Members of the Andalusia Board of Education agreed to hire Anthony Clark as the new head basketball coach at Andalusia High School.

“We are very excited about this opportunity,” Clark said. “I want to thank the school board and the administration for really working with me on this process.”

Clark has spent 25 years in coaching and education, and has led 20 teams to the playoffs.

Clark may be familiar name to basketball fans around Covington County, as he spent several years coaching at Pleasant Home. Clark was is a 1987 graduate of Pleasant Home High School.

“Being from Covington County, I still have a lot of connections in the area and it means a lot to get back down here,” Clark said. “My first memories of basketball are watching Andalusia and Pleasant Home play in the Christmas tournament.”

While at Pleasant Home, Clark won back-to-back state championships in 2001 and 2002.

“I had a lot of teachers and mentors in Pleasant Home that have really helped throughout my life, and it’s great to be back in Covington County,” Clark said. “Now, I’m ready to get to Andalusia and get started. Coach (Richard) Robertson has left a legacy of hard work and that’s something I want to continue. This isn’t a program that needs a lot of rebuilding, the foundation and traditions are already there.”

In 2001 and 2002, he was named the Alabama Sports Writers Association’s Class 1A Coach of the Year.

Over his coaching career, Clark has head coaching stints at Boaz High School, Douglas High School, UMS-Wright, Pleasant Home and Beauregard High School.

Clark has also coached several all-star teams.

He was the head coach Team U.S.A. High School all-star team in 2000 in Mexico, and led the 2001 Team U.S.A. High School all-star team to an undefeated tour in Honduras.

In 2001, Clark was also named the head coach for the Alabama team in the Alabama/Mississippi All-Star basketball game.

While at UMS-Wright, Clark was named Class 4A Coach of the Year in 2009 and 2010 by the Mobile Optimist Club.