Eustis grad Tanner Clark named Umatilla baseball coach

UMATILLA — The baseball rivalry between Umatilla and Eustis high schools might heat up next season.

Especially after Umatilla announced Wednesday that Tanner Clark, a former standout at Umatilla and Eustis, has been named the Bulldogs’ head coach.

Clark, who is wrapping up his senior year at the University of North Florida in Jacksonville, replaces Matthew Donohue, who led the Bulldogs to a 5-14 record last season. 

“I am very excited to bring my knowledge, experience, and drive for success to Umatilla High School,” Clark said. “Over the years, the Umatilla area has produced fantastic baseball talent and I am ready to get to work to create something special. I want to build a culture of hardworking individuals who work together to achieve our teams goals.

"I hope to instill a strong work ethic in each of my players, develop their skills, teach them all aspects of the game, and push them to be the best person they can be both on and off the field. 

More:Jolley: MLB may be nearly unwatchable, but local fans have options with high school sports

Lightning strikes:Jolley: It's nearly time for Lightning to strike - the Leesburg Lightning

Tanner Clark will join Umatilla faculty after graduating from UNF

Umatilla Principal Brent Frazier confirmed that Clark, who has a double major from UNF in Business and Sports Management, will join Umatilla’s faculty. 

“When he is finished with his baseball season at UNF,” Frazier said, “I imagine he will begin getting to work on the baseball side of things with the team.”

A catcher, Clark is hitting .265 with one homer and 17 RBIs for the Ospreys, which faces Kennesaw State a 3 p.m. Thursday in Opening Round game of the Atlantic Sun Final Four tournament at Harmon Stadium-Dusty Rhodes Field in Jacksonville. Clark has been a workhorse this season, having seen action in 38 of North Florida’s 42 games this season.

Clark is a baseball junkie and has played the game almost from the time he could walk. He hit .345 as a freshman in 2013 at Umatilla, before he transferred to Eustis, where his father, Tracy, is principal. 

At Eustis, he spent three seasons under legendary coach David Lee. The Panthers compiled a 56-26 record during Clark’s stint there, including a 19-3 mark in district play.

As senior, Clark hit .420 with 16 RBIs and handled a pitching staff that fashioned a 3.04 team ERA.

From there, Clark moved on to play two seasons at Lake-Sumter State College and hit .329 as a sophomore.

Clark played two summers with the Leesburg Lightning in the Florida Collegiate Summer League. With the Lightning in 2018 and 2019, Clark hit .270 with two homers and 29 RBIs.  

Defensively, he sported a 1.000 fielding percentage in 2019, recording 175 putouts in 190 total chances without a fielding error. He also played a role in turning two double plays from behind the plate. 

Clark spent the 2020 season with the Leesburg Storm and hit .274 with 11 RBis and 10 runs scored. 

Umatilla Athletic Director Pat Todd said he hopes the Clark can take the lessons he’s learned through a lifetime of playing baseball under the tutelage of various coaches can help rebuild the Bulldogs, which has struggled in recent years. Umatilla has not enjoyed a winning record since going 15-9 in 2015 and has not posted back-to-back winning seasons in more than 15 years.

“We are so excited to have such a high-character, hard-working person to help develop our young men for greatness,” Todd said.