Scotsman Bobby Clark, the former Dartmouth head coach who quit in 1994 to take over the New Zealand national team program, has been named Stanford’s director of soccer and men’s head coach, replacing Colin Lindores.
The women’s head coaching position is currently vacant following the departure of Ian Sawyers after three years.
Lindores had been the men’s head coach since 1990.
Clark, who starred in goal for Scottish club Aberdeen, has also coached in Scotland and Zimbabwe.
He returned to the United States in 1985 to head the Dartmouth program, nine years after spending the summer as a player with the NASL’s San Antonio Thunder. He led Dartmouth to two outright Ivy League titles and one shared title.
“In Bobby Clark, I believe Stanford has one of the most respected coaches in the world,” said Stanford athletic director Ted Leland. “He brings with him experience as a player and coach both on the national and international levels.
“I look forward to Bobby continuing the process of building the Stanford soccer programs into one of the nation’s elite.”
For all its success in other men’s sports, the Stanford men’s team has never been a consistent Top 20 team. The women’s program has challenged for the national championship in recent years, but its latest switch is the third coaching move in three years.