Cara Clark was named head softball coach for the University of Dayton in July 2007 and joins the Flyer staff after six years at Clarke College.

In her six years at Clarke, Clark has been instrumental in the program's success. Clark guided the Crusaders to back-to-back NCAA Tournament appearances in 2003 and 2004. In 2003, the Crusaders made a first-ever NCAA tournament berth claiming the Northern Illinois-Iowa Conference Championship and winning a school record 27 games. Since her arrival the team has five consecutive 20-plus win seasons.

Under her reign, the Crusader's have produced 28 All-Conference honorees, six NFCA All Region honorees, and one Conference Player of the year. In addition, four out of her six years the team was ranked in the Top 25 Nationally in grade point average by the National Fastpitch Coaches Association.

Clark was a 2007 NCAA Association of Division III Independents Coach of the Year runner-up and was named the NIIC Conference's Coach of the Year in 2003 and 2004.

In addition to her coaching responsibilities at Clarke, she was also the Mental Health Counselor and served as the Senior Women's Administrator.

Clark began her softball coaching career at Dubuque Senior High School in 1998 as the freshman coach. She then moved on to Marion High School in 1999 as assistant varsity and head junior varsity softball coach.

Clark also has gained valuable experience working at the collegiate skills camps during the summer serving as the director of the Clarke softball instructional clinics and hitting leagues. More recently, she coached at the TPS Top 96 College Coaches Softball Clinics in Virginia and Illinois.

Clark is a member of the National Fastpitch Coaches Association.

A 1999 graduate of Clarke College, Clark earned her degree in psychology and was a student-athlete standout as a two-time first-team Northern Illinois - Iowa Conference Selection. In addition, she earned MVP honors and served as team captain for the Crusaders.

In 2002, she earned her Masters of Education in counseling from Western Illinois University.

Clark currently resides in Kettering, Ohio.