Perry Clark
Softball Coach (1998-2018)
Led Chiefs' softball to unprecedented seven straight ISCC titles
Clark's teams went a combined 80-8 in conference play during that span
Eight-time ISCC Softball Coach of the Year
Guided Waubonsee to first-ever Region 4 title and NJCAA Division II World Series appearance
During his 20 years at Waubonsee, Perry Clark was affectionately known as “PC” because of the initials of his first and last name. But the PC could easily have stood for “passionate coach” as well. In 10 years as the Chiefs’ Assistant Softball Coach and 10 as the program’s head coach, Clark helped transform and elevate Waubonsee softball to heights it had never reached before or since.
A graduate of Oswego High School in 1983, the energetic Clark began coaching softball at Naperville Central High School. He then helped co-found the Northern Illinois Thunder Softball organization, an “A” level summer travel program. He then served as Thunder’s President, Advisory Chairman and Chief Executive Officer for over 20 years. Coach Clark began assisting Waubonsee’s program in 1998. With Clark’s assistance the Chiefs became a perennial power, ranking in the top-25 nationally seven of his 10 years at the helm.
His 2011 team won a school-record 42 games on the way to capturing the Illinois Skyway Collegiate Conference (ISCC) before reaching the Region IV championship game for the first time in school history. Under Clark’s guidance Waubonsee also won the next six ISCC titles, winning an unprecedented seven straight league crowns while going a combined 80-8 in conference play during that span. His 2012 team won 39 games, his 2014 squad also won 39 games and finished as Region IV runner-up, while his 2015 team won 41 contests also finishing as the Region bridesmaid. In 2017 Clarks’ crew finally broke through, going 30-10 over their final 40 games on the way to winning the Region IV Championship for the first time. The Chiefs then made their first-ever appearance at the NJCAA Division II World Series in Mississippi, holding their own against the defending National Champion Louisiana State University-Eunice before falling 7-4. Waubonsee reached the third round before bowing out of the double-elimination tournament losing 2-1 in extra innings to finish with 37 wins and tied for 9th in the nation.
With the support of his late wife Linda, Clark directed the Chiefs to 302 wins overall, the all-time leader in program history. In ISCC play his teams compiled a 104-25 mark for a winning percentage of 81 percent. Clark was chosen the ISCC Softball Coach of the Year eight times and was named the Region IV Coach of the Year and the ISCC Female Coach of the Year in 2017. Clark’s teams excelled in the classroom as well earning several All-Academic Team awards, while 75 of his student-athletes went on to play at four-year institutions. During his tenure at Waubonsee, Clark served as the Illinois USSSA Fastpitch State Director and on the NJCAA Region IV Softball Committee. He has also conducted various softball camps and spoke at several clinics locally and statewide. Clark is currently the head softball coach at Mt. Mary University in Milwaukee, Wisconsin where he additionally works as the Blue Angels’ Assistant Athletic Director of Facilities. He is an active member of the National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) and currently is an NCAA Division III representative. Clark currently lives in Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin, and has one daughter, Abbey Swanson, who resides in Chicago with her husband Alex.