Spotting, developing athletes is what drives new Marble Falls coach Gonzalez
CAPTION: New Marble Falls cross country and girls track and field head coach Brenda Gonzalez (wearing sunglasses) may have left the school district in 2019 but never left the athletes. She is with 2020 graduates Natalie Mata (left), Ambrie Lizcano and Jaden Johnson. Courtesy photo
Brenda Gonzalez is returning to Marble Falls Independent School District athletic department after being gone for five years.
But she emphasized she never left the community.
“It feels like unfinished business,” she said.
The Marble Falls Independent School District Board of Trustees approved her hire as the new cross country and girls head track and field coach, jobs she is more than familiar with in terms of facilities, athletes and staff members. She takes over after Chris Schrader announced his retirement.
Gonzalez, who has a Bachelors of Science in kinesiology from the University of Texas-Pan American and a masters degree in Applied Sport Psychology from Adams State University, first worked for the school district in 2015 at Marble Falls Middle School. She worked closely with former cross country and girls head track and field coach Anthony Torns.
Both share the same philosophy when it comes to cross country and track and field – they are sports that can help athletes become faster, leap higher and become stronger to help make them be the dominant player they want to be for other sports.
But more than that, Gonzalez and Torns could spot events an athlete can be great at, develop a plan to help that athlete obtain those goals, and then recreate those plans to challenge the athlete to keep improving.
The two were terrific at spotting talent in the middle school and giving youngsters something everyone needs — someone who believed in them and someone they didn’t want to disappoint.
Gonzalez said that comes down to two key components.
“The main thing is relationships and communication with the kids,” she said. “What’s important is they believe you care about them more than being an athlete.”
She helped prepare the athletes in the seventh and eighth grade so when they got to the high school, the athletes weren’t shocked by the workouts and had the self-confidence they could succeed.
“They were prepared to go to the high school and continue it,” she said. “They have that foundation. Having that belief in the kid and seeing that and saying ‘trust me, trust the process. We’ll get there eventually.'”
None of that matters, she added, if athletes lack natural “competitiveness and the hunger to get better.”
“That gives me a chance to teach them the right way and let’s build a strong program,” she said.
The Marble Falls High School middle-distance program has one of its top runners returning — rising senior Tyler Hamblin, who competed at the Class 4A state meet in cross country and track and field during the 2023-24 school year. Hamblin has competed at the cross country state meet every year he’s been a Mustang.
Even in the years since her departure from Marble Falls, she was still attending ball games. She watched nephew Derek play basketball and made it a point to attend other sporting events and cheer the Mustangs on.
She noted the Mustangs and Lady Mustangs have plenty of natural talent and ability, and she is looking forward to assisting them obtain their goals just like the first time she was on staff.
“It’s a matter of you being confident and trusting the process,” she said. “I want them not only to be better athletes but better people. I’m excited for the opportunity. I’m looking for great success.”
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