Sport: Baseball Country: United States Category: Coaching

Jonelle Clark seeks to honor Shawn Clark's legacy after his passing

Yahoo Sports • 1 min read • Latest: Jun 19, 2026, 9:30 AM

Last updated Jun 19, 2026

Jonelle Clark seeks to honor Shawn Clark's legacy after his passing

Summary

Jonelle Clark has launched the Shawn Clark Legacy Foundation and The 61 Initiative following the death of her husband, Shawn Clark, on September 22. Shawn Clark, a former coach at UCF and Appalachian State, was hospitalized before his untimely passing. Jonelle aims to raise awareness about the health challenges faced by coaches, advocating for better lifestyle practices to prevent such tragedies. Her initiatives focus on ensuring no other families endure similar losses.

Source Links

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Key Details

•Jonelle Clark creates a foundation after Shawn's death on September 22.
•Shawn Clark joined UCF's coaching staff in January 2025.
•Jonelle aims to raise awareness about coaches' health risks.
•The initiatives focus on preventing the lifestyle issues leading to such tragedies.
•Jonelle emphasizes the emotional toll on families of coaches.

Latest Updates

9:30 AMYahoo Sports — Former UCF coach Shawn Clark’s legacy lives on in his wife’s mission

What they're saying

"
ORLANDO, Fla. — For Jonelle Clark, identity has been something she’s grown into throughout her life. Whether it was being a standout athlete at Eastern Kentucky, where she earned all-conference honors as a pitcher for the Colonels. Or becoming a devoted wife and partner to Shawn Clark, an assistant coach on the football team at EKU, or later becoming a loving mother to two children. It wasn’t ...
— Yahoo Sports

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