Men’s Golf’s Matt Clark Wins Assistant Coach Of The Year Award

Matt Clark, the associate head coach of the University of North Carolina men’s golf team, is the winner of the 2022 Jan Strickland Assistant Coach of the Year award, presented by TaylorMade Golf Company and the Golf Coaches Association of America.
 
The award is presented to the assistant coach that, among other things, has excelled in working with their student-athletes both on the course and in the classroom.
 
“To be recognized with so many other amazing coaches that were nominated is truly an honor,” says Clark. “I am grateful and humbled the committee, led by Coach Harrington, has selected me for the Jan Strickland Award. It is a testament of the trust and belief Coach (Andrew) DiBitetto has in me and my abilities as a coach, as well as the willingness of our players to allow me to run alongside of them as they chase their dreams on and off the course. I am fortunate to call myself a coach and appreciate the journey the players have taken me on during my 25 years as a coach. I look forward to the experiences that will come my way in the future.”
Clark has helped recruit and coach players that have re-written the Tar Heel record book and developed UNC into one of the top programs in college golf. Carolina has posted four top-20 finishes at the NCAA Championships (and was ranked No. 13 by Golfweek when the pandemic curtailed the 2019-20 season), won 10 tournaments and excelled in the classroom.
 
The 2021-22 season was an exceptional one for Carolina as the Tar Heels won three tournaments in addition to finishing first in stroke play in the ACC Championship and tied for first in stroke play in the NCAA Championship. UNC tied for fifth in the NCAA Championship, advancing to match play for the second year in a row. Three Tar Heels earned All-ACC honors and for the just the second time in school history four players earned All-America accolades. Carolina finished in the top seven in all three major polls.
 
”Everyone in the Carolina Golf family is ecstatic Coach Clark is receiving the Jan Strickland Award,” says DiBitetto. “He brings passion, competitiveness and joy to our program every day. Coach Clark is incredible at building relationships, understanding people, holding everyone to an exceptionally high standard and inspiring them to be their very best. This award means even more because it is voted on by golf coaches….