Kirk Clark - Pitching Coach - Baseball Coaches - South Dakota State University Athletics

Kirk Clark

Title:
Pitching Coach
Email:
Kirk.Clark@sdstate.edu

Kirk Clark joined the Jackrabbit baseball program in January 2021 and continues in the role of pitching coach.

During his first season at South Dakota State, Clark mentored second-team all-Summit League performer Drew Beazley.

As a staff, Jackrabbit hurlers combined to record 402 strikeouts in 384 innings. Newcomer Ryan Bourassa notched 65 strikeouts in only 42 1/3 innings for the highest single-season rate of strikeouts per nine innings in program history at 13.8.

Clark previously spent six years as an assistant coach at Wayne State College (Neb.), where he served as the Wildcats' pitching coach and recruiting coordinator. During his time at WSC, the Wildcats posted four winning seasons, including a breakthrough 32-18 campaign in 2019.

Clark's pitching staffs consistently ranked in the upper half of the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference for earned run average and saves, including posting a 4.17 ERA in 2019 to rank fourth. In his first season, 2015, WSC led the league in strikeouts per game (8.14) and ranked third in ERA (4.58).

Wayne State relievers combined to lead the NSIC with 14 saves in 2017 and ranked second with 12 saves in 2015.

Clark arrived at Wayne State after a professional playing career. He was signed as a free agent following the 2009 Major League Baseball Draft and went on to set a single-season record with 29 saves for Class A Lexington in his first full professional season in 2010, earning South Atlantic League All-Star recognition. During three-plus seasons in the Astros organization, which included two seasons with Lancaster of the Class A California League, he compiled a 14-11 record with 56 saves in 150 appearances.

He also played in various independent leagues, including pitching for the Sioux Falls Canaries (two seasons) and the Schaumburg Bombers in the American Association, as well as 2014 stint with the Quebec City Capitals.

A native of Moline, Illinois, Clark began his collegiate playing career at Iowa Western Community College in Council Bluffs before moving across the Missouri River to pitch for Creighton. He set the Iowa Western career record for wins with 17, helping lead the Reivers to the Junior College World Series in 2007. He was a first-team all-region selection after going 8-3 with a 3.66 ERA in 2007.