Coach Adam Clark enters his eighth year at WNMU in 2017 and is third in the school's history in victories with 29. Although the 2016 Mustangs only recorded three victories, they showed that they could compete with the top teams in their first season in the Lone Star Conference. WNMU went down-to-the-wire with national contenders Tarleton State, Texas A&M-Commerce, Texas A&M-Kingsville and West Texas A&M. The Mustangs claimed a victory over Angelo State, a team that was just a few years removed from winning the LSC title. Senior wide receiver Xavier Ayers was named the LSC Receiver of the Year, along with many other national accolades. Javia Hall threw for nearly 3,000 yards and 24 touchdowns in his first year under center, while Dominic Barry led the defense with 103 tackles, 7.5 for loss and a pair of sacks. Nationally, WNMU finished 17th in net punting (36.70), 28th in passing offense per game (290), 42nd in turnover margin (0.45) and 38th in turnovers gained (25). WNMU tied or led the LOSC in blocked punts allowed (0), fumbles lost (7) and net punting. He also moved back in charge of the defense as the defensive coordinator during the 2016 season as his defense tallied 60 tackles for loss, 17 sacks, 14 interceptions, 51 passes broken up, 26 quarterback hurries and nine forced fumbles.
The 2015 campaign ended strong for the Mustangs with two wins in their last three games. Honors poured in for the team with Marques Rodgers, Mitch Glasmann, Zachary Andrews-Worline, Larry Young II and Xavier Ayers all earning national accolades. As a team nationally the Mustangs ranked in the top-50 in: tied for first in blocked punts allowed (0), 47th in defensive touchdowns (2), 14th in first downs (265), 50thin fumbles recovered (10), 22nd in net punting per game (36.23), third in passing offense per game (354.3), 40th in passing yards per completion (13.72), 44th in time of possession (31:18) and seventh in total offense per game (489). WNMU as a team was near the top of the RMAC in many categories as well, here are the ones where they finished in the top-three. Third in third down conversion percentage (40.7), tied for first in blocked punts allowed, third in defensive touchdowns, second in first downs, led the conference in fumbles recovered, second in net punting per game, second in passing offense, second in passing yards per completion, third in punt return defense per return (8.75), third in time of possession and second in total offense per game.
The 2014 season had the Mustangs right there again with the top teams in the RMAC. WNMU finished strong tallying three wins over their final four and of the final seven games of the season, WNMU either won or was within a possession or two late of claiming all seven games. Offensively, the team set school records for offense in a season, scoring the most points (377) and gaining the most yards (5,606) in WNMU’s documented history. In 2014 WNMU may have been the most balanced offense in the country. The Mustangs were the only team in the country who passed for over 3,600 yards and rushed for over 1,980 yards. The offense was ranked 9th in the nation in total offense averaging over 500 yards a game (509.6), 10th nationally for yards per game passing (329.4), 2nd in the RMAC in points per game (34.3), 18th nationally and 2nd in the RMAC in time of possession per game (35:20), 17th nationally in first downs (288), and gave up the least amount of sacks in the RMAC (1.36) per game. A multitude of players were named All-RMAC including Marquest Rodgers, Donald Byrd, Darius Guillory, Michael Coe, Anthony Avina, Mitch Glasmann, Zachary Andrews-Worline, Zayde Khalil, Jacob Costilow and Zachary Dembrowski.
Since arriving at WNMU in 2010, Clark has built the most consistent program WNMU has had in the past 20 years. He holds the highest winning percentage of any coach at WNMU in the past 20 years. His teams have shown the ability to compete with everyone within the RMAC and have had some very good wins. Teams have set numerous schools records including passing yards and touchdowns in a season as well as many players putting themselves in WNMU career record books. Mitch Glasmann was named RMAC Offensive Freshman of the Year after setting Division II era (1993) school records for passing yards and touchdowns in a season in 2012. He threw for 3,139 yards and 27 touchdowns, completing 249-of-426. He broke the marks that were previously set by David Ingram the season before. Abe Macias completed his career moving into second in program history for rushing yards (records kept since 1994) with 2,093. Had a pair of 1,000 receivers including Ronnell Pompey with 1,241 in 2013 and Marquis Sumpter with 1,180 in 2012. Both of those numbers rank amongst the highest in school history for individual receiving yards per season. The team tallied 32 sacks in 2012, amongst the highest in the RMAC and in team history led by nine from Zachary Dembrowski and 8.5 from Jerrald Hines.
This past season in 2013 started slow at 0-3, but the Mustang finished the year strong with two lopsided victories to finish 4-6. The year was highlighted by a victory over RMAC runner-up Colorado School of Mines. Three of the losses occurred in the final minutes of the game including a three-point loss to D1 University of San Diego. During the campaign there were great performances by Mitch Glasmann throwing for 2,876 yards and 26 scores, completing 209-of-395 and Ronnell Pompey, who broke Sumpter’s record from the year before in receiving yards after pulling down 63 catches for 1,241 yards and 12 touchdowns. Glasmann has continued to develop into one of the top QBs in the RMAC where he ranked 2nd in Yards per Game and TDs. Pompey, Michael Coe, Donald Byrd and Macias were named All-RMAC.
The 2012 season was another year of too many close loses that cost WNMU a winning season. WNMU played toe-to-toe with D1 University of San Diego (34-27) and the team who finished the regular season ranked #1 in D2 CSU-Pueblo (35-27), but could not pull out the victories. A 54-28 win over RMAC power Colorado School of Mines was the best win of the year. WNMU also held a fourth quarter lead over nationally ranked playoff team Chadron State, but could not seal the deal. There were great performances by All-American Marquis Sumpter, who brought in 74 passes for 1,180 yards and 13 touchdowns and Mitch Glasmann, who was voted Freshman of the Year while setting WNMU’s season record for passing yards and TD’s. Four other players were named All-Conference including Bernard Williams, Donald Byrd, Michael Coe and Zachary Dembrowski.
Coach Clark began the turnaround at WNMU in 2011, as the team made great strides, as the overall improvement continued. The team was much more competitive and had a legitimate chance to win 10 out of 11 games in the fourth quarter. They improved statistically in numerous areas including being tied for third in sacks in the RMAC, second in pass defense, and tied for second in the RMAC in turnovers forced. The offense had a potent passing attack with 279.4 yards per game, good for second in conference and led the conference in passing TDs. Also, had over 800 hours of community service last year.
Clark has spent his entire football career as both a player and a coach with winning programs. He has won eight or more games nine out of the last 10 years at the college level. He has also won seven conference championships and had two runner-up conference finishes as a player and as a coach during that span.
Clark came to WNMU as the defensive coordinator in February 2010 and named head coach three months later after back-to-back second place finishes in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference at the Colorado School of Mines where he was the defensive line coach and strength and conditioning coordinator.
Since arriving in Silver City, Clark has made an impact on the Mustang program. In 2010, he doubled the team’s win total from the previous year and won as many games as the team had in the past two years combined. His defense gave up 17 points less per game than the previous year and doubled the number of turnovers forced. His run defense improved by more than 70 yards per game. He came just two games shy of securing the Mustangs’ first winning season in nearly 20 years. Those two losses were decided in the closing minutes of each game. His team also logged more than 500 hours of service in the Silver City and Bayard communities.
Clark help build the Orediggers to an RMAC powerhouse, finishing just one game behind conference champions the University of Nebraska-Kearney last season. While at Mines, Clark coached the RMAC Defensive Player of the Year and three all-conference defensive linemen selections in 2009. The team also finished ranked in the top 25 in the nation in run defense the past two seasons. Mines head coach Bob Stitt credited Clark’s strength program as a major reason for Mines’ success.
Prior to Mines, Clark spent the 2007 season as the defensive coordinator/assistant head coach at St. Ambrose University, where Clark was selected as the MSFA Assistant Coach of the Year. Clark's 2007 defense was ranked in the top five nationally in four categories, including scoring (fourth, 12.8 points per game), pass defense (second, 134 yards per game), pass defense efficiency (second, 80.6) and turnovers forced (fourth, 38). Clark helped guide the Fighting Bees to a final national ranking of No. 9 in the country.
Clark also spent three seasons (2004-2006) as the defensive secondary and strength and conditioning coach at Graceland University. In 2005, the Jackets finished 9-3, won the school’s first conference championship in 30 years, and advanced to their first-ever national playoff. Clark also coached the Defensive Player of the Year in the Heart of America Conference in 2005.
A 2002 graduate of St. Ambrose University, Clark earned his bachelor's degree in sociology. Clark, who went on to earn his master's degree in organizational leadership from St. Ambrose, also served as a graduate assistant for his alma mater from 2002-2004.
Clark was a two-year letterwinner on the St. Ambrose football team during his undergraduate career. During his time with the Fighting Bees, Clark raked in all-conference and all-American honors. Prior to attending St. Ambrose, Clark played football at Grossmont Junior College for two years, earning all-conference and all-state accolades.
