Clark embracing opportunity, community as Juniata athletic director
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MIFFLINTOWN -- Sometimes the biggest opportunities arrive when life is already moving at full speed.
For Tyler Clark, accepting the role as athletic director for Juniata High School and Tuscarora Junior High School came just as he and his wife Chelsea were preparing for the birth of their second daughter while he was finishing the demanding final stretch of a master’s degree program.
Most people might have viewed the timing as a reason to wait. The 28-year-old Clark saw it differently.
“I knew this was something I would enjoy and could not turn it down,” explained Clark, who took over this year for longtime AD Travis Quici.
Clark taught at Juniata Elementary School for the past five years but currently serves as the guidance counselor at Tuscarora Junior High School.
A 2017 graduate of Juniata High School, Clark is no stranger to the local sports community. The son of Scott and April Clark, he grew up in a family with deep roots in Juniata County athletics. Alongside his younger brother, Bryson, he spent his childhood competing in nearly every sport possible, each pushing the other to improve.
That competitive spirit carried him through football and basketball careers at Juniata High School before he continued playing football at Juniata College. The Clark name is also familiar to local sports fans through second cousin Jonathan Clark, a standout golfer who competed at Marshall University.
His connection to local athletics never faded after graduation. Clark coached junior high basketball during the 2021-22 and 2022-23 seasons and has served as a volunteer assistant with the Juniata High School football program for the past several years.
The path to becoming athletic director was somewhat unexpected.
“I actually had a coworker suggest that I apply for the athletic director position,” Clark said. “After some thinking I decided I might as well apply, as it would at least be a good experience to go through the interview process.”
What began as a chance to gain interview experience quickly turned into a life-changing opportunity.
The position was offered at a particularly hectic time. Clark was just weeks away from welcoming his second daughter while balancing graduate school and life with a 2-year-old daughter at home.
Despite everything on his plate, the decision became clear.
“I love this community and the way it supports athletics,” Clark said. “I experienced firsthand the value of interscholastic sports and enjoy being a part of that experience for student-athletes in Juniata County.”
Clark oversees athletics at Juniata and Tuscarora Junior High School while working closely with East Juniata athletic director Tyler Inch. Because several sports operate as co-ops between Juniata and East Juniata, communication is a regular part of the job.
“Tyler Inch and I work together a lot on various athletic department tasks and he has been great to work with,” Clark said.
As he settles into the role, Clark credits numerous people for helping make the transition successful, from coaches and booster club members to fellow athletic directors, game workers and custodial staff. He also praised transportation coordinator Nicole Brothers, district secretaries and Juniata High School Principal Kelli Strawser for their assistance and guidance.
“I’m very thankful to be surrounded by so many great people that have helped make the transition as the athletic director as smooth as possible,” Clark said.
The long days that come with athletic administration are made easier by strong support at home. Clark said his wife and daughters have embraced the demands of the job, often stopping by events and even bringing him dinner when schedules become hectic.
“There are a lot of long days, but coming home to my wife and kids makes it all worth it,” he said.
For Clark, the role is about much more than schedules, transportation and game management. It is an opportunity to help provide today’s student-athletes with the same experiences that shaped his own journey.
Now, the former Indians athlete is helping guide the next generation in a community that helped shape him, giving today's student-athletes many of the same opportunities that influenced his own life.