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District Director of Athletics
Indianapolis Public Schools
Darren Michael Thomas views athletics as a bridge to opportunity, whether on the field or off. During his tenure at Indianapolis Public Schools, he has doubled the number of sports offerings, including girls flag football and the reintroduction of swim teams, and elementary and middle school sports participation has more than doubled. Student-athletes are achieving higher GPAs and attendance rates than their peers do. He has added more than 20 community partners that provide resources and host events, including a trip for every middle school student to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway and a meet-and-greet with athletes during NBA All-Star Weekend. He is leading the largest athletics capital improvement campaign on record for IPS, with more than $45 million in projects. “That’s been the toughest hurdle for us to clear during my time here, for a number of reasons,” he said, “but our students deserve quality facilities to participate in, just like the students in the surrounding townships deserve and receive.”
Getting here: After graduating from IUPUI, he landed a communications job with the Indiana Civil Rights Commission. “That job was really eye-opening from a public service standpoint,” he said. “I had spent my life in Indiana but had not been fully aware of the disparities we have here.” Former commission Executive Director Jamal Smith later became IPS athletic director and asked Thomas to join him. In 2018, Smith stepped down.
First job: The Finish Line in Lafayette Square Mall. “It was worth it for the 30% discount on shoes and apparel alone.”
Givebacks: board member of the Indianapolis Monumental Marathon, volunteer at 100 Black Men of Indianapolis
Influential person: “I did a project on Colin Powell when I was in the second grade, and what I learned about him really sticks with me to this day. … His commitment to service and the way he didn’t allow the highs and lows to impact his poise; I try to embody that in all areas of my life.”•
Check out more Forty Under 40 honorees.
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Congratulations Brother-in-law!!! I couldn’t be more proud of you for receiving this well deserved (and frankly overdue) recognition for your leadership efforts! My sister, nephews, and niece have a living legend as a Father and you’ve also tremendously impacted the lives of thousands of deserving student athletes in the great Indianapolis metropolitan area (many of which are underserved or systematically marginalized by society) to aspire to higher levels of education.
You are truly a gem of our world-class city. The IHSAA and the NCAA are blessed to have a true servant leader like you in their midst! May God continue to bless you, your family, and our great city through you! Much love brother!