The City of Fishers and Hamilton Southeastern Schools announced a new interlocal agreement for a significant public investment in local athletic facilities and youth sports programming. Hamilton Southeastern High School athletic director Jim Self will take on the new role of City & District Athletic Director. (Graphic provided by HSE)
Hamilton Southeastern Schools’ Jim Self named City-District Athletic Director
The City of Fishers and Hamilton Southeastern Schools announced a significant public investment in local athletic facilities and youth sports programming through a new interlocal agreement designed to expand access, enhance facilities, and strengthen alignment across school and community athletics.
The interlocal agreement was approved unanimously at a joint meeting for the Fishers City Council and the Hamilton Southeastern Board of Trustees held on Wednesday.
“Sports are part of the fabric of our community,” said Fishers Mayor Scott Fadness. “From youth leagues to high school athletics, these programs help make Fishers one of the best places in the country to live. This investment builds upon our longstanding collaboration with HSE Schools and ensures our facilities can keep up with the incredible growth and participation we’re seeing in youth sports.”
Fishers will invest approximately $3.6 million in improvements to athletic fields at Fishers High School and Hamilton Southeastern High School to benefit student-athletes, youth sports organizations, and the broader Fishers community.
“Our partnership with the City of Fishers has always focused on finding ways to better serve students and the community, and we are thankful for the City’s continued desire to partner with us,” said interim superintendent Dr. Matt Kegley of Hamilton Southeastern Schools. “This initiative will help align school athletics, youth programs, and community resources while expanding opportunities for young athletes.”
The improvements are designed to support increased participation, improved field conditions, and expanded opportunities for competitions and tournaments. These improvements are part of an overall reinvestment in athletic fields throughout Fishers, including those at park properties.
The interlocal agreement creates a new administration-level position at HSE Schools to implement a citywide strategy and manage all athletic fields. The City & District Athletic Director position will strengthen coordination between the city, the school district, and local sports organizations while helping maximize the use of athletic facilities throughout the community. Longtime Hamilton Southeastern High School Athletic Director Jim Self will be appointed to this position, effective May 1, 2026.
Self told The Reporter that Fadness had approached him about working for the City in a new role to coordinate athletics.
“I’m a school guy. I wanted to stay with the schools,” said Self. “He and [Superintendent] Pat Mapes put their heads together on what would be best in this position, and here we are. He has a vision and it’s about quality of life and opportunity and experiences for young people in the Fishers area. Athletics and sports play a role in that experience and he wants someone to help oversee that, not only in the schools, but in the city.”
Self will still work for the HSE school district, overseeing athletics for both high schools and the district’s four junior high schools. He also will work directly with Mudsock Youth Athletics. Self became the Hamilton Southeastern athletics director starting with the 1999-2000 season and has been with the school for 32 years.
“I wasn’t looking for a new job, but I see this as an opportunity to impact a lot of people,” he said.
Self had kind words to say about everyone he worked with at HSE athletics, including former athletic directors Ken Seitz, Greg Habbeger, Drew Tower and current AD Tilmon Clark.
“I owe Ken Seitz a great deal and working with Greg Habegger was like working with my best friend,” said Self. “Ken Seitz taught me what it means to be a Royal.”
Improvements for Hamilton Southeastern High School and Fishers High School will begin in late spring and are anticipated to be completed by late summer.
