New Burnet OC Fambrough sees all the pieces

CAPTION: Junior quarterback Cooper Evans throws a completed pass as offensive coordinator and quarterback coach Tyler Fambrough watches during a recent 7-on-7 contest. Staff photo by Jennifer Fierro

Offensive coordinator on the Burnet Consolidated Independent School District football staff has sold itself for more than two decades.

That’s because of the outstanding talent the program draws, keeps and develops.

So when the position came open during the spring semester, interest came from every where. But one coach caught the eyes of head coach Ben Speer – Cedar Park Vista Ridge co-offensive coordinator, passing coordinator and quarterback coach Tyler Fambrough, who checked off multiple boxes.

Fambrough graduated from Quanah High School in 2018 where he played for his dad, David. Being a football coach might be the family’s business. Tyler’s grandfather Tom also was a Texas high school football coach.

“My journey as a Texas high school coach’s kid brought me all around the state at all different levels,” Tyler said. “My dad was a coach at a big school, small school. My granddad was also a coach, and so I’ve been able to see some storied tradition (rich) schools across the state and how they operate. When I was growing up, my dad always told me that if Burnet ever came open, that he was going to try to get there because it was such a good town. And so I’ve heard of the town growing up, obviously the rich tradition of when (former head coach and alumnus) Bob Shipley was there and everyone else that comes along with it. There’s such a passion for football in Burnet, and I’ve always known that from afar.”

He noted that Burnet reminds him and his wife, MaKayla, of their hometown.

“It was really the perfect fit and perfect opportunity for us to go to a place that we wanted to call home, that also fit the football side of it,” Tyler said. “Then you get in the town and everyone is so friendly, the facilities at the high school are next to none. And it is just an immaculate place to be, and so I’m really fortunate and really grateful to honestly call Burnet home for however many years I can.”

One box on Speer’s checklist was having coordinators who have the ability to evaluate what each player does well and then put him in positions to allow them to excel. Fambrough said he has had a front row seat to watch the Bulldogs get faster and get stronger.

“The really great thing about Burnet is that all the kids have a chance to compete in whatever they want to,” he said. “See(ing) them on the track is great to see their ability to gain speed throughout the season, seeing their ability to gain strength in the weight room and how they’ve gained weight. One of the first days I was here, they were increasing their weights because of the improvements they’ve made, so that was a huge great thing to see was the kids poring time into developing athletically. And then on top of that, the evaluation piece comes from getting people in different positions on the field, right? So if they’re an outside receiver, maybe playing them inside at some point. If they’re a running back, maybe getting them out at the slot receiver. At the offensive line spots, moving around from guard to tackle to center just seeing what everybody can do best. And then, once that piece is dialed, then we can evaluate in the fall – how can we get this guy the ball, how can we run behind this guy? And I’m super big on tailoring our game plan, not necessarily just on how we can affect the scheme of the defense that we’re playing, but how can we get our best players the ball at all times to get us to win?”

During 7 on 7 the last several weeks, the Bulldogs have walked out with a notebook that has their passing plays drawn out. During dead balls, they open the book and go to the play they want to run so that each receiver knows the route he is running, while the quarterback knows what to look for.

“We’re at the point right now of installation, and it’s going really well,” the coordinator said. “We have a lot of concepts installed, more so than I thought we would be able to, but the kids are retaining a ton of information and taking it by storm. They’re excited about it, so it makes it easier to learn when they want to come up there to learn it. And they’re doing a lot of good stuff.”

And Fambrough has been standing behind them watching as the play unfolds. He is seeing what his quarterbacks see, observes their mechanics and makes mental notes.

“I think that we have the talent right now to go get it,” he said. “And I think we’re going to. Seeing the kids work out, seeing them lift weights, seeing them run and then seeing them settle in 7 on 7, I think that we got a chance to do something really special. I know we graduated a lot, but the kids who are stepping up are ready to take the challenge, and I am, too.”

CAPTION: Junior quarterback Fisher Powell holds the Bulldogs’ 7-on-7 playbook so his teammates can see the play and each other’s routes.