Jennifer Clark returns as head coach of CMS Women's Soccer

Jennifer Clark returns as head coach of CMS Women's Soccer

CLAREMONT, Calif. – Following a nationwide search, Claremont-Mudd-Scripps' Director of Athletics Terrance Tumey has announced the hiring of Jennifer Clark as the next head coach of the CMS women's soccer team.  This will be Clark's second tenure at CMS Athletics, having last coached the Athenas from 2000-2003. She compiled a 37-32-8 overall record during her first stop at CMS, being named SCIAC Coach of the Year in 2002, and led the team to its third SCIAC Championship in 2003.

"We are extremely excited to welcome Jennifer Clark back. Her vast soccer knowledge and ability to grow our program will have a tremendous impact on our students here at CMS," said Tumey. "Many of us recall the great contributions previously made under Jennifer's leadership; however, after getting to know her, I think the best is yet to come for Athenas Soccer."

Clark last worked at Castleton University, serving as the associate head coach of the women's soccer team. Revamping the team's defensive system of play, Clark helped the Spartans claim the 2015 regular season North Atlantic Conference Championship, during which they went undefeated in conference play. In 2014, Clark was named the NSCAA Regional Assistant Coach of the Year.

Prior to coaching at Castleton, Clark worked as an assistant coach at Middlebury from 2011 to 2014. There she helped the Panthers win the New England Small College Athletic Conference regular season championship in 2013 and saw them reach the NCAA Final Four in 2013. She also was part of the staff that led the Panthers to the 2012 NESCAC title.

Clark's first head coaching experience came in 1998 at Christopher Newport University, where she turned a second year Division III program from a 5-10-0 record to 12-3-1 in 1999 with a second place finish in the Dixie Intercollegiate Athletic Conference.

"I couldn't be more thrilled to be returning to CMS Athletics. Over the past 13 years, I have followed the program and seen what a great job Keri (Sanchez) has done with continuing its growth," said Head Coach Jennifer Clark. "I am excited to get to work with these amazing young women and see what we can do together in the proud tradition of Athena Soccer."

"It is an honor to be back working with so many great coaches, and I would like to thank Terry Tumey and the rest of the committee for giving me this opportunity."

An Alumna of Dartmouth College, Clark graduated in 1994 with a degree in geography before serving as an assistant coach at her alma mater for three years. She then served as an assistant coach at Stanford University and College of William and Mary for a season each.

By Young Kim
Sports Information Assistant

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