The University of Central Florida is mourning the loss of their offensive line coach, Shawn Clark.

The university announced in a statement that Clark died “unexpectedly” at a local hospital on Sunday, Sept. 21. He was 50 years old.

Clark was admitted to the hospital after he experienced a “medical emergency” on Tuesday, Sept. 9, the university’s statement said, and he remained in “stable condition before passing away” on Sunday.

His wife, Jonelle, was by his side, the university said.

Central Florida’s head coach Scott Frost said in the a statement, “Shawn was so much more than a coach. He was a remarkable man, husband, and father who cared deeply about his players and staff.”

Frost added, “The reaction of our players and coaches to the news this morning is a testament to Shawn’s character and the impact he had on every life that he touched. He was loved.” He went on to offer his thoughts and prayers to Jonelle and their two children, Giana and Braxton.

After Clark was admitted to the hospital on Sept. 9, Frost spoke about how “things like this put football into perspective,” according to CBS Sports. “We love it, it’s what we do and we spend a lot of time at it, but there’s bigger things happening in life.”

The school’s director of athletics, Terry Mohajir, said the UCF community is “heartbroken” by the news. “He brought passion, integrity, and a genuine love for people to everything he did.”

Mohajir continued, “Shawn will be remembered not only for his impact on the game of football, but also for the relationships he built and the example he set as a husband and father.”

Condolences began pouring in on UCF’s Instagram post announcing Clark’s death.

Clark started as a coach at UCF in December 2024 after five seasons as head coach at Appalachian State, where he left with a 40-24 record. He also coached at Eastern Kentucky, Purdue and Kent State, according to his biography on UCF’s website.