Vanderbilt football has signed coach Clark Lea to a contract extension, the program announced Nov. 28.
The terms of the agreement were not disclosed and are not available via public records because Vanderbilt is a private school. According to ESPN, the extension is for six years and includes promises of facility upgrades. Vanderbilt previously announced Nov. 21 a new “Football Experience Center” was part of its planned facility upgrades, though it did not provide any specific details on the project.
The extension was announced the day before No. 12 Vanderbilt (9-2, 5-2 SEC) plays No. 18 Tennessee (8-3, 4-3) on Nov. 29 (3:30 p.m. ET, ESPN) in Knoxville at Neyland Stadium.
Lea, 44, has led Vanderbilt to one of its best seasons in program history, a significant achievement for a program that has never previously had a 10-win season. The Commodores could be in contention for a spot in the College Football Playoff with a win over the Vols.
“Clark Lea embodies what is possible at Vanderbilt, and I am proud to continue this journey with him leading our football program,” athletic director Candice Storey Lee said in a school release. “From the very beginning of Vandy United, we unapologetically set out to build a model to sustain excellence in athletics and today simply reaffirms our commitment. Our focus is consistently competing at the highest level— with our values and identity as our firm foundation. As Coach Lea often says, our mission is winning. We deeply believe that we can do it all. With our alignment and partnership here at Vanderbilt, we can and we will.”
The extension means that Lea is likely to stay in Nashville instead of exploring other jobs. Lea’s name was mentioned in conjunction with several openings, including Penn State and Auburn. Other high-profile jobs are open in this cycle such as LSU and Florida.
Lea, now in his fifth season at Vanderbilt, has an overall record of 25-35. The Commodores are 16-8 since the 2024 season.
“I am excited to be able to continue the work we started at Vanderbilt five years ago. Throughout the process of working through this extension, I have been overwhelmed with two feelings,” Lea said in the school release. “First, a sense of pride in the culture and environment we have established at Vanderbilt. Second, a sense of clarity that the work is not complete. This next phase of the program build will introduce many exciting things, including facility upgrades and needed resources for our staff and team. These investments will go a long way in ensuring our program can level up. I am grateful to have leadership from Chancellor Diermeier and Vice Chancellor Lee, who clear the way for our success. Our vision has never been about one or two seasons, rather, it has always been about sustained success at a championship level. I am thrilled to be able to continue the mission, and I appreciate all the support from Commodore Nation and our Nashville community.”
After finishing 2-10 in two of his first three seasons, Lea has now taken the Commodores to back-to-back bowl games after bringing in several personnel from New Mexico State, including offensive coordinator Tim Beck, special assistant Jerry Kill, quarterback Diego Pavia and tight end Eli Stowers. Stowers is likely to be Vanderbilt’s highest-selected player in the NFL draft in a half-decade come spring.
“Clark Lea’s success is demonstrating what we believe is possible for Vanderbilt football and the entire university,” said Chancellor Daniel Diermeier in the school release. “We set our aspirations high, attract the best people, and create an environment where they can succeed. Coach Lea has shown all of us what is possible when we make no small plans and have the determination and fortitude to execute them. His leadership is a powerful example of why we invest boldly in athletics and why our aspirations continue to rise.”
Lea is a Vanderbilt alum who is from Nashville, having attended Montgomery Bell Academy.
The Commodores will have a lot to replace going into 2026, starting with Pavia. However, it now seems they will have Lea in tow to do it.
Aria Gerson covers Vanderbilt athletics for The Tennessean. Contact her at agerson@gannett.com or on X @aria_gerson.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Vanderbilt football, Clark Lea agree to new contract extension
