MORROW, Ga. – Clayton State University Director of Athletics Jermaine Rolle announced on Friday afternoon the appointment of Ricky Clarke as the seventh Head Women's Soccer Coach.
Coach Clarke joins the Lakers after 20+ years of coaching experience at the youth, collegiate, and professional levels. He also brings in a deep background in coaching education and player development.
"I'm incredibly honored and excited to step into the role of Head Women's Soccer Coach at Clayton State University," said Clarke. "This opportunity feels like the perfect alignment of values, vision, and purpose. From the first moment I connected with the leadership here, I felt the energy and the commitment to excellence—on the field, in the classroom, and within the community. My personal values of kindness, relentlessness, and curiosity mirror the university's core values, and I'm eager to build something truly special with the student-athletes, staff, and supporters of this program. Being just a heartbeat away from Atlanta—a cosmopolitan city pulsing with culture, creativity, and opportunity—only adds to the excitement. This vibrant setting offers countless possibilities for our student athletes and provides a dynamic environment to grow as individuals and as a team.
"I can't wait to get started, meet the players, and begin this new chapter," Clarke continues. "Together, we'll strive to build a fearless, resilient, and relentlessly competitive program that reflects the spirit of Clayton State. Let's go Lakers!"
Prior to Clayton State, Coach Clarke was the Interim Head Coach for the Houston Dash of the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL). As an interim Head Coach, Clarke was responsible for the management of the team, the execution of individual development programs, and track player progress and growth. He also was instrumental in representing the team in different media engagements.
In 2021, Clarke was an Assistant Women's Soccer Coach for Georgia State University where the Panthers went 9-4-7 and reached the Semifinals of the Sun Belt Conference Tournament. Coach Clarke mentored and directed three NCAA DI Southeast All-Region selections. Prior to his time at Georgia State, Ricky was an assistant coach for the Seattle Reign, who competes in the NWSL. He was mentored by and was under the direction of current Angel City FC Head Coach Sam Laity.
Before his arrival at the professional ranks, Coach Clarke served as a National Education Staff member for United Soccer Coaches (USC) from 2013-2021 while also serving as the Technical Director for SSA Soccer in Atlanta. At SSA, he managed a variety of levels and implemented different coaching philosophies and player development techniques. In 2015, Coach Clarke was appointed as the Director of Scouting & Player Recruitment for the NASL club Atlanta Silverbacks where he was mainly responsible for creating scouting reports, managing the recruiting process of players and building player profiles. Coach Clarke also served in other various coaching roles with Rush Soccer in Milton, Ga., and in California with the Pleasanton Rage ECNL, Mission Valley United, and NOGA Soccer.
"I'm excited to officially welcome Ricky Clarke to the Clayton State Women's Soccer program," said Director of Athletics Jermaine Rolle. "Ricky is an exceptional coach and mentor who brings a wealth of experiences at the professional, collegiate and club levels. He has a passion for developing student-athletes, and a competitive mindset that aligns perfectly with the direction we are taking this program. Beyond the accolades, Ricky is a true players' coach - passionate, disciplined, supportive and deeply committed to growth on and off the field. His tactical knowledge, recruiting network, and ability to connect with student-athletes will elevate every aspect of our program. We're fortunate to have him on board as we build something special here at Clayton State."
Coach Clarke holds a variety of coaching certifications including a USSF A, B, and Youth license while also earning a USC Master Diploma, Premier Diploma, and DOC Diploma. Clarke is a native of Camberwall, London and attended the University of Bedfordshire where he played in two National University Finals. Ricky also played semi-pro soccer at Langford Club FC and Harpenden Town FC.
Mammoth Sports Consulting assisted the Clayton State University Department of Athletics in this national search.