Appalachian State is firing head coach Shawn Clark, the program announced Monday.
"I want to thank Shawn for all he has done for the App State football program," AD Doug Gillin said. "Shawn is a true Mountaineer. He has given his heart and soul to his alma mater. He has navigated numerous challenges in his tenure and done so with class and integrity. This was a difficult decision, but after an evaluation of the program, we decided to make the change now.
Clark, 49, is a former App State offensive lineman who had been with the program since 2016. Joining the program as an offensive line coach, he was promoted to assistant head coach in 2019 and then to head coach in 2020, where he went 39-24 in five full seasons.
The Mountaineers reached the Sun Belt Championship in 2021 and again last season, but slipped to 5-6 this fall.
"The expectation for App State Football is to annually compete for a conference championship and a berth in the College Football Playoff," Gillin said. "We have commenced a national search to quickly find the next leader for App State Football. Mountaineer fans are among the most passionate in the country, and we are committed to providing a football program that builds upon the decades of previous championship tradition."
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