After a Successful 20 Year Run as John Jay Head Football Coach, Jimmy Clark Hangs up his Cleats

If you know Jimmy Clark, you're not surprised when he responds to questions with a little playful sarcasm before coming back to how he really feels. In retirement, the exiting head coach is no different. “I couldn’t take it anymore,” he joked about his departure from John Jay. But Clark's actual reasons and feelings are about as sincere and heartfelt as it gets.

“We were able to spend every day with our three kids (during the early pandemic) and watched them grow and gain confidence. So just to be around more, you had this little pause on life - every day out fishing, riding bicycles, baking or whatever they wanted to do,” he said. “It’s really difficult to do that with football.”

Of course, the head coach in the Clark household was brought into the decision and graciously left it up to the head of the John Jay football program. “I did discuss it with my wife for a long time. She supports my decision and is happy about it. But she didn’t push me. She definitely understands the fact that it’s something I have a passion for and would have supported me either way,” said Clark.

The same goes for the head of the John Jay athletic department. “Chris (McCarthy) was so supportive and gracious. So I’m thankful for that. He didn’t make me feel bad, nervous or anxious,” said Clark. “Immediately he was like, I’m thankful for all your years. You don’t owe us anything.”

There was nothing sudden about the revelation, though. Clark had discussed ending his tenure on numerous occasions. “This time I went and I was serious. This is it,” he told the AD halfway through the football season.

Outside the office, he’s heard from players past and present, parents and community members who were involved in the program. “The outreach and support has really been humbling,” he said.

In turn, Clark has definitely reaped what he has sown, and a core philosophy seeking to build young men has stitched together an 18 year quilt of success. A development that also remembers that players haven’t quite reached adulthood yet. “Letting them know you always support them and have their back,” he asserted, "those kids will run through a wall for you.”

The results speak for themselves. On the other hand, the first step was getting the 2-8 team he inherited to believe in themselves, and one telling sign signifies what he was up against. “They would have their lacrosse sticks and have a catch before football practice,” he lamented.

Nonetheless, 23 kids went forward, and Clark stressed technique and the basics. The rudimentary approach, though, had to be no match for the season opening game against Carmel. “They were top dog, and we were moving up to Double A,” Clark remembered.

As it turned out, John Jay took a big bite out of the Rams in victory and an era began. “That was the day John Jay football was born,” beamed Clark, “and the next day before practice, the lacrosse sticks were put away.”

Still, coming from an Edgemont team that had won three state titles, the choice of John Jay for his first head coaching position demands an explanation. Once again, Clark couldn’t pass up the opportunity to let his sense of humor tease out. “I was young and stupid,” he joked.

But the truth is more learned. He felt John Jay had a strong tradition previously, and the program at the time had potential. Proven correct, the pinnacle was reached when John Jay defeated Rye in 2018 for the Section 1 Championship.

A pretty nice notch but the real reward for Clark has been the relationships and witnessing the growth of his players. So he’s really going to miss the double and triple sessions that get everyone out there the first time and geared up for the new season.

Therefore in August, Clark knows there will be an emptiness. “Hopefully, I will fill it with lots of fishing,” he joked.

Short of that, Clark plans to be heavily involved in the athletic future of his kids. “I will absolutely coach and help out in any way I can,” he said.

Clark is pretty sure he has the credentials. But if references are still required in his Hopewell Junction residency, a generation of players and families can provide the necessary documentation in the form of a huge thank you.