NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Vanderbilt University and E. Bronson Ingram Chair in Football Clark Lea have finalized a contract extension, Vice Chancellor for Athletics and University Affairs and Athletic Director Candice Storey Lee announced Friday. The extension ensures that the reigning SEC Coach of the Year will continue leading a resurgent football program at the forefront of a new era of Vanderbilt Athletics.
“Clark Lea embodies what is possible at Vanderbilt, and I am proud to continue this journey with him leading our football program,” Lee said. “From the very beginning of Vandy United, we unapologetically set out to build a model to sustain excellence in athletics and today simply reaffirms our commitment. Our focus is consistently competing at the highest level— with our values and identity as our firm foundation. As Coach Lea often says, our mission is winning. We deeply believe that we can do it all. With our alignment and partnership here at Vanderbilt, we can and we will.”
Now in his fifth season leading his alma mater, Lea has guided the Commodores to 16 wins since the start of the 2024 season—already the program’s second-best two-year total in nearly a century. In addition to drawing national attention, including the Netflix documentary Any Given Saturday and visits from ESPN College GameDay and SEC Nation, his Commodores have cemented FirstBank Stadium as an integral part of the Nashville sports scene. Vanderbilt has sold out 11 home games since the start of the 2024 season.
“Clark Lea’s success is demonstrating what we believe is possible for Vanderbilt football and the entire university,” said Chancellor Daniel Diermeier. “We set our aspirations high, attract the best people, and create an environment where they can succeed. Coach Lea has shown all of us what is possible when we make no small plans and have the determination and fortitude to execute them. His leadership is a powerful example of why we invest boldly in athletics and why our aspirations continue to rise.”
Lea was recently named AFCA Region 2 Coach of the Year and a semifinalist for the George Munger Award for college football coach of the year. He was previously named to the watch lists for the Paul “Bear” Bryant and Bobby Dodd Coach of the Year Awards.
“I am excited to be able to continue the work we started at Vanderbilt five years ago. Throughout the process of working through this extension, I have been overwhelmed with two feelings,” Lea said. “First, a sense of pride in the culture and environment we have established at Vanderbilt. Second, a sense of clarity that the work is not complete. This next phase of the program build will introduce many exciting things, including facility upgrades and needed resources for our staff and team. These investments will go a long way in ensuring our program can level up. I am grateful to have leadership from Chancellor Diermeier and Vice Chancellor Lee, who clear the way for our success. Our vision has never been about one or two seasons, rather, it has always been about sustained success at a championship level. I am thrilled to be able to continue the mission, and I appreciate all the support from Commodore Nation and our Nashville community.”
After leading Vanderbilt to the Birmingham Bowl championship a season ago, the program’s first bowl victory since 2013, Lea embraced the challenge to aim even higher this season. No. 12 Vanderbilt (9-2) enters Saturday’s regular-season finale at Tennessee looking for the first 10-win season since the program’s inception in 1890.
Vanderbilt’s nine wins already match the program’s best regular-season total since 1915, including a school-record three victories against top-15 opponents. Earlier this season, the Commodores entered the top 10 in the Associated Press rankings for the first time since 1947 and earned their highest ranking since 1937.
Lea was hired as the 29th Vanderbilt football head coach in December 2020. Before his time at Vanderbilt, Lea was a successful assistant coach across college football. As defensive coordinator at Notre Dame, he helped the Fighting Irish to a pair of undefeated regular seasons and College Football Playoff berths in 2018 and 2020. He was a semifinalist for the Broyles Award, presented to the nation’s top assistant coach, in 2020.
The Nashville native attended Montgomery Bell Academy and played baseball at Birmingham-Southern and Belmont before spending three seasons on the football team at Vanderbilt. He earned undergraduate and graduate degrees in political science during his time at Vanderbilt.
Last week, Vanderbilt celebrated the next chapter of the historic Vandy United campaign, which is already responsible for reimagining the student-athlete and fan experience at FirstBank Stadium. With the support of Commodore Nation, a new Football Experience Center will be the cornerstone of the campaign’s next chapter.
