Eastridge Grad, Long-time Fairport Swim Coach

LATHAM – The New York State Public High School Athletic Association (NYSPHSAA) has announced the inductees for its Class of 2011 Hall of Fame. And one of the selections has a local connection.

Longtime Fairport coach Gary Clark was one of six selections to this year’s Hall of Fame, which is sponsored by Pupil Benefits Plan, Inc. and Jostens.

Dr. Ronald Black (Administrator, Section VI), Joe Cuozzo (Coach, Section XI-Ward Melville), Jay Fiedler (Athlete, Oceanside), Louis Pettinelli (Wrestling Official), and Stacey Schroeder-Watt (Athlete, Grand Island) were also chosen through a two-level selection process involving a screening committee and a selection committee.

Clark made a tremendous impact on Fairport athletics for more than three decades.

 From 1975 – 1999, Clark compiled a 286-30 career record as the boys swimming coach and was 22-0 over two seasons as the girls coach.

Coach Clark led his teams to a combined 21 league championships, 20 Section V titles (including a streak of 18 consecutive boys titles), and saw his teams ranked #1 in New York State 15 times. He also saw 41 of his swimmers earn the coveted All-America status during their high school careers.

Over the years, coach Clark enjoyed a number of honors for the success his teams enjoyed in the pool.

On numerous occasions he was named Section V Coach of the Year and Gannett Newspapers High School Coach of the Year.

He was honored with part of the Frontier Field Walk of Fame, inducted into the Eastridge High School Hall of Fame, and in 2010 was inducted into the Section V Swimming and Diving Hall of Fame.

In addition to his coaching contributions, coach Clark was also the Monroe County Swim Chairman, Section V Class A Meet Chairman, and a member of American Swim Coaches Association (ASCA) and National Interscholastic Swim Coaches Association (NISCA).

Coach Clark graduated from Eastridge High School in Rochester in 1962, then went on to earn his Bachelor’s Degree and a Master’s Degree from SUNY Brockport.