SPRINGDALE — Springdale High named Fayetteville offensive coordinator Zak Clark its new head football coach at a Friday morning pep rally.
Clark becomes the Bulldogs’ fourth coach in the past decade, filling the void left by Shane Patrick’s resignation in November following an 0-10 season and third straight year without a playoff appearance. Clark spent the previous five years as an assistant at Fayetteville, his alma mater.
Clark, who started 10 games as a college quarterback for Arkansas in 2001 before transferring and earning all-conference honors at Central Arkansas, was a quarterbacks coach at Springdale before taking the Fayetteville job in 2010.
Fayetteville’s offense was consistently potent during Clark’s tenure. He coached current University of Arkansas quarterbacks Brandon Allen and Austin Allen. The Bulldogs ranked second in the 7A-West in scoring and total offense this year while starting sophomore quarterback Taylor Powell. Fayetteville played in the state championship game for the fourth time in five seasons.
Clark joins Auburn coach Gus Malzahn, the late Kevin Johnson and Patrick as Springdale coaches since longtime head coach Jarrell Williams retired following the 2000 season.