The Burleson Elks have a former Dallas Cowboy as their Head Coach for the second time in the past few years.
The Elks named Phillip Tanner as their new Head Coach and Athletic Director. Former Dallas Cowboys QB Jon Kitna was the Head Coach at Burleson from 2020-22. Kitna led the Elks to an 8-4 season in 2021. Kitna moved on to become the Head Football Coach and Dean of Students at Lakota East High School in Liberty Township, Ohio.
Last year, Burleson struggled with a 1-9 record. Head Coach Chad Worrell resigned in March and became the Head Coach at Pilot Point. For their third coach in three years, the Elks are turning to Phillip Tanner.
Tanner served as the offensive coordinator under Kitna at Burleson before becoming the head coach at Fort Worth Southwest for two seasons. Prior to coaching, Tanner was an NFL player, spending three of his four seasons with the Dallas Cowboys. Before the NFL, Tanner, a Dallas, Texas native, played high school football at Kimball before heading to Middle Tennessee State for college. Originally a defensive back, Tanner transitioned to a running back at Middle Tennessee State, the position he would go on to play in the NFL.
The Elks, under new Head Coach Phillip Tanner, will look to regain the momentum that Kitna had built within the program and have their first winning season since 2021.
BISD named Phillip Tanner, former NFL running back & Dallas Cowboys special teams assistant, as Head Football Coach and Athletic Coordinator at Burleson High School.
More about Tanner’s return to BHS 👉https://t.co/fIezBZX4ZB#TXHSFB | @bhselks @BurlesonSports pic.twitter.com/U8k6HMZi26
— BurlesonISD (@BurlesonISD) April 23, 2024
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