With more than 20 years experience playing and coaching at the college and professional level, David Clowney IV joined the Missouri State staff in the summer of 2024 as the Bears wide receivers coach.
In his inaugural season at Missouri State in 2024, the Bears hauled in a school-record 267 receptions for 3,674 yards. His unit included All-Missouri Valley wide receiver Hunter Wood who led the squad with 63 catches and 770 yards to earn second-team honors. James BlackStrain also made the MVFC All-Newcomer Team after he snagged 24 passes for 368 yards.
The native of Delray Beach, Fla., came to Springfield after serving the 2023 campaign as the quarterbacks coach and interim head coach at Morehouse College at the Division II level. He was the offensive recruiting coordinator for a Morehouse team that led the SIAC in both completion percentage and passing efficiency.
His collegiate experience also boasts coaching stops as wide receivers coach at Stetson (2022), Howard University (2017-18), FIU (2016-17), ASA College Miami (2015-16) and his alma mater Virginia Tech (2014). His 2022 Stetson squad led the Pioneer League in yards after catch and receiving touchdowns with the No. 8 passing offense (2,959 yards) in the FCS ranks.
Likewise, he has spent stints on the coaching staffs of the NFL’s Carolina Panthers (2023), New York Jets (2019-21) and Buffalo Bills (2016), primary coaching receivers and running backs. His stint with Carolina included an opportunity to serve under the prestigious Bill Walsh Minority Fellowship.
Clowney’s playing career included All-ACC laurels after leading the Virginia Tech Hokies in pass receptions, receiving yards and kick return yards as a junior and senior. He was part of four bowl games at Virginia Tech, including a Sugar Bowl appearance at the end of the 2004 campaign. He was also an All-ACC sprinter on the VTU track team.Â
He was selected in the fifth round of the 2007 NFL Draft by the Green Bay Packers and had playing stints as a wide receiver and kick returner for the Jets, Panthers and Bills before pursuing coaching full-time after the 2012 season.
He earned his undergraduate degree in Apparel, Housing and Research Management (2003) with post-graduate degrees from the College of St. Elizabeth (2011) and Miami (2017). He is also the founder of the David Clowney Foundation established to support underprivileged youth and promote academic excellence in their educational endeavors.
