Cleburne school board hires new football coach

Star-Telegram

The Cleburne Yellow Jackets have a new head football coach following board of trustees action Monday night.

Jeff Merket, who has been the offensive coordinator at Brownwood since 2009, was named to Cleburne’s head coaching position after being listed last week as one of three finalists. His annual salary is $84,000 and Merket will be in Cleburne on a full time basis starting Monday.

“We received more than 80 applications for this position,” Superintendent Tim Miller told the school board following their vote naming Merket as head coach. “Jeff Merket is the best coach to direct our football program at Cleburne High School. He comes to us with many years of experience as a head coach and assistant coach.”

In the three years Merket has been on staff, Brownwood has been a regional finalist twice and made it to the state semifinals in 2010. His duties at Brownwood also included coaching the quarterbacks and serving as head golf coach.

His resume includes the 1990s at Stephenville, which included coaching under Art Briles during three Class 4A state championships.

During his 25 years in coaching, Merket spent four at Burnet as an assistant coach, which included two appearances at the state finals. Merket has also coached at Coppell, Leander, Junction, Clyde and Ballinger, where he began his career.

Merket has a bachelors degree in physical education from Angelo State, and a masters in education Tarleton State.

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