Burnet CISD’s Jones announces retirement
After 23 years of service to Burnet Consolidated Independent School District, athletic director Kurt Jones said he is retiring from public education at the end of the 2023-24 school year.
“It’s 100 percent my decision,” he said. “My wife and family and I have been talking about it for a little while. I was thinking this might be the right time the closer we got to this date. I’m 100 percent convinced it’s the right timing.”
His son, senior athlete Grant, will graduate at the end of this school year, which will leave the elder Jones and wife Carrie Beth as empty nesters. Grant Jones, who was just named the football District 13-4A Division I Most Valuable Player, is vetting opportunities to play college athletics.
Another reason, Kurt Jones said, is because of where the Burnet CISD athletic department is right now. With the completion of the district’s multipurpose facility — an indoor marvel that fits the needs of every sport and the band and includes a state-of-the-art weight room — and the fact that every sport is competing for district championships, Jones believes that he’s been apart of putting athletes, coaches and the community in a position to be successful for years to come.
“We feel like we have Burnet athletics in the right spot,” he said. “We have a really strong coaching staff and culture. We’re done with facilities and the stability with all our sports competing at a high level and feel like with our culture, it’s a good time to hand the baton.”
Though the announcement was made Dec. 19, Jones indicated the Burnet CISD Board of Trustees had been told of his decision for some time. Board members are now facing the prospect of hiring a new superintendent with the announced retirement of Keith McBurnett. The superintendent is the individual who makes hiring recommendations to board members on other school district positions, including athletic director and head coaches.
On the same day the school district announced Jones’ retirement, it also announced that football head coach Bryan Wood is resigning. A new head coach will walk the Burnet sideline in 2024.
Is the school board considering hiring one individual to be the football head coach and the athletic director?
“Our school board has been having those discussions since coach Wood and I announced the news,” Jones said. “I think there’s a chance they’ll leave it separate. They like what they’ve seen in terms of the organization.”
As for the next football head coach, Wood has made a recommendation the school district hire defensive coordinator Ben Speer, who has been on Wood’s staff since before the head coach took over the Burnet program three years ago.
“Ben Speer is a great coach,” Jones said.
He emphasized the decision to retire is his and his family.
“There’s nothing wrong there,” Jones said. “Everything is good. I really felt like deep down inside my heart, now is the time to hand it off. I want to hand this off to the next person to give them a chance to be successful. The sports department is as strong as it’s ever been. You won’t find a time it’s been stronger. I’ll do what I can to help the transition, help the next person feel comfortable coming in.”
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