Clarke Football heads into first ever Heart Clash of the Week With New Head Coach
After taking over the program this fall, new head coach Heath Zuck and his Clarke football team will take on Mount Mercy in their first ever Heart Clash of the Week, battling for the first conference win this season.
In the 2026 spring semester, Adam Hicks, the former three-year head coach, decided not to return to the team. This left Clarke actively searching for the school’s soon-to-be third head coach. On April 9, just over a month into the search, Clarke made its decision to hire Heath Zuck.
Coach Zuck comes from an assistant coaching role at Mount Marty University, where he spent the past six seasons. He served as the Lancers’ co-offensive coordinator and offensive line coach, along with being a special teams coordinator. He is no stranger to building programs into successful ones. He started as an assistant coach at new programs like Mount Marty and Grand View.
Coach Zuck and Clarke football are keeping their eyes set on Homecoming weekend as they host Mount Mercy University. The Heart of America Athletic Conference announced the Week 6 matchup as its Clash of the Week. Not only is this the first matchup between Mount Mercy and Clarke, as this is Mount Mercy’s inaugural football season, but it is also the Pride’s first nomination for the Clash of the Week. Each team comes into the matchup excited and looking for its first win of the season. The Pride will host the Mustangs on Saturday, Oct. 10. Kickoff is set for 1 p.m. CT at Clarke University in Dubuque, Iowa.
Coach Zuck describes the process of becoming a head coach as eventful. As he emerged as a leading candidate for the head coaching job, his wife and four children were still finishing the school year in Yankton. Though the process was long, tiring, and involved a lot of back and forth, Coach Zuck and his family are now settled into their new home.
As head coach, Zuck saw making changes to the new staff and getting players to create a vision for themselves as priorities. Then came setting expectations for the program. For example, he restarted stretch three different times. It was a change for the players, but holding them accountable and disciplining them became core principles for the new coach. “To stay committed to the process and bring in positivity instead of negativity,” Coach Zuck states.
Off the field, he wants his players to hold themselves to the same standard. “To be the best you can be whether in class, at work, as a brother, son, boyfriend. To compete in everything you do. Ultimately, this is most important because after football, that’s what matters.” Senior defensive lineman Brandon Fice said the departure of former head coach Adam Hicks was hard because he played for him all three years. “I trust that this change was for the good, and I’m looking forward to the future.” Fice was initially unsure of Coach Zuck. “As he was in his observation phase, I was unsure about the new leadership. Now, I respect him as a head coach and trust his vision. Although this is my last year, I believe he will turn this program around.” Brandon and the team are hopeful as a new era for Clarke football begins. With Heart Clash coming up this weekend, the football team has a good chance of showing their new and improved version of play.
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