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In a short amount of time Dayton Flyers head softball coach Cara Clark has implemented a hard-working, successful culture of excellence with the UD Softball program. In her first season at the helm Clark guided the Flyers to their first 20-win campaign in three years and more than doubled their Atlantic 10 win total from a season ago. In addition, Clark's 20 wins was the most by any first-year head coach at UD. A vast majority of the team numbers improved including batting average, hits, runs scored, on-base percentage, fielding percentage, sacrifices, home runs and slugging percentage. Aside from the successes on the field, Clark's teams also thrive in the classroom and in the community. Catcher Laura Matthews earned a second-team selection on the 2008 ESPN The Magazine Academic All-America Softball Team. The senior catcher became the 76th Academic All-American overall and 29th in the last seven years at UD. The honors didn't stop there as Matthews and pitcher Erin LaFayette were selected members of the Atlantic 10 Academic All-Conference team and ESPN The Magazine Academic All-District Softball selections. Freshman shortstop Emily Stegeman received a spot on the Atlantic 10 All-Rookie Team and Meyer picked up an Honorable Mention selection. Clark was named head softball coach for the University of Dayton in July 2007 and joined the Flyer staff after six years at Clarke College. In her six years at Clarke, she had been instrumental in the program's success. Clark guided the Crusaders to back-to-back NCAA Tournament appearances in 2003 and 2004. In 2003, the Crusaders made a first-ever NCAA tournament berth claiming the Northern Illinois-Iowa Conference Championship and winning a school record 27 games. Since her arrival the team had five consecutive 20-plus win seasons. Under her reign, the Crusaders produced 28 All-Conference honorees, six NFCA All Region honorees, and one Conference Player of the year. In addition, four out of her six years the team was ranked in the Top 25 Nationally in grade point average by the National Fastpitch Coaches Association. Clark was a 2007 NCAA Association of Division III Independents Coach of the Year runner-up and was named the NIIC Conference's Coach of the Year in 2003 and 2004. In addition to her coaching responsibilities at Clarke, she was also the Mental Health Counselor and served as the Senior Women's Administrator. Clark has extensive camp and clinic experience in multiple settings. She directed the highly successful Clarke softball instructional clinics and hitting leagues. She served as an instructor and evaluator at the 2007 TPS Top 96 College Coaches Softball Clinics in Virginia and Illinois. Under her direction, the Flyers softball clinics and summer academy have begun to see high levels of participation. Clarkoversaw the 2008 Ohio TPS Top 96 College Coaches Softball Clinic, as the University of Dayton was named as the host site. Clark is a member of the National Fastpitch Coaches Association and a 2008 graduate of the NCAA Women's Coaches Academy. A 1999 graduate of Clarke College, Clark earned her degree in psychology and was a student-athlete standout as a two-time first-team Northern Illinois - Iowa Conference Selection. In addition, she earned MVP honors and served as team captain for the Crusaders. In 2002, she earned her Masters of Education in counseling from Western Illinois University. Clark currently resides in Kettering, Ohio. |
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