Lance Clelland has been named the new football coach at Meade High School. He takes over a program that finished 1-9 in 2007.
Lance Clelland, a former All-Metro lineman for McDonogh who helped Northwestern to win a Big 10 championship in 2000, has been has been hired as the new head varsity football coach at Fort Meade High School, athletic director Dave Lanham announced Friday.
Clelland, 28, a former assistant at McDonogh from 2002 through 2006, also played professionally for the Baltimore Ravens, New York Jets, Philadelphia Soul and Grand Rapids Rampage.
"I have a tremendous opportunity at Meade to help lead a program that has a ton of potential," Clelland said.
Clelland replaces former coach Andrew Smith, who stepped down in April. Smith had coached the Mustangs since 2000 and the team finished 1-9 in 2007.
"It is a chance to work with some administrators, like Dave Lanham and Principal Daryl Kennedy, who are committed to providing the best environment for the Meade student-athlete both academically and athletically," Clelland said. "I am looking forward to all of the challenges and opportunities that this role is going to present."
Before accepting the position at Meade, Clelland coached Dartmouth College in Boston, working with the tight ends as well as being a recruiting coordinator for Delaware, Maryland, Washington, D.C., Virginia, West Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina and Tennesee.
"We are very fortunate to have someone with the playing and coaching background Lance does to take over the program. I think he is the person who can jumpstart the football program," Lanham said.
"I’m excited for the players, students, parents, staff members and Meade alumni," Lanham said. "He is dedicated and hard working and will bring excitement and fun to the field everyday.”
Clelland's younger brother, Lane, graduated from McDonogh this year and will play on the offensive line at Notre Dame starting in the fall.