Football
- Title:
- Head Coach
One of the winningest coaches in Southland Conference history, Clint Conque enters his fifth season as the Lumberjacks' head coach. Owning a 50-34 (.595) career record in Southland contests, which ranks third all-time in Southland coaching victories, coach Conque is just five wins shy of the most in league history. Furthermore, his 74 wins as a Southland head coach rank fifth in conference history in career coaching victories.
In his first four seasons coaching in Texas’ oldest town, Conque has posted a 21-25 (.457) overall record at the helm of the Lumberjack football program, including a 17-18 (.486) mark in Southland play. Most recently, Conque guided SFA to a 4-1 record against in-state FCS opponents in 2017, marking the first time since 1989 the 'Jacks claimed four victories over FCS Texas opponents in the same season. It was also the first time since 1995 SFA recorded four wins over Lone Star State schools in the same year. Since arriving in Nacogdoches, Conque has led the ‘Jacks to four victories over nationally-ranked programs, most recently leading SFA to a 31-28 road victory over 13th-ranked McNeese during the 2016 campaign.
During his first four years, Conque has mentored 11 All-Southland First or Second Team players, including 2018 NFL Draft pick John Franklin, who garnered first-team honors in 2016 and was a second-team selection in both 2015 and 2017. Franklin, a 6-foot-4, 283-pound defensive end, was chosen 135th overall in the fourth round of the 2018 NFL Draft by the Los Angeles Rams, becoming SFA’s 33rd NFL Draft pick and the first since 2011. The 15th defensive end taken in the 2018 NFL Draft, Franklin became the Lumberjacks’ highest pick in 20 years. Franklin completed his collegiate career fifth on SFA's all-time career tackles for loss list with 37.5 over the past four seasons, while finishing ninth in program history in all-time career sacks (17.5)
During the Conque era at SFA a total of five former players have suited up for NFL teams, including Franklin (2017), all-time Lumberjack rushing leader Gus Johnson (2014), Terran Vaughn (2015), Zach Conque (2016) and Justice Liggins (2016). Franklin was coach Conque's fifth defensive end drafted in the NFL during his time as a head coach, including his years as Central Arkansas' lead man.
Conque led SFA to a 4-7 overall record in 2017 and a tie for sixth place in the 11-team league with a 4-5 Southland record, despite key injuries and narrow losses along the way. A total of five players were tabbed as All-Southland performers, including a trio of second-team honorees in Franklin, sophomore wide receiver Tamrick Pace and sophomore safety Alize Ward. Both Junior defensive tackle Lamont Alexander and redshirt sophomore offensive lineman Devonte Jones were named All-Southland honorable mention. Additionally, SFA saw two players claim Southland Player of the Week accolades as Ward earned a defensive player of the week plaudit and senior running back Kijana Amous picked up an offensive player of the week award. The Lumberjacks’ also garnered a national player of the week honor and earned a spot on ESPN SportCenter's Top 10 plays of the night after Ward’s late-game heroics in the win over Incarnate Word.
Perhaps SFA’s greatest accomplishment in 2017 came off the field as senior safety Marlon Walls became the Lumberjacks’ first William V. Campbell Trophy® finalist and National Football Foundation (NFF) National Scholar-Athlete. The first SFA student-athlete in any sport to be named College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA) Academic All-America® of the Year, Walls became just the third Southland student-athlete to garner the prestigious honor. For the second consecutive year, Walls was placed on the CoSIDA Academic All-America® First Team and added a long list of additional academic accomplishments to his name after graduating with an unblemished 4.00 GPA in just three and a half years of study.
With SFA already having a Walter Payton Award winner in former quarterback Jeremy Moses (2010), the 'Jacks became just the sixth football program in the nation to have both a Walter Payton Award winner and an NFF National Scholar-Athlete. Of those, only five schools have had both a Walter Payton Award winner and a Campbell Trophy® finalist since the award began in 1990.
In his first season in east Texas, Conque led SFA to an 8-5 record, a five-win improvement from 2013 as the 2014 squad became just the 13th team in program history to reach the eight-win plateau. Picked to finish sixth in the preseason Southland poll, the ‘Jacks went 5-3 in Southland play, including wins at sixth-ranked McNeese and against eighth-ranked Southeastern Louisiana, tying for third in the conference standings and earning a bid to the 2014 FCS playoffs.
SFA cracked the FCS Coaches Poll Top-25 twice in 2014, marking the first time the ‘Jacks had been ranked nationally since 2010. Conque helped guide SFA to its first NCAA playoff appearance since 2010, earning Southland Coach of the Year honors for the third time in his career and being named a finalist for the FCS Eddie Robinson National Coach of the Year for the fourth time. Under Conque's guidance, senior running back Gus Johnson had the best rushing season in program history, setting six SFA rushing records as well as setting the Southland record for rushing yards in a single season. Johnson was named the Southland Player of the Year and was a finalist for the Walter Payton Award (finishing ninth in the voting), while sophomore quarterback Zach Conque was tabbed Southland Newcomer of the Year. Zach completed his collegiate career in 2016 ranking among the all-time Lumberjack leaders in eight statistical offensive categories.
Conque brought to Nacogdoches an impressive coaching resume built on success, posting an overall career record of 105-59 (.640) during his 14 seasons as the head coach at Central Arkansas. He departed as the all-time winningest coach in Bear program history while becoming just the second collegiate head coach in the state of Arkansas to amass 100 career victories, sitting behind only legendary Razorback coach Frank Broyles.
UCA established itself as one of the top teams both regionally and nationally during Conque's tenure, capturing the Southland title in 2008 and 2012 and advancing to the FCS playoffs in both 2011 and 2012. UCA also made a pair of NCAA Division II playoff appearances during Conque's time in Conway as his teams won eight or more games in eight of his 14 seasons at the helm of the Bears. In 2005 Conque led UCA to an 11-3 record, a mark that tied the program record for wins, as the Bears advanced to the Division II national quarterfinals. UCA reached the 10-win plateau again in 2008 as the Bears posted a 10-2 mark. Known for his high-tempo offenses, Conque's teams consistently ranked among the national leaders in both scoring and passing as UCA finished in the top-10 nationally in passing offense five times and scoring offense four times.
During the eight seasons in which UCA competed in the Southland, Conque posted a 33-16 record in Southland play (.673) and was named Southland Coach of the Year in both 2008 and 2012. He was also named Gulf South Conference Coach of the Year in 2005. The NCAA FCS Region 5 Coach of the Year in 2008, Conque has been a four-time finalist for the Eddie Robinson Coach of the Year award with his teams boasting seven top-25 finishes and claiming seven or more wins in 11 different seasons.
Under Conque's tutelage, his players have been recognized for their efforts on the field time and time again. During his coaching career, 145 players have been recognized as all-conference selections with 44 earning All-America honors as 38 former players have gone on to play professionally in either the NFL or CFL. His focus hasn't been solely on the field, however, as Conque's teams have boasted Academic Progress Rate (APR) recognition four times throughout his coaching career with a plethora of Southland All-Academic selections, four academic All-Americans and two Campbell Trophy® finalists. During Conque’s time in Nacogdoches, seven different football student-athletes have garnered Southland All-Academic accolades.
Before taking over the helm of the UCA program in 2000, Conque spent seven seasons at Louisiana Tech (1993-99) in a variety of roles. Conque oversaw the Bulldogs' running backs, receivers and special teams, before ultimately serving as the offensive coordinator in 1999 as Louisiana Tech led the nation in passing offense and was second in total offense en route to an 8-3 record. Prior to his time in Ruston, Conque spent three seasons at Samford University (1990-92) as the running backs coach, helping guide the Bulldogs to back-to-back NCAA Division I-AA playoff appearances in 1991 and 1992 and posting a 22-4 record during that span. Conque began his collegiate coaching career at McNeese (1987-89), spending three seasons coaching the Cowboys' running backs and outside linebackers.
A graduate of Catholic High School in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, Conque was an All-American linebacker at Nicholls in Thibodaux, Louisiana, picking up first team honors by the Associated Press. He also was named a LSWA All-Louisiana Second Team selection as a senior in 1983. Conque was selected to Nicholls' Silver Anniversary Team in 1997 and was inducted into the Colonels’ Hall of Fame in 2005. Following his playing career at Nicholls, Conque landed with the Los Angeles Raiders only to have his career cut short by injury in 1983. He then returned to Nicholls and began his coaching career as a graduate assistant for the Colonels before spending a pair of seasons coaching at the high school level.
Conque is married to the former Angelé Jackson and the couple has three sons: Chasse (and wife Lisa), the Director of Athletics at Arkansas-Little Rock; Benton (and wife Morgan), a captain in the U.S. Army stationed in Missouri; and Zach, 2014 Southland Newcomer of the Year as SFA’s starting quarterback and an NFL free agent. Clint and Angelé reside in Nacogdoches and are the grandparents of three girls born to Chasse and Lisa (twins Juliana and Sydney, followed by Adeline).
The Conque File
Hometown: Baton Rouge, La.
High School: Catholic
College: Nicholls (1983)
Playing Experience: All-American linebacker at Nicholls after letter winning two years at Southwest Mississippi Community College, drafted by the Los Angeles Raiders.
Family: Angéle (wife), Chasse (wife Lisa), Benton (wife Morgan) and Zach (sons), Julianna, Sydney and Adeline (Grandchildren)
Coaching Experience
2014-Present: Stephen F. Austin | Head Coach
2000-13: Central Arkansas | Head Coach
1993-99: Louisiana Tech | Assistant Coach/Offensive Coordinator
1990-92: Samford | Assistant Coach
1987-89: McNeese | Assistant Coach
1986: St. Thomas More (La.) | Offensive Coordinator
1985: Rayne H.S. (La.) | Defensive Coordinator
1984: Nicholls | Graduate Assistant
Conque's Career Record
| Year | School | Overall | Pct. | SLC | Pct. | Postseason |
| 2000 | Central Arkansas | 3-8 | .273 | -- | -- | None |
| 2001 | Central Arkansas | 9-3 | .750 | -- | -- | Division II First Round |
| 2002 | Central Arkansas | 8-3 | .727 | -- | -- | None |
| 2003 | Central Arkansas | 5-6 | .455 | -- | -- | None |
| 2004 | Central Arkansas | 8-3 | .727 | -- | -- | None |
| 2005 | Central Arkansas | 11-3 | .786 | -- | -- | Division II Quarterfinals |
| 2006 | Central Arkansas | 8-3 | .727 | -- | -- | NCAA Division I Transition Period |
| 2007 | Central Arkansas | 6-5 | .545 | 5-2 | .714 | NCAA Division I Transition Period |
| 2008 | Central Arkansas | 10-2 | .833 | 6-1 | .857 | NCAA Division I Transition Period |
| 2009 | Central Arkansas | 5-7 | .417 | 2-5 | .286 | NCAA Division I Transition Period |
| 2010 | Central Arkansas | 7-4 | .636 | 4-3 | .571 | None |
| 2011 | Central Arkansas | 9-4 | .692 | 6-1 | .857 | Division I FCS Second Round |
| 2012 | Central Arkansas | 9-3 | .750 | 6-1 | .856 | Division I FCS First Round |
| 2013 | Central Arkansas | 7-5 | .583 | 4-3 | .571 | None |
| 2014 | Stephen F. Austin | 8-5 | .615 | 5-3 | .625 | Division I FCS First Round |
| 2015 | Stephen F. Austin | 4-7 | .364 | 4-5 | .444 | None |
| 2016 | Stephen F. Austin | 5-6 | .455 | 4-5 | .444 | None |
| 2017 | Stephen F. Austin | 4-7 | .364 | 4-5 | .444 | None |
| TOTALS | 126-84 | .600 | 50-34 | .595 | Five Postseason Appearances |
