Stan Clayton joined the Stetson Football coaching staff in late December of 2017. He serves as the Hatters' offensive line coach and offensive coordinator.
In hist first season at Stetson the Hatters completely rewrote the offensive record book, setting new program records for team passing yards and touchdowns, completion percentage, pass efficiency, average yards per pass, average yards per completion, passing yards per game, total offense, total touchdowns, total offense per game as well as all-purpose yards and all-purpose yards per game. The Hatters scored 95 more points than in any previous season while playing two fewer games than the previous record season.
In addition to the team records, freshman running back Jareem Westcott set the mark for rushing touchdowns in a season, average yards per carry and average yards rushing per game. Senior quarterback Colin McGovern set season records for passing yards and touchdowns, pass efficiency, average per pass attempt and passing yards per game. Senior tight end Donald Parham led all of college football (FBS/FCS) in receiving yards per game and receptions per game while setting program records for receptions, yards and TD reception.
A native of Cherry Hill, NJ, Clayton played collegiately at Penn State and was a member of the Nittany Lions’ 1986 national championship team, which famously defeated Miami in the Fiesta Bowl. He was an honorable mention All-American in 1987 before being selected in the 10th round of the 1988 draft by the Atlanta Falcons.
Clayton received his degree in Administrative Justice from Penn State in 1988.
His NFL career included two seasons in Atlanta, two in New England (1990-91) and one in Pittsburgh (1992).
Hatters head coach Roger Hughes and Clayton, who spent the 2017 season as offensive line coach at Morgan State, are not strangers. The two worked together for six seasons (2000-05) at Princeton where Clayton was the Tigers’ offensive line coach and run game coordinator.
“We extremely lucky to have Stan joining our staff,” Hughes said. “Our players and coaches will benefit greatly from his knowledge and the wealth experience he brings.”
Following his professional playing career, Clayton returned to Happy Valley to serve as a graduate assistant for coach Joe Paterno in 1995.
His coaching career has also included stops at the University of Massachusetts (1996-97), Alabama State University (1998-99), Princeton (2000-05), the University of Toledo (2006-08), Lafayette (2009-16) and, most recently, Morgan State (2017).
During his coaching career he has mentored three linemen who have gone on to successful careers in the NFL – John Greco (Toledo), Ross Tucker (Princeton) and Dennis Norman (Princeton). Greco just completed his 10th year in the league. He has seen action in 117 games, including 70 starts, mostly with the Cleveland Browns.
Clayton has spent seven summers participating in the NFL’s Bill Walsh Minority Coaching Fellowship programs, spending time with the Chicago Bears (three times), New York Giants, Philadelphia Eagles and Tennessee Titans.
