Parrish Community High hires former Southeast High assistant as new football coach

PARRISH −Robert Dylan Clark’s high school football coaching career began in Bradenton.

Now Clark, who goes by Dylan, hopes it ends in Parrish.

Parrish Community High School named Clark as its second football coach in program history.

Clark replaces Christopher Culton, who guided the first three years of the Bulls’ program.

“It’s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to be a part of a new program and give it its culture and identity excited me,” Clark said.

After graduating from Eastern Kentucky, Clark took a football coaching position at Southeast High, where he worked for three seasons. Clark first worked under John Warren for a season and two under Rashad West, the current coach at Lakewood Ranch High.

Clark then went to Plant City High as a defensive coordinator under James Booth, a former Manatee High assistant.

Clark’s first head coaching position came at Alonso High in Tampa, where he spent two seasons as the school's fourth football coach. After a 2-7 first season, the Ravens went 6-4 his second and final season in 2021.

He stepped down due to family matters, but never lost his zest for football.

“I’ve always been an emotional person,” Clark said. “I love football. I love practicing. I love the process.”

The Clarks moved to Ellenton to be closer to his wife Michelle’s family. When the Parrish Community position became open, he consulted with Michelle to pursue the position.

Clark emerged from the 153 candidates who applied. The three committees paired the candidates to 87 legitimate to 15 to 6 to a final 2.

“We’re super excited,” Parrish Community director of athletics Shawn Trent said. “Real high-energy guy, good character. Seems like a super, super guy. All his references gloated over him. Everything he said he was going to do, he did.”

The hiring of the 31-year-old Clark, who will have a yet-to-be determined teaching position on the Parrish Community campus, is contingent upon approval of the School District of Manatee County.

When approved, the first order of business with be meeting with the football student/athletes.

“Building a relationship with the kids, introducing myself to the current player, making sure they know who I am,” Clark said. “The next step would be building a relationship with the parents.”

Clark then plans to assemble a coaching staff and begin implementing his strength and conditioning program.

“We’re going to be hard-working, disciplined,” Clark said. “We’re going to be men of high character, relentless effort in all pursuits and just excited about playing the game of football. We’re going to represent Parrish Community the right way in the community and in the classroom and on the field Friday nights.”

Born and raised in Kentucky, Clark played collegiately for two years at Lindsey Wilson College before graduating from Eastern Kentucky.

“We’re going to be a process-oriented team that’s going to be based on doing things the right way, on and off the field,” Clark said. “Built within the process is creating a culture of success. Just making sure the kids are excited to be part of the Parrish football program. Buying in that process is going to strengthen our culture and be successful on Fridays.”

The Bulls won their first four games last season before ending the season with a five-game losing streak. In the three years of the program, Parrish Community is 7-16.

"We're super excited. Dylan is a very excitable guy, so I think he'll relate to the kids very well," Trent said. "The community and school, he'll be able to get in and build those relationships with the school, kids and community really quickly."

“The area is growing and it’s just an exciting time,” Clark said. “I’m excited for this opportunity and hope to be here a long time.”

This article originally appeared on Sarasota Herald-Tribune: Parrish Community High hires former Southeast High assistant as new football coach