Clifton enters his 11th season as the head men’s and women’s tennis coach at Stevenson University in 2026 after being named to the position on August 31, 2015. In addition to leading both tennis programs, Clifton also serves as an advisor for Stevenson SAAC.
During his tenure, Clifton has guided the Mustangs to sustained success within the MAC Commonwealth and on the national stage. The program advanced to the MAC Commonwealth Championship Final in 2024, while previously capturing back-to-back MAC Commonwealth Championships in 2019 and 2021. Following the 2021 conference title, the Mustangs advanced to the second round of the NCAA Tournament. In 2019, Stevenson also reached the NCAA Tournament Second Round after sweeping Clarks Summit in the opening round. That same season, the Mustangs went undefeated in conference play, earned the 2019 MAC Commonwealth Championship, and recorded a program-best 17 wins, including a 12-0 start to the season. Clifton also coached the program’s first-ever individual MAC Commonwealth Champions in Peter Appiah Jr. and Lukas Sanidas.
Under Clifton’s leadership, the Mustangs reached the MAC Commonwealth semifinals in three consecutive seasons from 2016-18, advanced to the ECAC Championship in 2018, and finished third in the ECAC Tournament in 2016 after winning the consolation match. In his first season at the helm in 2015-16, Stevenson won 10 consecutive matches.
Clifton has coached numerous conference award winners throughout his career. Stevenson players have earned three MAC Commonwealth Player of the Year honors, including Larry Johnson III (2023-24) and Ray McDermott (2018-19, 2020-21), while Ben Porto was named MAC Commonwealth Rookie of the Year in 2020-21. The Mustangs have also produced 14 All-MAC Commonwealth First Team selections, 16 Second Team honorees, and four Honorable Mention recipients during Clifton’s tenure.
Academically, Stevenson has continued to excel under Clifton’s guidance. The program earned ITA All-Academic Team honors in 2019 and 2021, while numerous student-athletes received ITA Scholar-Athlete recognition. The Mustangs also produced two MAC Senior Scholar-Athletes in Ray McDermott and Bryan Gieselman, along with nine All-MAC Academic selections.
For his success leading the program, Clifton was named the 2018-19 MAC Commonwealth Coach of the Year.
Prior to Stevenson, Clifton served as the Head Tennis Professional at Gibson Island Club from 2013-15 while also working as an assistant coach at Salisbury University. During his time with the Sea Gulls, both programs ranked among the top-15 in the region and combined for a 54-25 record. In 2014, he coached a doubles pair that qualified for the NCAA National Doubles Tournament and finished the season ranked No. 20 nationally. Clifton also worked as an Assistant Tennis Professional at Oglebay Resort & Conference Center from 2011-13.
As a student-athlete at Salisbury from 2008-11, Clifton helped the Sea Gulls earn national rankings of No. 14 in 2010 and No. 23 in 2011 while compiling a 10-3 individual record.
A native of Bel Air, Clifton earned his bachelor’s degree in Communications from Salisbury in 2011.
