Brownwood Lions Offensive Coordinator Jeff Merket was hired as Cleburne’s new head football coach on Monday night at the Cleburne Independent School District school board meeting.

Merket has worked at Brownwood High School as the offensive coordinator under Head Coach Bob Shipley for three years. During Merket’s time with the Lions, they made it to regional playoff round in 2009 and 2011 and went to the state semifinals in 2010.

Merket has 25 years of coaching experience, including 11 years at Stephenville as an assistant under Art Briles. Merket helped Briles lead Stephenville to the playoffs 10 out of 11 years.

Merket has also coached at Burnet and Coppell High Schools under Coach Shipley.

According to the Cleburne Times-Review, there were over 80 applicants for the Cleburne head coach job.  Merket follows Coach Phil Young at Cleburne.