Recruiting Area: Fort Worth
Veteran coach Clayton Carlin joined the Sam Houston staff prior to the 2016 season and after just one year was promoted to defensive coordinator. The 2020 season was his fourth year directing the Bearkat defense, a unit that was one of the top in the nation.
Carlin's defense was at its best in leading the Bearkat to the 2020 FCS national championship, leading all of FCS with 23 takeaways and 14 fumble recoveries, while ranking 12th in rushing defense, allowing just 94.9 yards per game. In fact, the Kats did not allow an individual 100-yard rusher for a span of 22 consecutive games over the course of the 2019 and 2020 seasons.
Under his guidance, Sam Houston saw 10 defensive players earn all-Southland Conference honors in 2020, including 6 on the first team.
With Carlin calling the shots for the Bearkat defense, that side of the ball steadily improved in each of his first two years as coordinator, but went to a whole new level in 2019. That season the Kats boasted one of the top defensive units in all of the FCS, leading the nation in both rush defense (69.9 yards per game), opponent's third-down conversion rate (27.9 percent) and team tackles for loss (10.9 TFL per game).
The unit also pitched a pair of shutouts in 2019, the first time since 2012 that the Kats have had two shutouts in a season. Additionally, Carlin's charges ranked in the top 10 in the FCS in scoring defense, turnovers gained, sacks, team passing efficiency defense and red zone defense.
Seven Bearkat defenders earned all-Southland Conference honors that season, including defensive lineman Trace Mascorro nabbing SLC Newcomer of the Year. Mascorro, along with senior linebacker Royce See, each landed on the all-SLC first team. Jevon Leon, meanwhile, earned third team all-SLC honors and was named a freshman all-American after leading all FCS freshmen in TFLs (16.0) and sacks (8.5).
The Kats' defense saw a big step forward in 2018, ranking in the top three in the nation in sacks and second in the country in tackles per loss in 2018. That season defensive end Derick Roberson led all of FCS in sacks on his way to being named a finalist for the Buck Buchanan Award as the top defensive player in the nation.
After spending four seasons at Coastal Carolina serving as defensive coordinator, working with defensive backs, Clayton Carlin joined the Sam Houston State football program to serve as defensive backs coach entering the 2016 season.
While with the Chanticleers, Carlin led a defense that improved from six interceptions in 2011 to 14 in 2012. The Philadelphia native tutored the Big South Defensive Player of the Year during two consecutive seasons as well as the league’s top two pass-breakup players in 2013.
In 2015, Coastal ranked 21st nationally in scoring defense, giving up 20.1 points per game. The program set a school record with two shutouts in one season – 55-0 over Alabama A&M and 46-0 over Garner Webb. During his tenure, the squad made four consecutive playoff appearances, winning a share of three Big South championships and held a No. 1 national ranking in the FCS Coaches Poll.
During the 2013 season, Coastal Carolina set a school record with 62 pass breakups and 13 interceptions. The unit ranked 45th in the FCS in red zone defense, helped by three blocked field goals, four turnovers on downs and four interceptions.
With a bulk of the Chanticleers returning for Carlin’s third season, the Coastal defense ranked 13th in scoring defense – up for 81st the previous year – and 26th in pass efficiency defense. The team also moved up 55 spots in third down conversion defense including holding South Carolina State, Florida A&M and Elon to three points or less in three consecutive games.
Prior to Coastal, Carlin spend two seasons at Bucknell as defensive coordinator. In 2010, he coached the linebackers and in 2011 was promoted to assistant head coach, shifting his focus to the secondary.
In his second year at Bucknell, the Bison defense ranked third in the NCAA in rush defense, allowing just 78.27 rushing yards per game, while leading the Patriot League and ranking 12th in total defense. The unit also ranked 15th in scoring defense.
During his inaugural year with Bucknell, the program led the nation in turnover margin, forcing 22 interceptions and recording 17 fumbles. Carlin spent the previous six years at Cornell where he served two stints at defensive coordinator, spanning four seasons.
In his first year, the Big Red finished seventh nationally in rush defense and 13th nationally in scoring defense (18.1 ppg). He also spent time as the program’s offensive coordinator during the stint in which Cornell ranked 10th nationally in rushing (2005) and averaged better than 27 points per game, the best in 50 years at the program.
Carlin got his start at the Division I level as a graduate assistant at Nebraska under legendary coach Tom Osborne from 1994-96. During that time, the Cornhuskers went 36-2 and won two national titles. It also led to opportunities with New Mexico State, where he spent two stints, mixed in with one year at Villanova and two at Buffalo.
Carlin and his wife, Kathleen, have six children, including daughters Carsen and Julia; and sons, Clayton, Brady, Cole and Conner. Carlin received his bachelor’s degree from Juniata College in 1987 and received his master’s in educational administration from Nebraska.
