Boxing
Dr. Mark Clifford
- Title:
- Head Coach
- Phone:
- 719-333-2766
Dr. Mark Clifford, a 1997 Academy graduate and former NCBA national champion, is in his second season as the head coach of the Air Force boxing program.
In his first season at the helm of the Falcons’ boxing program, Clifford coached the women to their first-ever National Collegiate Boxing Association team title – a record-setting championship run that included a program-best four individual champions. He was the top cornerman as Luke Kohout captured his third NCBA title and a young men’s squad finished third at the national meet. He also led Air Force to a sweep of the men’s and women’s titles at the NCBA Western Regional.
Clifford is no stranger to the Air Force boxing program, having competed on the team as a cadet and served as an assistant coach during two different stints in the athletic department. As a cadet, Clifford won three Wing Open championships, three regional titles and three NCBA All-America accolades, while capturing the NCBA title as a senior. A team captain, Clifford was also named the Wing Open’s Outstanding Boxer and received the team’s Boxing Excellence award. As an assistant for the Falcons (2001-04, 2010-12), Clifford was ringside for four national team titles, 21 individual national champions, and more than 30 NCBA All-Americans.
He spent 20 years in the Air Force, before retiring at the rank of lieutenant colonel. As a logistics readiness officer, he served in a variety of positions, including the director of fuel operations for Air Force One. While serving with Joint Special Operations Command, Clifford logged multiple combat tours in support of Operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom. He also served as commander of the 647th Logistics Readiness Squadron at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam and the 607th Materiel Maintenance Squadron in South Korea, before working on the Joint Staff at the Pentagon during his last assignment.
Following his retirement from the Air Force, Clifford was hired as a professor at Grand Canyon University, where he led the sports management program and served as an Assistant Dean for the Colangelo College of Business. During his time at GCU, he helped grow the student enrollment of the sports program to over 800 students, while building a network of professional sports organizations to support his students. He also worked hand-in-hand with the sports marketing agency, Position Sports, which provided multiple opportunities for students – and continued to work alongside the agency to develop their nonprofit program, which he was eventually hired to run and operate.
Prior to returning to the Academy, Clifford served as the executive director of the DREAM Foundation, where he collaborated with multiple Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) to enroll students into their virtual DREAM program. Through the DREAM program, which is partnered with multiple live event partners, students have the opportunity to be mentored by sports professionals, learn about sport business operations, and gain experience at sporting events.
Clifford, who graduated from the Academy in 1997, earned a Master’s degree in human resource management from the University of Maryland, University College, in 2002, and a PhD in sports administration from the University of New Mexico in 2007.
He and his wife, Alix, have two sons, Kaleb and Jaiden.
In his first season at the helm of the Falcons’ boxing program, Clifford coached the women to their first-ever National Collegiate Boxing Association team title – a record-setting championship run that included a program-best four individual champions. He was the top cornerman as Luke Kohout captured his third NCBA title and a young men’s squad finished third at the national meet. He also led Air Force to a sweep of the men’s and women’s titles at the NCBA Western Regional.
Clifford is no stranger to the Air Force boxing program, having competed on the team as a cadet and served as an assistant coach during two different stints in the athletic department. As a cadet, Clifford won three Wing Open championships, three regional titles and three NCBA All-America accolades, while capturing the NCBA title as a senior. A team captain, Clifford was also named the Wing Open’s Outstanding Boxer and received the team’s Boxing Excellence award. As an assistant for the Falcons (2001-04, 2010-12), Clifford was ringside for four national team titles, 21 individual national champions, and more than 30 NCBA All-Americans.
He spent 20 years in the Air Force, before retiring at the rank of lieutenant colonel. As a logistics readiness officer, he served in a variety of positions, including the director of fuel operations for Air Force One. While serving with Joint Special Operations Command, Clifford logged multiple combat tours in support of Operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom. He also served as commander of the 647th Logistics Readiness Squadron at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam and the 607th Materiel Maintenance Squadron in South Korea, before working on the Joint Staff at the Pentagon during his last assignment.
Following his retirement from the Air Force, Clifford was hired as a professor at Grand Canyon University, where he led the sports management program and served as an Assistant Dean for the Colangelo College of Business. During his time at GCU, he helped grow the student enrollment of the sports program to over 800 students, while building a network of professional sports organizations to support his students. He also worked hand-in-hand with the sports marketing agency, Position Sports, which provided multiple opportunities for students – and continued to work alongside the agency to develop their nonprofit program, which he was eventually hired to run and operate.
Prior to returning to the Academy, Clifford served as the executive director of the DREAM Foundation, where he collaborated with multiple Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) to enroll students into their virtual DREAM program. Through the DREAM program, which is partnered with multiple live event partners, students have the opportunity to be mentored by sports professionals, learn about sport business operations, and gain experience at sporting events.
Clifford, who graduated from the Academy in 1997, earned a Master’s degree in human resource management from the University of Maryland, University College, in 2002, and a PhD in sports administration from the University of New Mexico in 2007.
He and his wife, Alix, have two sons, Kaleb and Jaiden.
Air Force Wing Open Boxing Broadcast February 27, 2026
Monday, March 02
Dr. Mark Clifford Interview - February 24th, 2026
Tuesday, February 24
Mark Clifford Interview February 10, 2026
Tuesday, February 10
Mark Clifford Interview January 20. 2026
Tuesday, January 20
