Burnet CISD’s Kiser to retire, Weldon takes over boys hoops

CAPTION: Roy Kiser and grandchild Hudson Roy Kiser. Photo by Martelle Luedecke/Luedecke Photography

Burnet Consolidated Independent School District announced a head coaching change for boys basketball.

Long-time head coach Roy Kiser, who has spent more than two decades with the Bulldogs, is retiring.

Taking over the program is varsity assistant coach Juston Weldon, who guided the junior varsity last season to a He has been on the staff for two years.

“I thought it was a no-brainer,” athletic director Steve Hale said. “I like what I’ve seen. (Weldon) has been a head coach before and won a district championship this year. He’s well respected throughout the district. He was patient to wait on this. We posted the job, and he was the best candidate.”

This year’s Bulldogs posted an 18-17 record and 7-5 in District 24-4A to advance to the Class 4A Division II playoffs where they lost to Lorena 54-48 in the bi-district round. Burnet won the district championship in 2023-24 a year after the Bulldogs were a team on a mission. After beating Marble Falls on the road in January 2024, Kiser talked about how motivated his players were to make sure they closed out opponents for wins.

Hale said that Kiser decided when it was time. And he acknowledged that Kiser is in a different phase of his life. He’s a grandfather now. Sons Derek and Drew are married and have started families, while Luke is pursing a Master of Business Administration at St. Edward’s University.

“We definitely love what coach Kiser has done here, and we weren’t going to force his hand,” the athletic director said. “Coach Kiser could have coached another five to 10 years if he wanted to. He’s been very supportive of me and my vision. When you get a coach, who has experience and has done great things, it takes pressure off you. He’s done some amazing things and left a great legacy. As coaches, we spend more time with other people’s kids. He’s a grandfather; this will free him up now.”

Hale also appreciated Weldon waiting for his shot at taking over the program.

“Coach Weldon was willing to wait it out,” he said. “I don’t promise jobs to anybody. From the get-go, he wanted to be here. We were hoping if that situation arose, he would get that opportunity.”

Hale said there’s plenty to like about Weldon, calling him “a great family man,” who “loves basketball” and has experienced success. He won 100 games in four years as the Blanco High basketball coach. The 2009 Wimberley High School graduate was running the Blanco program for six years.

“He came from Wimberley and had success there,” Hale said. “We’ve had the same philosophy. It starts with the relationships of players. He sees them as an extension of his family. He knows young men need role models. His loyalty to Burnet and wanting to be in Burnet (are other reasons he’s the right choice). He’s had opportunities to go and leave Burnet. People contacted me and asked if they could talk to him.”

Weldon played basketball for and graduated from Sul Ross University in 2009, earning a degree in history. Sul Ross is also where he met his wife and best friend, Megan. The couple has two daughters, Alette Elizabeth and Brooklyn Sam

This year’s Burnet varsity team had five seniors, who will graduate, but the squad returns at least two guards and the program’s sub varsity players have the ability to be big contributors in Weldon’s first year as head coach, Hale said. He noted Weldon being in the program has allowed him to develop relationships with the Bulldogs already, and he likes how they interact with one another.

Hale said the position was one that got a lot of attention from coaches all over. And he added that other coaches contacted him saying that “if it ever opened up,” they’d like to apply.

“We got a lot of applications,” he said. “(Kiser) leaves this program in great shape. He’s a man of God. We let coach Kiser decide when it was his time. We had a plan to open it up. It’s a very well thought-of job in the state.”

CAPTION: Juston Weldon is taking over the program after spending two years as the varsity assistant coach and the junior varsity coach. Photo by Martelle Luedecke/Luedecke Photography