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Steven Clinkscale comes to Cullowhee having spent the past seven seasons as an assistant coach at his alma mater, Ashland University, in Ashland, Ohio. He will work with the Catamount defensive backs, in addition to serving as Western's academic liaison, a role he has performed eight years at previous institutions.
During his seven seasons at Ashland, Clinkscale served mostly as a defensive secondary position coach, spending his final season as the linebackers coach. As the academic liaison, AU football players continually posted a 3.0 cumulative grade point average.
The Youngstown, Ohio, native mentored eight student-athletes that earned All-Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) accolades including two Cactus Bowl (NCAA Division II All-Star game) participants and one GLIAC Defensive Back of the Year (Devin Conwell, 2005).
His coaching experience began in 2000 when he returned to his hometown and volunteered at Youngstown Chaney High working mostly with the running backs and wide receivers on offense, as well as the defensive backs.
A former defensive back at Ashland from 1995-2000, Clinkscale was a four-year starter and a team captain. He garnered All-GLIAC honors in 1999, earning an honorable mention in 1998, and also played in the 2000 Snow Bowl All-Star game. He earned his Bachelor's degree in Sports Science, concentration in therapeutic recreation, in 2000.
Clinkscale and his wife, Jasena, have four sons: Isaiah (5) and Elijah (3), and twins Zion and Zivon (2).
