By Moses Leos III
Changes are on the horizon for the Lehman boys basketball program as longtime head coach Thomas Acker will not return for a 12th season.
The decision was made on Monday, according to Lehman athletic coordinator Todd Raymond, who said Acker wouldn’t return to helm the Lobos.
According to Hays CISD spokesperson Tim Savoy, Acker remains employed by the district. In addition, he will remain as a teacher at Lehman High, and will be reassigned to assistant coaching duties within the athletic department.
“We are just moving the program in a different direction,” Savoy said.
No timeline has been set on filling the coaching vacancy.
During his tenure, Acker was instrumental in helping build the Lobos’ basketball program from the ground up.
Acker helped lead the Lobos to the program’s only postseason appearance in 2010. That year saw the Lobos fall to Kerrville Tivy in the bi-district round.
A pair of collegiate standouts played under Acker’s tutelage. Current University of Texas-Austin senior Tarale Murry completed his final year on the Longhorn basketball team.
Murry helped lead the Lobos to the playoffs in 2010 and was named the 2011 District 27-4A Defensive Player of the Year. Murry was a three-time All-District 27-4A selection.
Acker also helped lead DeAndre Carson to a District 27-4A co-MVP honor in 2013. Carson, now at Texas A&M Commerce, earned 2013 Lone Star Conference Player of the Year honors. He averaged 18 minutes of play in 2015.
In a statement to the Hays Free Press, Acker expressed his pride in solidifying the base of the basketball program. He also said the program “has never been about any one individual,” with the philosophy that “no one is better than the program itself and that includes the head coach.”
“My goal has always been to be a positive influence on young people’s lives, teach the game of basketball along with life lessons, and push and challenge my athletes to be their best at all times,” Acker wrote.
He also thanked his assistant coaches for their support.
“It has been an honor and a priveledge to serve as Lehman’s head basketball coach,” Acker said.
Since 2005, Acker compiled an overall record of 89-185.
