“The Student Athlete.” It’s a phrase that makes John Clark’s solemn eyes squint down as his grin widens from ear to ear, making his entire face hint at a smile. Clark is a rarity among Americans these days, a man that truly enjoys going to the office. He puts on his tie and dawns his Plymouth State University apparel during the University’s sporting events with the comforting cognition that his efforts help shape the futures of these talented youngsters.
“Student” followed immediately by “Athlete” is a term that, as PSU’s Athletic Director, he helps to emphasize. This is noticeable in his manifested principles as the overseer of all things sports on the campus of PSU. With these two simple words at the helm, the future of the PSU student-athlete is a bright one – and that makes him smile.
Clark is the soft-spoken guy in the Physical Education Center. He’s also the Athletic Director for PSU. He is currently in his sixth year in his second stint at the position after a 35-year career in a variety of positions at the University that included: R.A. Director, Hartman Union Building Director and Executive Assistant to the President for 16 years as well as the Associate Director of Admissions and his first act as Athletic Director from 1980-85. This is in addition to his standing as PSU alumni. He earned a Bachelors degree in History in 1971 and a Masters degree in Education in ’73, giving him a grand total of 40 years with the institution as both student and faculty.
“Being with the students is far and away the best part of my job,” he said emphatically, as he leaded back in his chair, elbows raised with his hands behind his head as if there’s nowhere he’d rather be. “It is very rewarding to see a student athlete grow and progress. The fondest memories are those of the athletes who worked hard to improve academically and graduate…and yes, many exciting championships also.”
A graduate of Goffstown High School in Goffstown, New Hampshire, Clark never played a varsity sport; rather, he was an active member in student government and the theatre program in high school. He went to PSU after high school and found a calling to remain a member of the educational atmosphere in the local region surrounding, and including, the College soon after graduating.
“I taught history at Ashland for a few years,” said Clark. “I also did all of those jobs that I previously mentioned for the College.” He was offered the position of Athletic Director in 1980, and he immediately felt comfortable working at the Division III level. The matching “student first” ideologies, that he, and the NCAA Division III organization shares, are a major contributor to the contentment of Clark’s character. “I would not want to work at any other level than Division III,” he said, “I love the increased emphasis they put on the academia of the individual student athlete; I really feel that they do things right at this level.”
Clark is a husband and father of two kids, both of who were big into sports and played at the collegiate level. “I met my wife when I was at PSU as a student, actually,” he said.
As the Athletic Director, he sums up what he does as “oversight of the total athletic program at PSU.” Clark also dabbles in other parts of the University because of his experience with so many factions of it. “I help with graduations and Investiture, also because of my experience as the executive assistant to the president.”
The primary tasks of the A.D. include the regulation of aspects of all the sports in PSU, making sure that the philosophies of the PSU athletic program are representative of those of Division III, and working closely with the coaches and staff as well as other programs to produce schedules and an exponentially better athletic program for PSU with the focus being more on that magic word, the “student athlete,” student first approach. Making sure that the student athlete graduates is top priority for Clark and his staff and it brings him great joy when this task is accomplished because he knows that that student athlete is prepared to tackle the world.
When asked about his most memorable moment as the AD, a small insight into the views he brings to the department leaked out in the structure of his response: “It would be unfair of me to give only one or two moments because, I could go sport by sport and talk about good times. “Specifically, I guess the time, about three or four years ago, when I witnessed the championship victory by the women’s lacrosse team at Arold field, and as the final second ticked off of the clock, I received a call telling me that the women’s softball team had also won their championship game the same time; that was a good memory. But the best memories are those of the joy of big wins by our teams, and seeing the joy and team unity that those wins are a product of as well as graduating our seniors.”
“Looking forward, I am seeing a big step in the athletic department with the addition of the new facilities.” What Clark is talking about is PSU’s plans for the new All-Well Center that will house the Athletic Department in it’s entirety, including the Health and Human Performance Department that is currently stationed in Draper and Maynard. “Everything done in athletics is part of the athletic mission and it will be good to have an entire new facility to operate from and that is exciting.” This is obviously a big step forward for Clark and the rest of the PSU athletic world and Clark’s solemn eyes show life at the mention of this new project and this further instills a sense of confidence at the joy his work seemingly brings to him.
With all of this new information about the man responsible for the future of the student athletes, “student,” followed immediately by “athlete,” in that simple arrangement speaks volumes about the work and passions of Athletic Director John Clark.