Clark Lea
Hot seat: 21% chance he is fired before the season ends
Why: 4-5, 2.1 wins behind preseason pace; power-conference job
Coaching since 2018
Clark Lea is 30-41 at Vanderbilt since 2021 and 30-41 in his career. Hot seat: 21% chance he is fired before the season ends.
Updated Nov 9, 2026Sources: school staff directories, TransferPortl coaching tenures, CFBD
2026 season4-5Conf 1-5
At Vanderbilt30-41Conf 12-34 · since 2021
Last 3 seasons21-14Conf 10-12
Career30-41Conf 12-34 · 6 seasons
Source: ESPN standings; Hot seat tracker through 2025, ESPN standings for 2026; Hot seat tracker
Vanderbilt won 46.8% of its games before he arrived (34.6% in conference). His career win rate is -4.5 pts against that (-8.5 pts in conference).
Bio
- Hired
- Dec 14, 2020
- Alma mater
- Vanderbilt
- Calls plays
- Yes
- Background
- Defense
- First-time head coach
- No
Head Coaching Seasons
5 seasons| Year | School | W-L | Conf | SRS | SP+ | SP+ Off | SP+ Def | AP Final | Titles and Bowl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 |  Vanderbilt | 10-3 | SEC | 16.0 | 20.3 | 39.9 | 21.4 | 15 | L 27-34 ReliaQuest Bowl vs Iowa |
| 2024 | Vanderbilt | 7-6 | SEC | 7.4 | 4.9 | 28.2 | 25.4 | - | W 35-27 Birmingham Bowl vs Georgia Tech |
| 2023 | Vanderbilt | 2-10 | SEC | -11.0 | -12.7 | 23.6 | 36.3 | - | - |
| 2022 | Vanderbilt | 5-7 | SEC | -2.4 | -4.7 | 29.9 | 33.4 | - | - |
| 2021 | Vanderbilt | 2-10 | SEC | -10.2 | -19.4 | 17.4 | 35.6 | - | - |
Vanderbilt Staff, 2026
27- Clark LeaE. Bronson Ingram Chair in Football
- Tim BeckOffensive Coordinator
- Nick LezynskiCo-Defensive Coordinator • Linebackers
- Steve GregoryDefensive Coordinator
- Shane GallantAssistant Special Teams Coordinator
- Jeff LePakSpecial Teams Coordinator • H Backs
- Jamaal RichardsonAssistant Coach • Cornerbacks
- Seth PayneAssistant Coach • Defensive Line
- Jovan HayeAssistant Coach • Defensive Tackles
- Chris KlenakisAssistant Coach • Offensive Line
- Jeff NadyAssistant Coach • Offensive Tackles
- Trenton KirklinAssistant Coach • Quarterbacks
- Melvin RiceAssistant Coach • Safeties
- Arion ShinaverAssistant Coach • Stars | Nickels
- Brendan FlahertyAssistant Coach • Tight Ends
- Justin HarrisAssistant Cornerbacks Coach
- Adetokunbo OgundejiAssistant Defensive Line Coach
- Jaxon YorkAssistant Linebackers Coach
- Andrew GachkarAssistant Nickels Coach
- Jackson LampleyAssistant Offensive Line Coach
- Carson CasarahiAssistant Quarterbacks Coach
- Josh AdamsAssistant Running Backs Coach • Offense Analyst
- Isaiah RichardsonAssistant Safeties Coach
- DJ StewardAssistant Wide Receivers Coach
- Alex BaileyPass Game Coordinator • Wide Receivers
- Adam MorrisRun Game Coordinator • Defensive Ends
- Ghaali Muhammad-LankfordRun Game Coordinator • Running Backs
Transfer Portal at Vanderbilt
Roster average Transfer Vulnerability Score (TVS): 15
| Cycle | In | Out | Net |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 23 | 24 | -1 |
| 2025 | 19 | 19 | 0 |
| 2024 | 15 | 15 | 0 |
| 2023 | 1 | 3 | -2 |
| 2022 | 0 | 4 | -4 |
Staff History by Season
1 stint- 2026VanderbiltE. Bronson Ingram Chair in Football
