STEPHENVILLE – Tarleton head football coach Sam McElroy has announced the hiring of Dave Wiemers as the offensive coordinator for the Texans.

“We are excited to have Dave join our football staff,” McElroy said. “I believe he will bring a great deal of experience that is different from the Lone Star Conference after being in the MIAA. He did a great job in that league as both an assistant and head coach. I believe he will add a lot to our program, and we are excited to have him lead our offense.”

Wiemers has spent the last eight years at Emporia State in Emporia, Kan., including six as the Hornets' head coach where he tallied a 35-32 record. After spending his first two seasons as an assistant coach at ESU, he was named the head coach on Dec. 8, 2000. Wiemers led the Hornets to a Mineral Water Bowl victory in 2002 and a share of the school's first Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association Championship in football in 2003.

“I am really excited about the opportunity to coach at Tarleton,” Wiemers said. “The best attraction to this job is being able to coach for a winning program that has a legitimate chance to win a championship every year.”

Weimers was named the Wilson/MIAA Coach of the Year in 2003 after guiding ESU to the conference title and a spot in the NCAA Division II playoffs. He was named to America Football Monthly's “Hot” list of Division II football coaches prior to the 2004 season. Between 2001 and 2004 six players earned All-American honors and three players were named Academic All-Americans while playing for the Hornets.

“I think serving in the head coaching role will help me bring a lot of valuable experience to this coaching staff,” Wiemers said. “I think I can be another pair of eyes and ears for Coach McElroy. I believe I can help with what he wants and needs on a daily basis because I have sat in that chair before. I already miss being a head coach, but I think I can bring a lot of value to this position.”

While the assistant head coach at ESU in his first two seasons, Wiemers served as the offensive coordinator where a Hornet led the MIAA in rushing, receiving and passing efficiency.

The new offensive coordinator said fans should expect a fast, open offense.

“The key is to get the ball to your good players as much as possible,” Wiemers said. “I think we have some great players on this squad, and if we can continue to attract talented young men to play for us, we will continue to win. Obviously, the goal is to score points, and with our multiple-set offense, I think it will be fun to watch, and I hope it will be fun for our players to run.”

Wiemers has already been thrust into the recruiting aspect with signing day set for Wednesday, Feb. 7.

“I believe I can be a good staff guy,” Wiemers said. “I feel I can plug right into this great staff that is already unified, and I know we can be successful.”

Prior to his stint at ESU, Wiemers spent five years at Saginaw Valley State University as defensive coordinator and assistant head coach. At SVSU, he coached the linebackers and oversaw a unit that set school records with 44 sacks and 29 forced turnovers. He began his coaching career as the quarterbacks coach at Topeka-Seaman High School in 1992 in Topeka, Kan. He also assisted with the Pittsburg State defensive line in 1993.

The Clay Center, Kan. native was an all-state quarterback in high school and played in the 1986 Kansas Shrine Bowl. He played football and baseball at Dodge City Community College, earning All-Jayhawk Conference honors as a quarterback. He was a pitcher and quarterback at Washburn University as well.

Wiemers earned his bachelor's degree from WU in 1990 and his master's in physical education from PSU in 1995.

The new Texan coach has been married to his wife, Susie, for eight years. The couple has two sons, Brett (6) and Tyson (4).