Longtime Lowell High football coach Keith Kilmer is the new athletic director at Hobart High School.
And in Lowell, the Tri-Creek School Board named Katie Kimbrell, who stepped down as president of the school board, as Tri-Creek director of athletics.
The Hobart School Board hired Kilmer May 21 to replace Mike Black, who resigned to take the athletic director’s post at Mt. Vernon High School.
Kilmer left Lowell after a 30-year career, including 14 years as head football coach and 16 years as assistant athletic director.
He began his teaching career at Lowell Middle School in 1995, where he taught math and physical education and served as the school’s athletic director for seven years. He moved to Lowell High School in 2010 when he became assistant athletic director and football coach.
His Red Devils won six sectional football championships, two regional championships and a 4A semi-state championship in 2017. His team lost to East Central in the state championship game.
He left in 2024 with a 115-60 record and was honored with being named the Indiana Football Coaches Association Coach of the Year Region 1 coach five times.
He also served as Lowell boys track coach from 2005 to 2013.
Kilmer served as IFCA president from 2023-24 and is presently the organization’s clinic chairman.
He said athletics are an extension of the classroom and should help students develop character, leadership, teamwork, resilience and accountability.
“The Brickie athletic program should reflect the spirit of the community – resilient, hardworking, and united,” Kilmer said in a release.
“My goal is to lead a program that makes the Hobart community proud and is respected throughout the state for its sportsmanship, integrity, competitiveness, and commitment to education-based athletics.”
Hobart officials said Kilmer’s experience hosting sectional and conference events across multiple sports made him a standout candidate.
Kilmer graduated from Franklin College with a bachelor’s degree in physical education and earned a master’s degree from Olivet Nazarene University. He’s also a certified athletic administrator through the National Interscholastic Athletic Administrators.
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Kilmer served alongside athletic director Patti McCormick, who announced her retirement this year after 16 years.
Tri-Creek Superintendent Andy Anderson said the school board appointed Kimbrell on April 9 and she’s already started working.
Anderson said district officials decided to place all of its school athletic endeavors, from elementary to high school, under one director.
He said part of Kimbrell’s job will be to develop relationships with community feeder youth sport programs, as well.
He said Kimbrell was the leading candidate for the job. Kimbrell resigned her school board position to be considered for the post, he said.
“We ran an extensive interview search process. She was by far the best candidate. She brings the business aspect to the position at a time when facility use was critical.”
Kimbrell graduated from Lowell High and was a former coach.
“She served as president of the school board with executive leadership that included coursework at Harvard. She bleeds Red Devil pride,” he said. Her salary was set at $49,000.
One of Kimbrell’s major duties will be overseeing the opening of Lowell High’s new natatorium, part of a $90 million bond issue.
Anderson said the project, modeled after Hobart High’s natatorium, began in 2022 and is slated to open this year.
The project involves the construction of a new building that also includes a fieldhouse, a cable weight and cardio fitness center, and a walking track, all for community use. There are new tennis courts outside, as well.
Anderson said the new facilities will be available for rentals. “It’s part of generating revenue for our school district,” he said.
Lowell’s existing pool suffered numerous breakdowns and it wasn’t possible to expand around it, Anderson said.
The bond issue also includes the replacement of elementary school classroom furniture, new flooring, painting, LED lighting, expanding solar panels, and shifting fifth graders into an intermediate school.
Carole Carlson is a freelance reporter for the Post-Tribune.