[2] While attending the AIS, Clarke captained the Australian Under-19 team to fifth place at the 1987 FIBA Under-19 World Championship held in Bormio, Italy.
Marty Clarke then joined the NBL's North Melbourne Giants in 1988, playing 120 games with the club until retiring at the end of the 1992 season.
The four-time championship winning club was coming off its first ever wooden spoon in 2009–10, and expectations were high for a move back up the competition ladder.
The 2011–12 NBL season also saw the 36ers endure a club record eight game losing streak Going into the 2012–13 NBL season, much was expected of the Clarke coached 36ers who had recruited well (helped by the demise of the Gold Coast Blaze) with players such as Adam Gibson, Anthony Petrie and Jason Cadee joining the club and many experts pre-season predictions had Adelaide as top-3 contenders.
This would prove to be the 36ers last win for the 2012 calendar year as they embarked on another eight game losing streak and slumped to a 5–11 record by the end of Round 14.
[6] On 4 April 2013, Clarke's contract was not renewed with the 36ers, parting ways with the club after 3 seasons having led the team to a second last place finish and two consecutive wooden spoons.