Due to NCAA violations, Tennessee assistant basketball coach Rod Clark will miss two games of the 2023–24 season, as Tennessee confirmed on Monday night. This was first reported by KnoxNews Mike Wilson.
Tennessee released a statement on Monday night that stated, “The University and assistant men’s basketball coach Rod Clark are working collaboratively with the NCAA to address a violation.” “Coach Clark will miss the first two games of the 2023–24 season, against Wisconsin and Tennessee Tech.
Coach Clark has taken full responsibility for his mistaken judgment and recognized it. We are grateful for his cooperation all along the way. NCAA regulations forbid further remarks or information.
Clark joined Rick Barnes’ staff in the spring of 2021 and is now in his third season with the Tennessee program. Clark worked as an assistant coach at Austin Peay and the University of Illinois at Chicago for one season each before joining Tennessee.
Before joining UIC as an assistant coach, the 30-year-old worked as a prep basketball assistant coach. Clark coached the NIKE EYBL power MoKan Elite while serving as an assistant coach at Sunrise Christian Academy in Kansas.
In his five years as a college coach, Clark’s first noncompliance incident is the one that cost him a two-game ban. During Rick Barnes’ nine years as head coach of Tennessee basketball, there have been no significant NCAA violations or compliance issues with the team.
Tennessee’s much awaited 2023–24 season gets underway at Thompson-Boling Arena at Food City Center on Monday night. The media’s pick to win the SEC this season is the ninth-ranked Vols, who play Tennessee Tech to start the season.
On Monday night, the Vols and Golden Eagles tip off at 6:30 p.m. ET. For SEC Network+, Michael Wottreng, Steve Hamer, and Sarah Detwiler are on the call.
