Former UAB head football coach Bill Clark has been named president of The CoachSafely Foundation, the national leader in youth sports injury prevention.
The foundation specializes in policy advocacy, research and science-based education to advance its mission of reducing injury in youth sports.
Clark, who has served as vice president since the foundation's inception in 2018, will continue to advance the organization's mission to protect young athletes.
"Seven years ago, Coach Clark played a pivotal role in drafting the Foundation's charter along with Drew Ferguson, Dr. James R. Andrews, MD, and Jimmy Lee, chairman and owner of Buffalo Rock," said Jack Crowe, chairman of the board, CoachSafely Foundation. "Coach Clark steps into the role of president at a time when significant progress is underway and ambitious goals lie ahead, his leadership will be pivotal in driving us forward and shaping our future."
Clark replaces former foundation president Robert Andrew "Drew" Ferguson, who passed away in October 2024.
Under Clark, the foundation will launch a statewide campaign in Alabama to raise awareness of the preventable nature of youth sports injuries. CoachSafely will also initiate a strategic alliance to expand youth sports program availability in Alabama counties that lack access, ensuring more children can play.
State Sen. Jabo Waggoner (R-Vestavia Hills) sponsors the Coach Safely Act, which requires coaches of children ages 14 and under to complete specialized training on concussions, head trauma and other serious injuries common in high-risk sports.
"Alabama's Coach Safely Act was the first law of its kind in the United States and we've made tremendous progress but there's more work to be done," Clark stated. "Together with our partners, community leaders, the legislature, and supporters, we'll continue to drive our state's excellence in youth sports and serve as a model for the nation."
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