Southwestern hires experienced athletic director to take over athletic department

There will not be a “honeymoon” phase for Southwestern High School’s new Athletic Director.

Tyler Phillips was officially hired Thursday at a special session meeting of the Southwestern Consolidated Schools board. Phillips spent five years as the athletic director at Hauser and was Monrovia’s athletic director during the 2024-2025 school year.

“I am extremely familiar with the (Mid-Hoosier Conference),” said Phillips. “I was the executive secretary for the conference for three years. I love this area. I think I knew back in December that Monrovia and I were not a good fit. So, I started looking to get back in this area.”

Previous Southwestern athletic director Scott Shepherd recently resigned to follow a different career path.

“I watched Southwestern Shelby for five years as an opponent and always admired the coaches and the culture they had here,” said Phillips. “When the opportunity presented itself, it was something I wanted to be a part of.”

Phillips officially starts on July 1 but is already getting a first-hand look at the athletic scheduling.

“I have to get into the weeds and see where we are with schedules and officials,” he said. “I mentored Scott (Shepherd) and know he probably left us in a good spot. I just need to start building relationships; that’s what this is all about. I need to start meeting with some of the coaches and start meeting with the kids and start cultivating new relationships.”

And renewing old relationships within the Mid-Hoosier Conference.

“It’s the best group of (athletic directors) I’ve ever worked with,” he said of the MHC. “I hope they say the same things. We are not out to get each other. We are always going to compete on any given night, but we will always help each other.

“It’s a great group of seven schools in a great area in the state. I’ve been involved in a lot of conferences; this is the best I’ve been a part of.”

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