Veteran boys basketball coach Austin Clark announced on Monday he will remain at The Baylor School.

Clark was recently relieved of his duties as athletic director, and said at that time he would also step down as basketball coach.

On Monday, Clark said he will remain as basketball coach and will also serve as the Assistant to the Associate Head of Student Affairs.
In his new role, Clark will work with Michael McBrien, Baylor’s Associate Head for Student Affairs and the student affairs staff.

“Austin will be helping in areas such as student conduct and compliance and in supporting various existing programs and new initiatives within the division of Student Affairs,” McBrien said. “I welcome Austin in this new role and look forward to his continued contributions to students, faculty, and staff.”

Said Clark, “There is no place better than Baylor and I’m excited about continuing my association with the school. I’m looking forward to continuing as head basketball coach as well as my new opportunity in student affairs.

"I’ve decided there is no better place for me and my family than with the students, faculty, and staff of Baylor School.''

Clark had planned to step down after this year as basketball coach in order to avoid coaching his son. He was then relieved of his athletic director duties when a problem surfaced between Clark and school administrators about firing and hiring of a head football coach.

At that time, Clark said he would not return as basketball coach. He reversed that decision Monday.

Clark played at the University of Tennessee under legendary coach Ray Mears in the mid-1970s. After finishing his playing career, he became an assistant at Middle Tennessee State University, where he received a master’s degree. He was hired as Baylor’s head coach in 1982.

Under his leadership the Red Raiders competed in their first state Final Four in 1987 and the 1998 Division II Final Four. They were state runners-up in 2002.

Overall, Clark has had 347 wins as the basketball coach since 1982
and his teams have qualified for the region tournament 16 times in the 18 years before the Division II split.

In addition to coaching, Clark was hired as athletic director in 1990. He will complete his term as athletic director at the end of this school year and will assume his new responsibilities in June.

Under Clark's guidance, Baylor's athletic program was chosen as one of the top 25 in the nation two years ago.

A search is currently underway for the athletic director position.

(E-mail Stan Crawley at wscrawley@earthlink.net)