Elon, N.C. –Recognizing one of the most impactful individuals in Elon University's history, the football program's offensive line coaching position will officially be named the "Clay Hassard Assistant Football Coach / Offensive Line"  Elon University Board of Trustees announced today.  This will be the first named coaching position in the department's history.
 
A standout player, coach and administrator, Hassard spent 36 years working in the Elon Department of Athletics before passing away on Feb. 9, 2024 at the age of 62.
 
A 1985 Elon graduate, Hassard earned All-South Atlantic Conference and Academic All-American distinction as an offensive lineman. He went on to spend five seasons on the Elon football staff as an assistant coach while earning his MBA in 1989. He became part of the department's administrative staff in 1990 and was promoted to associate director of athletics in 1995.
 
Hassard retired in 2022 as the Senior Associate Director of Athletics. He had a deep dedication to the personal development and holistic success of student-athletes and has left a lasting impression on our university and athletics family. 
 
Over many years, Hassard was Elon's chief athletics compliance officer, overseeing NCAA regulations and ensuring that administrators, coaches and student-athletes maintained the highest standards of integrity.
 
Clay and his wife Elizabeth have two daughters, Allison and Claire.
 
Alex Stadler becomes the first individual to hold the title of Clay Hassard Assistant Coach / Offensive Line. In his second year at Elon, Stadler has spent most of his 15 years in coaching with the offensive line, working at football programs such as Liberty, Bowling Green, Wake Forest, Lehigh and Towson.