Clark Named New Somerville Girls Basketball Coach

After a long and sometimes contentious search for a new girls basketball coach at Somerville High School, superintendent Tony Pierantozzi and athletic director Nicole Viele announced Monday that former Simmons College assistant coach Shannon Clark will take over coaching the Highlanders. 

Clark will bring seven years of successful collegiate and high school coaching experience to Somerville. 

"There was a lot of emotion involved in the process," said Clark. "I just met with the kids and a lot of the returning players, and they're excited to play basketball and I'm excited to coach them. I've been a coach out here for a long time. I've paid a lot of dues, and it's nice to get a chance to take over your own program, particularly one with the tradition of Somerville."

"I think Shannon brings a wealth of knowledge to our girls basketball program and he will be an invaluable asset to producing a well-rounded student athlete," said Viele. 

College Success 

As an assistant at Simmons this past season, Clark helped coach the team to a 16-8 record and an appearance in the Great Northeast Athletic Conference semifinals.

In his time with the Sharks, the team saw increases in scoring percentage, points-per-game, three-point shots, free throw percentages and individual assists. 

For Simmons head coach and assistant athletic director Tony Price, Clark is more than deserving of his new role. 

"I'm so happy to hear this for Shannon," said Price. "The young man is very sound basketball-wise. He has a great basketball mind and he has a lot of enthusiasm."

A Season to Remember 

Clark, 32, also served as head coach at Wheelock College and was an assistant at Boston College High, where the team won back-to-back Catholic Conference League titles and went undefeated to win the state title in 2007. 

Now that he's the new head coach of the Highlanders, Clark is confident that he'll be able to continue his winning ways. 

"You can look at the programs I've come from," said Clark. "Everywhere we go we win. But more importantly the kids develop a camaraderie and they develop offensively. We play an exciting brand of basketball and it's fun for them to play. A lot of kids will improve.... They will always expand their role, and we put up a lot of good numbers and they will be a much smarter team as far as knowing the game."

A New Chapter for Somerville 

Clark will be replacing long-time coach Brian Harris, who racked up 260 wins and and 16 MIAA tournament appearances over his last 18 years with Somerville. But while those may be some big shoes to fill, Price thinks Clark will be a great fit for the Highlanders. 

"Obviously he's replacing a legend there and that's always tough when you replace someone who has a lot of success prior to you coming," said Price. "I think his experience at BC and just learning how to relate to people from different backgrounds and ages and both genders will help Shannon be successful at Somerville."

With the season opener set for Dec. 16 against Lynn English, Clark said fans can expect an aggressive style of play using the same offensive system that has brought him success in the past. 

"I like to have fun," said Clark. "But on the court we're going to push the ball and run a lot of screens and keep the floor spread out. We're going to try to push the ball as best as we can. It's a little bit different (than college), but other than that everything is pretty much the same. We're going to run the same system. We're going to stress the same things. But again, it's how you implement it. This is a team that's a very veteran team. They have a lot of experience."