficient entity that contributed significantly to the national governing body, USA Rugby.
Jack Clark joins several former Golden Bears in the U.S. Rugby Hall of Fame: Coach Miles “Doc” Hudson, who led the program from 1938-74; fellow Bear Colby “Babe” Slater, and seven other Cal players.