For Tilmon Clark, athletics was not only about competition. It was a family tradition, a career, and currently a platform to help further develop Hamilton Southeastern High School (HSE) athletics.
“I grew up in athletics,” Clark said. “My dad was a longtime high school football coach, and I was a three-sport athlete in high school. I just naturally liked being around sports, teams and coaches, and this job has been really good for me.”
Clark officially began his role this summer as co-athletic director at Hamilton Southeastern, where he works alongside longtime Athletic Director Jim Self. The move comes after a successful run at Delta High School, where he oversaw state championships and academic all-state honors.
Clark was a 2005 graduate of Winchester High School, where he played football, wrestling, and baseball before moving on to Earlham College, where he continued as a two-sport athlete in football and baseball. He later earned a master’s in public administration from Valdosta State University while working as a graduate assistant coach.
His coaching career ranged from Butler Community College to Valdosta State, Ball State University and even the Cleveland Browns, where he worked in draft analytics. At Ball State, he served as director of player personnel, coordinating recruiting operations and helping assemble the program’s classes.
“I put our student-athletes first in any decision I make,” Clark said. “I ask, how can this possibly affect them? That servant-leadership mentality is important.”
At HSE, Clark said his focus is on both tradition and innovation. He wants to focus on the current and past culture, rather than creating a whole new one.
“The important thing is not to forget where you came from at HSE,” he said. “Like the traditions, the past championships and alumni. But we also need to enhance the student-athlete experience and look into the future.”
Part of that future, he said, is embracing technology and media. Having started college, the same year Facebook launched, Clark sees firsthand how social media can make or break a program.
“I have lived on both sides of social media,” Clark said. “You have to meet people where they are, and today that is online. The key is consistency in your message, because people lose interest if you disappear.”
Clark said he intends to serve the HSE community by being visible, approachable and relationship-driven.
“My leadership is a servant-leadership mentality,” Clark said. “I want to serve our community, our coaches and our student-athletes. That starts with building relationships and being there for people.”
He also stressed the balance between competitiveness and development, citing the Indiana High School Athletic Association’s (IHSAA) emphasis on education-based athletics.
“We all want to win championships and hold up trophies,” Clark said. “But we also need to develop our next generation as well.”
Clark expressed his belief that athletics is about school spirit, not just performance. The whole school bleeds blue, not just the athletes.
“People often think they are just at a high school football game,” Clark said. “But look around at the band, choir, dance team, cheerleaders, student workers, and then on top of that, the football team. Athletics acts as the front porch of the school, and that is something I don’t take lightly.”
Clark, who was named District 4 Athletic Administrator of the Year by the Indiana Interscholastic Athletic Administrators Association during his time at Delta, said he is eager to apply lessons from every step of his career.
“Have fun with what you are doing,” Clark said. “Do not expect things to just happen. People do not owe you anything, so do a good job where you are, and people will want to work with you.”
