PORT ANGELES — Dustin Clark knows what it takes to win state championships at the Class 2A level and how to coach Port Angeles kids into humble, high-achieving winners.
The Port Angeles chiropractor has been selected as the next head coach of the Port Angeles High School football team. The hire was approved by the Port Angeles School Board on Thursday evening.
Clark won football and basketball state championships at Elma as a junior in 1997 and earned Associated Press Class 2A All-State Football Player of the Year honors as a senior.
He also has served as a boys basketball assistant coach with the Port Angeles boys basketball program under head coach Kasey Ulin for the last four seasons as the Riders improved into a state-caliber program and posted a 62-25 overall record.
District Athletic Director Dwayne Johnson described Clark as a very capable coach, with a track record of successes, a wealth of coaching knowledge and WIAA state championship experiences.
“Coach Clark made a confident impression on the interview team with his keenness, aspirations, and commitment inside his detailed football plan,” Johnson said. “Dustin has the ability to articulate his knowledge of football that will root character and commitment inside the program. He is a great fit for the Roughrider Football program, and we’re excited to welcome him and his family to the Roughrider Football Community,” Johnson said.
“He is linked to the Port Angeles community and system with his wife Tasha and family of four children [Taylar, Dru, Teagan and Tianna] [and] he has a clear understanding of how the PAHS Family works with his leadership and professionalism,” Johnson said.
Clark will be the program’s 10th head coach since 2001.
“I feel confident that I can make a significant contribution to the school, community, and most importantly, the young men in the football program,” Clark said.
“I’m a football guy, I really enjoyed playing it and coaching the game is a lot of fun. I’m interested in getting it back to what football should be in a community. I know what it did for the Elma community when I was in school and what we are doing in the basketball program here is similar.”
He understands the work it will take to build the Riders back into a contender.
“For me, attention to detail and holding the kids to a high level on and off the field,” Clark said. “We’ll be focused on taking care of the classroom first and foremost, because they are students first.”
Clark knows Port Angeles athletes are highly capable from his work with the hoops program and from watching his own kids excel on state-bound softball and girls soccer teams. And he’ll continue to support multi-sport athletes.
“That’s always highly encouraged,” Clark said of having athletes out for multiple sports.
Scheme-wise, Clark wants to balance the run and pass on offense and play with discipline and effort on defense.
“I want to see who we have coming out, where we are at,” Clark said. “The biggest thing for all these kids is to put them in positions to be successful.”
He plans to organize a team meeting to introduce himself and his staff to the squad in early August before practices begin Aug. 18.
Clark kicked the game-winning 26-yard field goal, intercepted two passes and caught a 21-yard TD pass in a 38-35 state title game win over Pullman in 1997. He then chased around future Seattle Sonics point guard Luke Ridnour and scored 16 points in the final to win the 1998 state hoops crown.
“The biggest thing is the hard work it takes,” Clark said of the lessons learned from his high school career. “The dedication to being your best every single day.”
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Sports reporter Michael Carman can be contacted at 360-406-0674 or mcarman@peninsuladailynews.com.
