Rocky Mount, N.C. - The North Carolina Wesleyan Department of Athletics is pleased to announce two additions to its coaching staff, and neither is a stranger to Battling Bishop athletics. Former NCWC standout Greg Clark has joined the baseball staff as head coach of Wesleyan's junior varsity squad, while Desiree' Driver has returned to the Bishop sidelines as assistant coach for women's basketball.
Greg Clark is ecstatic to once again sport the Blue & Gold, this time as head JV coach for the Battling Bishops. A 1999 NCWC Athletics Hall of Fame inductee, Clark was four-year letterwinner from 1979 to 1982 and still holds the NCAA Division III record for stolen bases in a career with 202, while his stolen base percentage of .918 (202/220) ranks seventh nationally.
Clark was a 1981 AACBC Baseball All-American -- the first in program history -- and was named the NCAA Regional Tournament Most Valuable Player that same season. He went on to garner Regional and World Series All-Tournament team honors in 1982, in addition to being named the Dixie Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (now USA South) Player of the Year. A four-time All-Conference selection and two-time All-District honoree, Clark was recognized as the NCWC Male Athlete of the Year in 1981 and 1982.
A 1982 graduate of the College, Clark went on to play in the Los Angeles Dodgers organization before returning the area to begin a 30-year career as a teacher/coach with the Nash/Rocky Mount school system. His wife, Lisa, is also a Wesleyan alum, while his son, Tyler, followed in his father's footsteps as a member of the Battling Bishop baseball program.
"After 30 years of teaching, I can't think of one thing I would rather do now than coach baseball at N.C. Wesleyan," said Clark. "I am honored and humbled by this opportunity, and I would like to thank President Gray, Athletic Director John Thompson, and Head Baseball Coach Charlie Long for their support. I am here to help the baseball and athletic program in any way I can."
In addition to serving as head JV coach, Clark will also assist Long and long-time assistant Ernie Jones with the varsity squad.
In women's basketball, Desiree' Driver returns to her alma mater after serving as a paraprofessional for ESE students at Flagler Palm Coast High School in Palm Coast, Fla. last year. While at FPCH, Driver served as assistant coach for both the junior varsity and varsity women's basketball programs, while also serving as head coach of the Flagler Fury AAU team.
Driver, who played two seasons for current NCWC head coach Artina Trader, was a four-year starter and two-year captain for the Battling Bishops. She tallied over 600 points and 400 rebounds during her career in the post, shooting over 45 percent from the floor.
Off the court, she excelled in the classroom as a four-time USA South Academic All-Conference honoree and a three-time recipient of the Wesleyan's Scholar Athlete award. A 2011 graduate of the College with a degree in Exercise Science, she was also honored as her class' Algernon Sydney Sullivan Award winner. Established in 1925, the award is one of the highest honors given to a North Carolina Wesleyan graduate. She now joins Trader and second-year assistant coach Tanika Hudgins to lead her former team.
"I'm both excited and honored to be offered this opportunity to return to Wesleyan as an assistant coach," said Driver. "I look forward to helping the staff continue to build our Battling Bishop program into a contender."
On behalf of the Department of Athletics, the Battling Bishops welcome both Greg and Desiree' back to Wesleyan!