Killeen ISD on Monday named the second-ever head coach at Killeen Chaparral as San Antonio Davenport offensive coordinator Tyrell McCrea was named to the position by new KISD athletic director Matt Carroll.

McCrea steps in for Alan Haire, who departed in mid-June to take over as athletic director/head football coach at Jarrell.

Coach McCrea, a native of Del Rio, played his college football Angelo State. He began his coaching career as a graduate assistant at Navarro College. He then went to Del Rio (where he’s had two stints as an assistant), and he’s also spent time as an assistant at San Antonio Madison, San Antonio Roosevelt (where he worked under current KISD athletic director Matt Carroll), San Antonio Burbank and he spent 2023 as the offensive coordinator at San Antonio Davenport, where he helped the Wolves reach the 4A-Division I state semifinals.

McCrea does arrive in Killeen with head coaching experience as he spent 2015 and 2016 as the head coach at Class 2A Brackettville. After going 1-9 in his first season, McCrea led the Tigers to a 5-6 mark in 2016 before stepping down and joining the staff at Del Rio where his brother Frenchy McCrea was serving as the Rams head coach.

McCrea says administrative support was key in his attraction to the job. 

“Our Superintendent, Dr. Fey, has great vision," McCrea said. "She’s a former elite athlete herself and she understands importance of athletics. Then I’ve worked for Coach Carroll, our athletic director, so that familiarity was a huge plus."

Chaparral is entering its third varsity season in 2024 and are making the move to 5A-Division I. With the timing of the hire, Coach McCrea knows he’s in for a challenge, but it’s one he’s embracing.

“The biggest thing is getting to know the kids," he said. "I’m already here in Killeen getting to know the kids in summer workouts. Building a staff this late is tough, but I’ve had some guys reach out so that’s a good start. We will be switching from the Slot-T to the spread, so that’s a big change. We didn’t do spring so having the extra week in August and the extra scrimmage is a big help. We’ll definitely be utilizing the sport specific time to the max as well to ease with the transition."