Former Eagle Player, Coach Clinkscale Wins National Title With Wolverines

Steve Clinkscale, a former Ashland University football defensive back and assistant coach, won an NCAA Division I national championship on Monday (Jan. 8) night, as the University of Michigan co-defensive coordinator/passing game coordinator/defensive backs coach helped the Wolverines to a 34-13 win over Washington in the CFP National Championship Game.
 
Clinkscale was an assistant coach for the Eagles from 2001-07, then embarked on an NCAA Division I coaching run which has included stints at Western Carolina (2008), Toledo (2009-11), Illinois (2012), Cincinnati (2013-15), Kentucky (2016-21) and Michigan (2021-current).
 
With Michigan, Clinkscale started as passing game coordinator and DB coach, and was elevated to co-defensive coordinator prior to the 2022 season.
 
As an Ashland football player, Clinkscale (1996-99) played in the NCAA Division II All-Star Game following the 1999 season, and was a part of the Eagles' 1997 Midwest Intercollegiate Football Conference title and NCAA Division II postseason berth.