Aug. 25, 2010
Vanderbilt head coach Greg Allen has named Holly Clark to an assistant coach position with the Commodore women’s golf team. Clark replaces Nicki Cutler, who was named as the head coach at Princeton University earlier this summer.
Clark began the Carson Newman golf program in January of 2008 as the team’s first head coach, and helped lead the Lady Eagles to their first NCAA Regional appearance in 2010 and the South Atlantic Conference Championship in their first year of existence in 2009. Clark had an individual compete in the NCAA Regional in the program’s first year in 2009, and coached a NGCA All-American and an Academic All-American in 2009-10.
“I’m really excited to have Holly join our program and become part of the family,” said Allen. “She has an impressive background in a very short time as a coach. Starting a college golf program shows me that she knows what it takes to work hard and get things done. She has a wonderful personality filled with southern charm that the Vanderbilt community will fall in love with.”
Before her arrival at Carson Newman, Clark was a four-year standout player at the University of Tennessee, where she helped lead the Volunteers to the 2006 NCAA East Regional title. The Morristown, Tenn., native turned in one of her top individual finishes at the Southeastern Conference Championships that same year, when she placed 12th. Clark also finished eighth at the Mercedes-Benz Women’s Collegiate Championships in 2004.
Off the course at Tennessee, she was named to the All-SEC Good Works team and earned Academic All-SEC honors. She also earned National Golf Coaches Association Academic All-America honors as a senior.
Originally from Morristown, Tenn., Clark was a standout at nearby Morristown West High School, where she led the Lady Trojans to a state title in 2003 and captured state medalist honors. She was named East Tennessee High School Player of the Year as a senior.
“I am thrilled to be in Nashville joining the Vanderbilt family and want to thank Coach Allen for giving me this great opportunity,” said Clark. “To be able to work with and learn from a coach of his stature will be invaluable. I am looking forward to knowing and working with the talented girls on this team and having a great year. I am also looking forward to becoming a part of Vanderbilt’s rich athletic and academic traditions and wearing my Black and Gold with pride!”
Clark and her husband Chris will reside in Nashville.
