JC Clarke during his head coaching stint at Northwood. (PHOTO: Fernando M. Donado, For OC Sports Zone).
Former Northwood football head coach JC Clarke has joined the staff at Portola, according to Portola head coach and athletic director Peter Abe.
Abe said Saturday that Clarke will coach Northwood’s outside linebackers and “help {the} defensive coordinator {Andy Howe} who coached both of us when we were back in high school at Irvine.”
Howe is in his third year at Portola. Abe played football and coached at Irvine.
Clarke led Northwood to the CIF Division 11 title in 2021 and the Division 8 crown in 2022. The Timberwolves advanced to the CIF playoffs three of the four seasons under Clarke, who had a 36-17 record.
He resigned as head coach after the 2024 season and remained an assistant for new coach Erik Terry. Terry resigned after one year and was replaced by Stephen Barbee.
“Coach JC Clarke has done so much for our program over the years, including two back-to-back CIF championships, and we are thrilled to announce that he will be staying on staff as our defensive coordinator and assistant head coach,” co-AD Sierra Wang said after Clarke resigned.
Clarke, who was at Northwood 21 years, confirmed his decision to move to Portola. He is in his 52nd year coaching high school football.
He said that two-way lineman Will Acquah and linebackers/running backs Mason Mapstone, Carter Nguyen and Gavin Morrell have stood out in scrimmages.
Portola opens the season Friday with a non-league game vs. Woodbridge at University. Northwood plays Irvine Friday at Irvine Stadium. Northwood is the home team.
—Tim Burt, OC Sports Zone; timburt@ocsportszone.com
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