Burleson’s Gary McElroy hired on at Peaster to help build up new football program
After eight seasons as Burleson head football coach, Gary McElroy is headed west and closer to family.
McElroy will be named head football coach and athletic director at Peaster ISD, pending approval by the school board on Thursday.
Peaster has played football for two seasons, last year being its first at the varsity level. The program has plans to join the UIL in 2022, McElroy said. Meanwhile, the Greyhounds will continue as an independent during the 2020 and 2021 seasons.
“This opportunity came up and we caught it at the right time. It was a perfect situation, professionally and personally,” said McElroy. “It was right up my alley in terms of building programs that I couldn’t pass it up. They’ve been very welcoming.”
McElroy posted a 44-42 record with four playoff appearances with the Elks, with the second most wins in program history, according to the Cleburne Times Review.
Their best season came in 2017 when they went 9-2. They won playoff games in 2014 and 2015; this after McElroy saw an 0-10 campaign in his first season of 2012.
“The success is great, but you think about the kids and the people you worked with and worked for. I’ve made great relationships at Burleson,” he said. “It was a long time and we turned the program around and into the right direction. There are good people in Burleson and we’re very thankful.
“Peaster puts us an hour closer to family which makes it nice. Peaster is extremely successful in everything they’ve done so now we want to apply that to football. We’re extremely excited to start. We’re ready to rock and roll and make some noise.”
As for Burleson, the school district announced its plan to recommend hiring Kevin Ozee as BISD Director of Athletics at Monday night’s board meeting.
Ozee had stints as athletic director at Arlington, Carroll and Duncanville ISDs.
This story was originally published February 17, 2020 at 1:48 PM.
