2016 GSC Hall of Fame Spotlight: Lloyd Clark
Click
HERE for the complete 2016 GSC Hall of Fame release.
Career Highlights
- Served as head women’s basketball coach and an adjunct history professor at Delta State from 1983 to 2002.
- Earned his bachelor’s degree from DSU in 1970 and his master’s degree in 1977.
- Retired in 2002 as the GSC’s all-time wins leader with a career record of 494-98. He is # on the list at the time of his induction.
- Led Delta State to 16 NCAA Division II Tournaments, including 11 Elite Eight appearances and three national titles in 1989, 1990 and 1992.
- Led Delta State to 11 GSC championships in 19 seasons.
- Was a five-time GSC Coach of the Year
- Inducted into the Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame in 2006
- Served as head coach of Warren Central High School in Vicksburg, Mississippi from 1970 to 1982.
Institutional Statement
"Over Clark’s 19 seasons, his teams would compile one of the best records in women’s basketball history (494-98) and solidify his name as one of the all-time greats in college basketball coaching. He currently is the Lady Statesmen’s all-time winningest coach, having put together five 30-win seasons, and 11 20-win seasons.
Clark became the sixth coach in the program’s history on July 1, 1983. The program was then in NCAA Division I but was beginning to make the transition to the Gulf South Conference and NCAA Division II. In his two years against Division I competition, the Lady Statesmen posted an impressive 39-15 record. After the move to Division II, the Lady Statesmen claimed five straight GSC titles, and amassed a record of 70-4 during the first four years.
His 1988-89, 1989-90, and 1991-92 teams claimed the NCAA Division II National Championship. The Lady Statesmen came very close to repeating the feat Margaret Wade’s clubs had done during the 1970’s, but fell a little short in the 1990-91 season.
During his 19 years at the helm, Clark guided teams to the NCAA tournament 16 times. Eleven of those years DSU advanced to the NCAA Division II Elite Eight. In those 16 appearances, the Lady Statesmen compiled a 39-14 (.736) record.
Clark’s record in the Gulf South Conference is just as impressive. Over his career, DSU amassed a record of 206-38 (.845) in Gulf South Conference play. The GSC recognized his excellence as a coach, awarding him the Coach of the Year honor five times. He has also won numerous NCAA Region Coach of the Year honors as well.
Walter Sillers Coliseum was one of the most feared venues in America under his watch. In 19 seasons, the Lady Statesmen dominated play in Sillers going an amazing 264-22 (.923). DSU also became the first school in NCAA history to win a National title on its home floor.
In 2006, Clark was inducted into the Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame, an honor most deserving for the winningest coach in Lady Statesmen basketball history. Clark joins Margaret Wade and Lusia Harris-Stewart in the Hall."