Bio

Clarence McDougal enters his fifth season as defensive backs coach at Gulf Coast having played a big part in stingy units that won a national championship and ranked in the top 10 in total defense. The 2019 team won the school’s fifth national championship in football. He continues to help Gulf Coast hold the reputation as DBU for sending a steady stream of players to four-year schools.

The Bulldogs have sent 20 defensive backs to the Next Level since he’s been at Perk, including 15 to FBS schools. Five of his pupils have gone to Power 5 schools.

In 2022, his defensive backs kept receivers covered to help the Bulldogs sack the quarterback 34 times, 10^th-most in the country.

In 2021, Gulf Coast was the fifth-stingiest team in the country against the pass (138.0 yards per game).

The 2020 Bulldogs ranked in the top 10 in total defense and had the nation’s sixth-stingiest run defense. Jadarrius Perkins signed to play at Florida, following the path of 2019 starter Diwun Black.

The 2019 Gulf Coast team led the country in total defense (191.1 yards per game) and was third in passing defense (128.9 ypg) and fourth in rushing defense (60.9 ypg). The Regulators allowed only 12.3 points per game, second-best in the country.

Safety Jackie Matthews was named NJCAA All-American and signed with West Virginia.

McDougal spent the prior five seasons as an assistant at Hinds Community College, where he was secondary coach from 2013-17 before being defensive coordinator for one season. During his time as secondary coach, his squad averaged 10.4 interceptions per season and featured three NJCAA All-Americans. He has sent 22 players to play NCAA Division I football.

McDougal was the linebackers and safeties coach at Copiah-Lincoln Community College from 2008-12, where he coached with Gulf Coast defensive coordinator Brett Shufelt. McDougal helped lead Co-Lin to the 2012 MACJC championship.

McDougal was a standout on the field during his playing career. He played at Clinton High School where he was a member of the Clarion-Ledger’s Dandy Dozen team as a defensive back and wide receiver. He was a first-team All-State selection and played in the Mississippi-Alabama All-Star Game.

After being rated the No. 6 safety in the country, he played at Mississippi State where he played 34 games from 2003-2005. He had 173 tackles, 14 tackles for loss, two sacks, two interceptions, a forced fumble, a fumble recovery and a blocked kick.

McDougal has a bachelor’s degree in interdisciplinary studies from MSU and a master’s in sports administration from Belhaven University. He spent time in the Tampa Bay Buccaneers training camp.

McDougal is married to his wife, Crystal, and they have three children: Cameren, 20, Lauren Crislyn, 10, and Clarence Jr., 9.