Hale resigns as Burnet athletic director to return to coaching

CAPTION: Steve and Lana Hale leaving the Burnet Consolidated Independent School District community. Steve Hale is will coach at a small private school. The move gets the couple closer to family. Courtesy photo

After one year as the Burnet Consolidated Independent School District athletic director and safety officer, Steve Hale resigned.

He announced his resignation in early May, calling the reason why “the right opportunity that came up.”

He is joining the Trinity Christian Academy in Willow Park as the football program’s defensive coordinator, the athletic department’s powerlifting coach and track coach.

“I just couldn’t turn it down,” he said. “I believe it’s God’s timing. It’s a great school with lots of changes in leadership. They’re really excited about athletics. I get to coach and be focused on that.”

The move puts the Steve and his wife, Lana, closer to family, particularly her mother. At the same time, the opportunity also gets Hale where he wants to be.

“I’ve been out of coaching for four years,” he said. “I’ve been looking at private schools for the last three years. I really put a focus on my family. My family has followed me all over the state. Everything worked out. I’m sad to leave – I love Burnet. This is an opportunity I couldn’t turn down.”

While here, he and football head coach Ben Speer developed a great relationship, he said. This is Speer’s first head coaching job. He also worked closely with girls athletic coordinator Crystal Shipley, who also was in her first year in that role. She also serves as the volleyball and girls head track and field coach.

“I think we’re in great shape,” he said. “Ben has done an amazing job in football. Crystal has done an amazing job. I think we’ve done some good things this year. I think I left it in a better place than I found it. I felt I was able to coach and be a mentor.”

Hale coached the Lady Dawgs relays during the spring. He guided the 1,600-meter relay team of Adrianna Briggs, Calie Eason, Brianne Smith and Camryn Courtney to a new program record with a time of 4 minutes and 4.3 seconds to break the old record set 26 years earlier of 4:04.8.

He noted that in Burnet, it’s OK to “share my Christianity.”

“I’m thankful for Dr. (Aaron) Pena, (the school district’s superintendent),” he said. “I love working for him, but I’m dying to coach football. I love the AD part, and I think I’ve done a great job. I don’t care if it’s private (school) or public (school), I get to coach again.”

He said he wants to be remembered as “somebody who loves Jesus and loves people.”

“It’s why I’m here,” he said. “I had a great time coaching girls track. It was a good place to make some unbelievable relationships. I’m thankful I get to coach again. I like what we’ve done to be consistent and aligned in our program.”