IRVING, Texas – The American Conference has partnered with the Shawn Clark Legacy Foundation and its 61 Initiative.

The foundation and the 61 Initiative are named after longtime college football coach Shawn Clark, who was hospitalized during a sudden medical emergency and tragically died just over one week later on September 21, 2025 at just 50 years of age. Coach Clark was a 24-year NCAA coaching veteran, having served as the head coach at his alma mater Appalachian State from 2020-24.

The Shawn Clark Legacy Foundation's mission is to prioritize and improve the physical and mental health of the coaching community through awareness, prevention, and support. The Clark family established the foundation in Coach Clark’s honor and have traveled across the United States to speak with coaches and administrators about improving institutional awareness around the importance of physical and mental health in the profession.

Coach Clark’s widow, Jonelle, visited the 2026 American Kickoff event in St. Petersburg, Florida, in July and met with the American head football coaches to share the foundation’s story and its 61 Initiative, which encourages all coaches to dedicate one more minute to physical and mental wellbeing. The American has since adopted the 61 Initiative as a conference cause in support of its coaches group.

“The health and well-being of everyone in the American Conference will always be our top priority”, said American Commissioner Tim Pernetti. “We were honored to host Jonelle Clark at the American Kickoff in Florida to learn more about the importance of coaches and administrators being diligent about their health. The American Conference is proud to partner with the Shawn Clark Legacy Foundation and its 61 Initiative and look forward to working with them to create national awareness."

Additional information about the foundation can be found on Facebook and X. Donations can be made directly to the foundation by following the link here.