Chaney grad Clinkscale promoted to defensive coordinator at Cincinnati

January 28, 2015 at 12:06a.m.

For Youngstown native Steve Clinkscale, the most exciting part about being promoted to defensive coordinator at the University of Cincinnati wasn’t the new title.

It wasn’t the increased responsibility, or even the credit that will be sent his way if the Bearcats are to have success this season.

What really got the former cornerbacks coach giddy about his new role calling out defensive schemes was his players’ reaction when they heard the news.

“Just their excitement about it, their hunger and their can’t-wait-to-play attitude,” Clinkscale said. “That was really the most exciting thing about it.”

Cincinnati head coach Tommy Tuberville told The Cincinnati Enquirer last week that Clinkscale will be the team’s new defensive coordinator, pending completion of background information. No official announcement has been made by the university at this time, however Clinkscale confirmed his new position during a phone interview on Tuesday.

“We just want to continue to build on what we’ve done the last two years,” said Clinkscale, who joined the Bearcats’ staff in 2013.

“I’ve always been a guy who’s been an earner. I’ve always wanted to out-work people, and we’re going to out-work our opponent on the field.

“I’ll be very aggressive and hopefully that carries over into our players.”

Clinkscale is replacing Hank Hughes, who left to join Mike Riley at Nebraska. Robert Prunty served as the Bearcats’ co-defensive coordinator last season and is expected to have the same title again this season. Cincinnati will be on its fifth different coordinator combination on that side of the football in as many years.

“Coach Tuberville just wants a defense that’s going to be fundamentally sound, play fast and aggressive,” Clinkscale said. “We’ve met with players and told them what’s expected of them and that things aren’t going to change a lot.”

Like so many other Youngstown football stories, Clinkscale’s began with the South Side Braves pee-wee team. From there, he continued playing at Chaney High School and eventually Ashland University, where he was a four-year starter and team captain.

“Football in Youngstown has always been about teamwork and doing things together,” he said. “The things it instilled in me was the hard work.

“And that carried over into my junior high and into high school at Chaney. Those things just kind of carried over into my life, period.”

Clinkscale, who frequently recruits the area, says he comes home every chance he gets to visit with friends and also his family, who still live on the East Side. He’s also been impressed with the quality of players that continue to come out of Youngstown-area schools.

“All those players learn how to be tough at a young age in dealing with situations they have on and off the field,” Clinkscale said. “So we know we’re going to get a tough player, first of all.

“They’re grounded in football because of the little league system there and they’re going to be talented players as well.”

The Bearcats finished last season 9-4, including a 7-1 record and a share of the American Conference league title.