While making his way to the 2014 UIL state basketball tournament, Joshua Kirkland never forgot how “gorgeous” the Kyle and Buda area were to him.

“I told my wife, ‘If I get the opportunity to come here to work, I’ll take it,’” Kirkland said. “It has everything you want to do.”

Three years later, Kirkland was sure to made good on that promise.

On Thursday, Kirkland was officially hired as the third head coach and athletic coordinator at Lehman Hi...