Of the six applicants for Roanoke Rapids High School’s new football coach, Will Clark stood out.

“He was very impressive,” Athletic Director Tim Bennett said following a press conference introducing the Laurinburg native today. “He came with a plan he believed in. He wanted an opportunity to lead a program.”

With Clark scheduled to start January 22, he has a chance to introduce that plan early and work at his own pace, Bennett said. “We interviewed six candidates. He was the top choice. I think he’s got a great personality.”

Clark comes in after coach Russell Weinstein announced his retirement, said Bennett. “Coach Clark has some great shoes to fill. I think it will be a good situation for Coach Clark.”

Principal Robert Hurley said Clark comes from Scotland County where he was offensive coordinator on a very successful team with a state championship.

Expect a faster-paced game under Clark's tenure.

Clark said he will be incorporating the option out of the spread offense and players and fans can expect to see a faster paced game using both passing and run plays. Scotland County had four games where there were more than 80 snaps. “We may go for it on fourth down and use some fake punts. We will go faster sometimes and go at a snail’s pace.”

Expect five different looks to come out of the offense, Clark said.

What impressed Clark about Roanoke Rapids was that it is a city school system. “It’s a throwback. You don’t have to fight for kids. There’s a real good middle school and high school system. They work together.”

He said he understands the city gets behind the sports programs. “It gets people closer.”

The first thing will be to get the athletes in the weight room, a program Clark praised Weinstein for. “He’s done a tremendous job,” he said, adding, however, “We’re going to run fast. We’re going to run a lot more. You will see the effects in baseball and track.”

Clark doesn’t term his first season as a rebuilding year. “We want Yellow Jacket football. We want to win.”

Already meeting with players, Clark said, “I think they responded real well. They’re going to be doing the right things in the classroom. This is not just about football.”

A graduate of St. Andrews University in Laurinburg and a graduate of Scotland County High School, Clark will teach weight training at Roanoke Rapids.

He believes the students understand the pace he wants them to achieve and says it means all athletes can expect to get their hands on the ball. “It’s like basketball, you’ve got to get the ball inside to score.”

His coaching role models, like Mark Barnes, now at Crest High School, preached students. “You take care of the kids first and community second.”