Clinton graduated from Ramapo High School in Spring Valley, New York, where he was an All County goalkeeper his senior season.
In 1979, the Tampa Bay Rowdies selected Clinton in the second round (twenty-third overall) of the North American Soccer League draft.
The Hartford Hellions of the Major Indoor Soccer League also drafted Clinton, but he chose to sign with the Rowdies.
In 1988, he returned to the Rowdies, this time in the American Soccer League, but again spent the season as backup to DuBose.
In 1992, Clinton graduated from the University of South Florida with a bachelor's degree in engineering and computer science.