University of North Texas Athletics

Clark "Corky" Nelson was head football coach at North Texas for nine seasons, from 1982 to 1990, a time when the program moved to Division I-AA and overcame financial hardships to succeed as a member of the Southland Conference.

Nelson coached the Mean Green to the third most victories in school history (48), winning a league championship in 1983, leading the team to a pair of second-place finishes and advancing as a Top 20-ranked team to the Division I-AA national playoffs three times.

Nelson-coached teams registered several impressive victories over Division I opponents, including New Mexico (18-8, 1983), Kansas State (22-10, 1985), TCU (24-20, 1986), Texas Tech (29-24, 1988), Rice (33-17, 1988) and SMU (14-7, 1990). He was named the Southland Conference Coach of the Year in 1983 and coached a total of 29 All-Conference performers at North Texas.

Nelson also coached two future NFL Hall of Famers in Earl Campbell (Tyler John Tyler High School) and Mike Singletary (Baylor). Nelson served in a dual role of head football coach and athletic director for one year, 1990.