Greg Clark, known as “GC” in the Ultimate world, embodied the Ultimate Spirit of the Game. GC’s legacy in Texas Ultimate is far-reaching. He started playing Ultimate in Austin, Texas in 1980, first learning the game with high-school friends from some of the world’s top divers. From this GC helped start the Austin Ultimate “AU” Snakes. Over the next three decades Ultimate was a constant in his life.

As a player GC played with an intense fire burning inside that made every single teammate want badly to win for themselves and for him. This earned him the early nickname “Win or Die Clark”. He showed outstanding decision-making and execution on offense, often having no turnover tournaments. He was known for his consistent and clutch defensive efforts guarding difficult marks, regularly making hand blocks or forcing poor throws due to his pressure, often in close game situations. Teammates were unanimous in selecting GC as their leader due to his unique combination of reliable playing ability and leadership skills. As a leader he had the ability to stay positive yet assertive with teammates when emotions were high and team play not going well. GC was also known as an ambassador for the sport; he lived Ultimate as a part of his personal family. If you played Ultimate, GC saw you as a brother or sister and later nieces and nephews as the sport brought on new generations. At every tournament walking across the fields with GC was a reunion event, constantly stopping at sidelines to catch up with friends he having played with or against through the years.

The AU Snakes went to their first Club Regionals in 1982. During the 80s and 90s he captained Austin teams that played in tournaments in Texas and all over the country. In 1982, GC started running the Austin-based Centex tournament which is one of the oldest continuously held tournaments in the nation. In 1984, he started the University of Texas Ultimate team (different from the UT Ultimate club started in 1978) and as player, coach and captain led the UT team to six appearances at College Nationals, including consecutive semifinals and one final. During those 6 years UT never lost a game at college regionals and in 1988, UT upset the undefeated Stanford team in the semi-finals before losing to Santa Barbara in the finals. From 1997-2002, he was the player development coach for the UT Men’s College team TUFF.

GC first played at Club Nationals with the Texas Heat (combo Texas all-star team) in 1986 and 1987. In 1988 and 1989, he helped captain the first two Austin men’s teams to go to Club Nationals laying the foundation of success for future Austin club teams. In 1990 he played with Windy City when they won the Boulder tournament. He played with San Diego Nice Guys at Nationals in 1995. In the mid-90s, GC played in national championships in Germany, New Zealand and Australia. In the late-90s he captained and played with the Texas Love Handlers who made appearance in back-to-back Masters National finals, losing one to Windy City and the other to NY and placing 4th at Worlds in Vancouver in 1998. In 2002, he played in the first Mixed Club Nationals with the Austin Payasos con Pistolas. In 2006, he played with Doublewide in the Club World Championships in Perth, Australia.

GC was lucky enough to play Ultimate at a high level longer than most players, continuing to enjoy team camaraderie and mentoring younger players. In total he played with 12 different Texas teams at US National and World championships, playing at National Championships almost every year from 1986-2011. He is currently one of the coaches for the Austin Doublewide men’s club team. He still loves the sport of Ultimate, and with it, the many friends it has brought into his life.