Timmerman: fit is why he accepted the Marble Falls football, athletic director job

CAPTION: New Marble Falls Independent School District and football head coach Keri Timmerman (second from left) with what he calls Team Timmerman: wife Natalie (left) and children Brock (center), Addi and Doak. The family was on hand when the elder Timmerman was approved for hire during a regular Marble Falls Independent School Board of Trustees meeting Dec. 18. Staff photo by Jennifer Fierro

New Marble Falls Independent School District football head coach and athletic director Keri Timmerman knows Burnet County well.

He has a hunting lease about a mile from the Marble Falls Independent School District Central Office, has worked at Camp Balcones Springs, and even knows the location of a laundry mat and the Walmart.

But while familiarity was a reason why he applied for the position when it came open in early November after Brian Herman’s resignation, they weren’t the reason he accepted the job.

“The big thing – it was a fit,” he said. “There’s a lot of high school football jobs I didn’t apply to.”

He noted they are spread all over the state. But it wasn’t right for his wife, Natalie, who is a fourth-generation teacher, or his sons Doak, a 16-year-old sophomore, and Brock, a 13-year-old middle schooler. Daughter Addi is an 18-year-old Texas Tech University student.

But the Marble Falls Independent School District community is in the area they want to stay and has the characteristics and traits they want in a community.

He noted his four values are linked to Luke 2:52, a verse that states that Jesus increased in wisdom and stature and in favor with God and man.

In other words, Timmerman wants to build up the whole person.

“We’re going to use athletics to build up young men and young women,” he said. “There’s something about pushing your limits physically. Favor with man is a big part of the community and team.”

While his first official day is Jan. 8, the start of Marble Falls ISD’s spring semester, Timmerman spent the week visiting different Marble Falls ISD campuses meeting other staff members, coaches and students and even attended the boys basketball team’s 57-55 win against Salado Dec. 19.

And though he comes from the offensive side of the ball — most recently serving as the passing coordinator at Leander Vandegrift — Timmerman said he would evaluate staff and and players to decide what position he would coach and which plays work best for the Mustangs’ personnel. Timmerman served on Mickey Moss’ staff at South Garland where he learned a base offense. He runs a multiple offense, a spread-option system that’s a combination of what Gus Malzahn and Chad Morris utilize. It calls for short passes all over the field to ensure the defense can’t focus on one player. It’s what he ran as the offensive coordinator at China Spring and Anna before he went to Grapevine High School as the assistant head coach.

He became the head coach at Lake Worth High School in 2015, a position he had for three years before going to Colleyville-Heritage High School as the offensive coordinator, speed and strength coordinator and assistant head football coach, a position he had for two years before making his way to Vandegrift.

At Vandgrift, the Vipers averaged 38 points and 380 yards a contest in an offense that produced 5,000 yards en route to winning the 2022 District 25-6A crown and playing for the Class 6A Division II state title. But Timmerman said he isn’t so committed to one scheme that he’ll force the Mustangs into that system.

“We have to figure out our kids and what our needs are,” he said. “It’s what fits the kids. It’s all about finding what fits our kids the best. I’m a good enough coach to understand what our strengths are. “

Timmerman also has served as the recruiting coordinator at Grapevine High School, Rockwall Heath High School and Vandegrift. The biggest reason is because of his understanding of the collegiate world thanks to coaching at McMurry University and Hardin-Simmons.

He handles the interaction between the college coaches and the team. Over the years, he has made numerous friends in college football.

“(Name, image and likeness) is changing the landscape,” he said.

Part of knowing what college coaches are looking for is about providing data of players to them. Typically they include height, weight, position and other vital information that helps college coaches scan data quickly. Coaches can see highlights of the player. And when athletes are at college camps, where college staffs get a closer look at a player, Timmerman said he usually joins them.

“I promote our kids,” he said. “I drive up to the camps. One of the things I will always handle is being the main recruiter.”

He plans to sign up the Mustangs for 7-on-7 in the spring and summer and wants to see athletes getting stronger and faster during the next several months.

“We’re going to work really hard to turn that win column around, and I believe we can,” he said. “The reality is this is going to take time. Kids have to feel like you care about them and believe that and trust that.”

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