The Vanderbilt Commodores were aiming for back-to-back wins over the Tide for the first time since 1955–56. Unfortunately, the Tide won 30-14. But Vanderbilt is still having a great season, sitting at 5-1.
A major factor in the Commodores’ recent progress has been head coach Clark Lea, now in his sixth season at the helm. Lea has compiled a 21–34 overall record at Vanderbilt, with last year marking his first winning season in charge.
Here’s a closer look at the man leading the Commodores.
Who is Clark Lea?
Clark Lea has been Vanderbilt’s head coach since 2021. He also knows the program from the inside, having played fullback for the Commodores under Bobby Johnson from 2002–04.
Wins were hard to come by during Lea’s playing days — Vanderbilt went 6–29 in his three seasons — but he still carved out a role. He finished his career with nine carries for 20 yards and three receptions for 39 yards. Before his time on the gridiron in Nashville, Lea played baseball at Birmingham-Southern, where he helped lead the team to the 2001 NAIA championship, and later spent a season at Belmont in 2002.
Lea began his coaching career at Harvard-Westlake in 2005 before moving into the college ranks as a graduate assistant at UCLA in 2006. Over the next decade and a half, he worked his way up with stops at South Dakota State, Bowling Green, Syracuse, and Wake Forest, before landing at Notre Dame. With the Irish, he spent four years on staff, first as linebackers coach and then as defensive coordinator from 2018–2020.
In 2024, Lea was named SEC Coach of the Year after guiding Vanderbilt to a 7–6 record. That season included a 40–35 upset over Alabama and a 35–27 win against Georgia Tech in the Birmingham Bowl.
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How old is Clark Lea?
Lea is one of the younger head coaches in the SEC, at just 43 years old. He was born in Nashville, Tenn.
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Clark Lea career timeline
Lea started his coaching career as an assistant at Harvard-Westlake, a prep school in Los Angeles. In 2006, he was hired by UCLA as a graduate assistant. From 2007–08, he worked at South Dakota State, serving as linebackers coach and recruiting coordinator. He helped the Jackrabbits capture the Great West Football Conference championship in 2007.
Lea returned to UCLA from 2009–11, working under head coach Rick Neuheisel. He then spent one season as Bowling Green’s linebackers coach in 2012 before moving on to Syracuse, where he coached from 2013–15.
In 2016, Lea took over the linebackers at Wake Forest. In his lone season there, the Demon Deacons’ defense ranked among the nation’s top 20 in several categories, including fumbles recovered (3rd), turnovers forced (10th), sacks (12th), as well as red zone and scoring defense.
Lea joined Notre Dame in 2017 and spent three seasons with the Irish, the last three as defensive coordinator. From 2018–20, Notre Dame went 33–5, reached the College Football Playoff in 2018, and advanced to the ACC Championship Game in 2020.
After being named Vanderbilt’s head coach in 2021, Lea endured a rocky start, with 2–10 records in both 2021 and 2023, sandwiched around a 5–7 season in 2022. His breakthrough came in 2024, when Vanderbilt posted a 7–6 record, upset Alabama, and won the Birmingham Bowl. The Commodores have carried that momentum into 2025, starting 5–0 for the first time since 2008.
Clark Lea contract details
Lea signed a contract extension in 2023 that keeps him under contract through the 2029 season. The financial terms were not publicly disclosed, but his buyout is estimated to be between $13–15 million, according to "Saturday Down South."
Clark Lea family
Lea is married to his wife Allison. The two have two sons, Clark III and Jack, as well as a daughter named, Mara.
Football is family.#AnchorDown pic.twitter.com/Vui5i5eOOj
— Clark Lea (@Coach_Lea) March 21, 2022
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Vanderbilt remaining schedule
Here's a look at what Vanderbilt has left on the schedule for 2025:
- Oct. 18: Vs. No. 13 LSU
- Oct. 25: Vs. No. 19 Missouri
- Nov. 1: @ No. 9 Texas
- Nov. 8: Vs. Auburn
- Nov. 22: Vs. Kentucky
- Nov. 29: @ Tennessee
As you can see, Vanderbilt has a very good chance at having the most wins in program history in quite awhile. James Franklin led the Commodores to back-to-back nine-win seasons in 2012 and 2013. Vandy has never reached double-digit wins in school history.
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