The Inventor
The Head Rock was invented by A. Craig Tillmann Sr. and developed with his son, Craig Jr. Together, they represent over 90 years of lacrosse experience.
A. Craig Tillmann Sr.
Craig "Tic-Toc" Tillmann, as he is known in the Johns Hopkins and Loyola University sports community because of his long-time role as timekeeper for lacrosse, basketball and football games, has been part of the Baltimore lacrosse story for over 60 years. Craig was a goalie at Baltimore Polytechnic Institute from 1949-53 and then played for the Maryland Lacrosse Club 1955-62.
Craig's first coaching experience was with the The Red Shield Boys Club for two years, winning the Maryland Junior League championship in 1964. Next, Archbishop Curley High School chose Craig to coach the varsity lacrosse team from 1967-73 where he won Maryland Scholastic Association Championships in 1969 and 1971. Craig continues to be remembered by the Curley lacrosse program through their sponsorship of the A. Craig Tillmann Award each year.
After coaching, Craig became an Official. On the field for 25 years, he officiated at every level, including NCAA Divisions I, 2 and 3, International Field Lacrosse in the USA and Canada(1988-90), and the professional Major Indoor Lacrosse League (1988-90). Craig was selected to officiate five NCAA Final Four Collegiate Championship weekends during his career, appearing at M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore, Rutgers and Philadelphia. He also was recognized with The Bernie Ulman Award, The Charles Ellinger Award, and the Coaches Andrew M. Kirkpatrick Award.
After retiring from the field, he was a key member of the National Collegiate Observer Program where he observed, rated and trained newer officials. Crag Sr. was also the Assistant Assigning Authority for USILA district four, and an observer for the NCAA Assigner Director.
Craig Tillmann Sr. was employed and retired, after 30 years from Western Electric in 1986. He was a management personnel Supervisor and labor relations specialist. He also proudly served in the United States Marine Corps Reserve for five years. Craig resides in Baltimore, Maryland with his wife of 62 years, Dorothy.
A. Craig Tillmann Jr.
Having studied manufacturing engineering at VA Tech, Craig Jr. developed his father's idea into the Head Rock. He played at Archbishop Curley HS in Baltimore (1978-1981) and Salisbury State College (1982-1985).
After a year as Salisbury's Defensive Coordinator in 1986, Craig was named Head Coach at then Division I Radford University (1987-1990). Craig's Highlanders competed with Duke, North Carolina, Penn State, Notre Dame, and had wins over Lehigh and Ohio State.
After finishing his MS at VA Tech, Craig became Technology Education teacher and Head Coach for Aberdeen HS in Harford County, Maryland (1995-1999). In 1995 he was awarded The Baltimore Sun's Harford County Coach of the Year after taking Aberdeen to their first county playoffs. Recently, Craig has coached boys and girls youth teams for Prince George's County Pride, helped as Assistant Coach for Northwestern HS in Prince George's County, and was Head Coach for St. Anselm's Abbey School in Washington, DC.
Craig Tillmann Jr. is a Project Manager employed by CGI, providing IT training services to the Department of Commerce (23 years). He resides in Hyattsville, Maryland with his wife and three children.