Don Clemons, longtime Detroit Lions assistant from Lehigh Valley retires

FROM KEITH GROLLER

Don Clemons, the Northampton native and Muhlenberg College graduate, has retired after 27 seasons as an assistant coach with the Detroit Lions.

The Lions website has a nice story on Clemons, whose career spanned nine different coaching regimes.

"Don Clemons has been one of the great contributors to the Lions organization," team president Tom Lewand said in the story.

"He has served nine head coaches, and particularly in our business, that tells you what kind of person and what kind of worker Don Clemons is.

"Nine head coaches have seen his value as a person and as a football coach, and I do it in that order, because as good of a coach as he's been for us, he's been a better person."

Clemons originally joined the Lions in 1985 as a defensive assistant and strength and conditioning coach. Since that time he has coached every position on defense.

Clemons is already getting advice on his retirement.

"Another friend told me not do anything for four months, relax, and after that, you'll have a better idea of what you want to do," Clemons said on the site.

"I've really enjoyed every part of it and I've been lucky to do it this long at any level," he said. "I would have been happy to be at Northern Lehigh High School this long."

http://blogs.mcall.com/groller/