Allen Park, Mich.— Monte Clark, a long-time player and coach in the National Football League including seven seasons as head coach of the Detroit Lions (1978-84), died last night (September 16) at Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit after an extended illness with a bone marrow malignancy associated with lung and liver disease. He was 72.
Clark is survived by his wife of 52 years, Charlotte, sons Randy (and wife Michele), Bryan and Eric (and wife Beth) and eight grandchildren. He is also survived by his brother Don of Kingsburg, Calif., and sisters Dolene Nelson of Kingsburg and Kathy Lowe of Clovis, Calif.
Visitation: Tuesday, September 22: 2 – 4 PM and 7 – 9 PM at Kirk in the Hills Church (St. Andrew’s Room), 1340 Long Lake Road, Bloomfield Hills, MI 48302.
Funeral Services: Wednesday, September 23: 10:30 a.m., Kirk in the Hills Church (see address above). Burial will be in Kingsburg, CA. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations are asked to be made to: Kirk in the Hills Outreach and Benevolence Fund (see address above).
“Monte will always be remembered as a consummate football man,” praised Lions President Tom Lewand. “He knew football inside and out, and had a passion for it. He played the game at a high level and had success wherever he coached. Monte also had a terrific sense of humor. Anyone who knew him could tell you Monte stories that always bring a laugh. Our deepest sympathies go out to Charlotte and the entire Clark family. He will be greatly missed.”
In 1978, Clark’s first year as head coach of the Lions, Detroit drafted defensive lineman Al “Bubba” Baker in the second round. Baker set the NFL on fire recording 23 quarterback sacks that season and was named the NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year.
“Monte Clark taught me how to be a professional,” said Baker. “When you are a young kid coming into the pros, you have a lot to learn. I didn’t see everything he was trying to teach me right away but as my career progressed I said ‘Thank God for Monte Clark.’ He helped smooth out my rough edges and that enabled me to have a 13-year NFL career. I have the deepest respect for Coach.”
In 1980, Clark helped engineer a Lions’ draft that brought running back Billy Sims to Detroit with the first overall pick, quarterback Eric Hipple in the fourth round and, in the seventh round, place-kicker Eddie Murray.
Sims was the NFL Rookie of the Year in 1980 when he rushed for 1,303 yards and scored 13 touchdowns.
“I thought the world of Coach Clark and had the utmost respect for him,” said Sims. “I really appreciated that he was always in my corner.”
Hipple played 10 seasons for the Lions (1980-89) and burst onto the scene in his first NFL start on October 19, 1981. Hipple passed for four touchdowns and rushed for two more scores in a 48-17 Lions’ romp over the Chicago Bears on Monday Night Football.
“I developed a warm relationship with Coach over the many years that we knew each other,” said Hipple. “He had a great mind in coaching football particularly on offense, and he was always there for me to help in any way he could during my difficult times years ago.”
Murray was selected MVP of the NFL Pro Bowl after his rookie season and ranks 12th in all-time NFL scoring after a 19-season career, his first 12 years in Detroit.
“I will always hold a special place in my heart for Monte after the Lions drafted me in 1980,” reflected Murray. “He gave me an opportunity and saw things in me that I didn’t see. He always encouraged me to be the best I could possibly be.”
Monte Clark enjoyed a football career that spanned over the past 60 years. He was an extraordinary talent out of high school, he played for one of the nation’s most historic college football programs, he blocked for one of the NFL’s greatest all-time players, he was on the coaching staff of the last undefeated NFL team and he served as a head coach at the pro level, leading the franchise to back-to-back playoff appearances.
While he had many steps along the way, Clark was very much involved in the game up until his recent illness.
NFL COACHING CAREER
Overall, Clark was involved both as a player and as a coach in the NFL World Championship or Super Bowl five times and had three Super Bowl or Championship rings to show for it.
Monte Clark was the head coach for the Detroit Lions from 1978-84 (seven season), and his 1983 squad was the first Lions team in 26 previous years to win the Central Division title. Clark led the Lions to back-to-back playoff appearances in 1982-83, which was the first time the Lions had accomplished that since the team’s three-straight playoff runs from 1952-54.
Clark’s two best seasons were 1980 and 1983 when the Lions finished 9-7 in each of those years. He complied a coaching record of 63-61-1 (.457) in the regular season. Including postseason, Clark led the Lions on the sidelines for 107 games.
During Clark’s seven-year tenure with the Lions, seven players were named to 14 Pro Bowls. Those players included DE Al “Bubba” Baker (1979, 1981), T Keith Dorney (1983), Doug English (1979, 1982-84), TE David Hill (1979-80), K Eddie Murray (1981), P Tom Skladany (1982) and RB Billy Sims (1981-83). At least two members of the Lions offense, defense and special teams each were represented in the Pro Bowl during Clark’s time in Detroit.
Besides the two playoff runs, Clark’s teams are remembered for Sims’ spectacular splash into the NFL as a rookie in 1980 and for the dominating defensive line that earned the nickname “Silver Rush” led by Baker and English. Sims was the 1980 NFL Rookie of the Year and Baker was the 1978 NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year.
Baker, English, Murray and Sims were named to the Detroit Lions 75th Season All-Time Team in 2008.
Clark entered the coaching ranks after the 1969 season when he retired as a player and took a post with the Miami Dolphins as Don Shula’s offensive line coach. Based largely on the way the Browns had successfully run the football over the years, Clark was also responsible for the Dolphins run offense planning.
Clark built his coaching reputation in Miami by developing a makeshift line of free agents and cast-offs into arguably one of the best offensive line units of all time, which he nicknamed “The Mushrooms.” All five became Pro Bowl performers. Two of his linemen (Little and Langer) are in the NFL Hall of Fame, and a third player, Bob Kuechenberg, has been on the last five Hall of Fame ballots.
In the six seasons Clark worked for the Dolphins, they were in three Super Bowls—winning two (1972 & 1973) including the only “Perfect Season”,17-0 in 1972, in NFL history. They also set the all-time single season rushing record and were the first team ever to have both backs over 1,000 yards in a single season.
“The Mushrooms” distinguished themselves for their pass protection, clever techniques, flawless precision and physical playing style.
In 1976, Clark left the Dolphins and accepted the position as Head Coach and Director of Football Operations for the San Francisco 49ers. He turned the team around and posted an 8-6 record.
The 49ers were sold, and although the 49ers wanted him to stay, Clark accepted a similar position as head coach of the Detroit Lions.
Clark returned to the Miami Dolphins and worked both as a Pro Personnel Director and later as offensive line coach until coach Don Shula retired in 1995. He also spent a couple of years with his long time friend Bill Walsh at Stanford University; then did a stint at University of California (Berkeley) as offensive line coach.
For 10 years (1999-2008), Clark served as a consultant for the Detroit Lions.
NFL PLAYING CAREER
Clark enjoyed a successful 11-year career in the NFL where played in 139 games. His career began when the San Francisco 49ers drafted him in the fourth round of the 1959 NFL Draft, and he started three years (1959-61) as a defensive tackle for the 49ers.
In 1962, his career was thought to be threatened by a neck injury and he was traded to the Dallas Cowboys. During his one season in Dallas, he moved back to offensive tackle, his neck injury held up and he claimed the Cowboys’ starting right tackle position.
Following the 1962 season, Clark was then traded to the Cleveland Browns where he would spend the next seven, and final, years (1963-69) of his playing career.
He finished his playing career with the Cleveland Browns as the starting offensive right tackle. He was a member of the Browns 1964 World Championship team that claimed a 27-0 victory over Baltimore. During his stint with the Browns, Cleveland was 69-27-2. Clark blocked for Hall of Fame running back Jim Brown, one of the NFL’s all-time greats, during his final three seasons of his career. Brown rushed for an NFL record 1,863 yards in 1963, 1,446 yards in 1964 and 1,544 yards in 1965. In fact, three of Brown’s four highest single-season rushing totals occurred during when Clark was a member of the Browns offensive line unit.
As a Brown, Clark served as the team’s Player Representative and was on the Executive Council for the Players Association. Along with Jim Brown, Clark played alongside Lou Groza and Gene Hickerson, who are both members of the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
COLLEGE AND PREP CAREER
University Of Southern California
Clark graduated from Kingsburg High School in 1955 and attended the University of Southern California on a football scholarship. He was a three year starter and co-captain of the Trojans 1958 squad as a senior.
Kingsburgh High School
The fortunes of the Kingsburg (Calif.) Viking football team were unparalleled during Clark’s three years as a varsity member. During the period from ’53-’55, the Vikings’ football teams compiled 485 points, while opponents were managing only 129 total points.
During Clark’s three years on the varsity, the Vikings won every game except for one loss and one tie. His final game as the Kingsburg Viking captain was highlighted by a 55-0 victory over Avenal in the championship game.
In high school, Clark earned double digit varsity letters and was a “Superior Athlete” award winner (four sports) as well as being named MVP of the very first Fresno City-County All-Star football game. In 1968, he became a member of the Fresno Athletic Hall of Fame. Clark’s #44 jersey was retired by the school October, 14, 2005.
OFF-THE-FIELD
After his coaching career, Clark was a football broadcaster in Detroit and a color analyst for the University of Michigan, and he was a sideline reporter for the Michigan State radio network in 1992.
Clark served as a motivational speaker for the Oakland County’s Sheriff Department Disciplinary Boot Camp for several years. He became a member of the Kirk in the Hills Presbyterian Church in 1979 and served as an Elder.
MONTE CLARK’S CAREER BACKGROUND
HIGH SCHOOL & COLLEGE PLAYING CAREER
• High School
Kingsburg (Calif.) High School (1951-54)
• College
Southern California (1955-58)
PRO PLAYING CAREER
Drafted: 1959 San Francisco Round 4
• San Francisco 49ers 1959-61
• Dallas Cowboys 1962
• Cleveland Browns 1963-1969
Total Games Played: 139
COACHING AND PLAYER PERSONNEL BACKGROUND
Miami Dolphins 1970-75
Offensive Line 1970-73
Offense 1974
Offense/Offense Line, Run Offense 1975
San Francisco 49ers 1976
Head Coach 1976
Detroit Lions 1978-84
Head Coach and Director of Football Operations 1978-84
Miami Dolphins 1990
Director of Pro Personnel 1990
Stanford 1993-94
Offensive Line 1993-94
Miami Dolphins 1995
Offensive Line 1995
California (Berkeley) 1998
Offensive Line 1998
Other: Special Consultant with Detroit Lions, Head coach of Minsk Belarus Zubers, an American pro football team in Soviet Union
Coaching Notes:
- • As an assistant coach with the Miami Dolphins (1970-75), the team led the NFL in rushing three straight years (1971-73).
- • The Dolphins set an NFL record with 2,960 rushing yards in 1972, the Dolphins’ perfect 14-0 season. That year, an unprecedented two running backs went over 1,000 yards rushing, including Larry Czonka (1,117) and Mercury Morris (1,000).
- • Each of Clark’s five starting offensive linemen earned All-Pro status, and two, center Jim Lnager and guard Larry Little are in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
- • Clark led the 49ers to a winning record (8-6) during his only season in San Francisco.
He led the Lions to back-to-back playoff appearances in 1982 and 1983. - • In 1983, Detroit claimed the NFC Central division title, the club’s first crown in 26 years.
Broadcast experience: Football broadcaster in Detroit and color analyst for University of Michigan game; Sideline reporter for Michigan State radio network in 1992.
