Meet Brad Molder, La Vernia’s new athletic director




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New La Vernia ISD Athletic Director and Head Football Coach Brad Molder is married to his high school sweetheart, Kimberly. The family recently expanded with the birth of grandchild Hudson, now 5 months old.

As 2021 wanes and 2022 comes into focus, Brad Molder is preparing to take his place as the new athletic director and head football coach for the La Vernia Independent School District. (See “La Vernia ISD names Brad Molder as new athletic director,” Dec. 23 La Vernia News.)

But just who is Brad Molder, and what will he bring to La Vernia?

Read on to learn more!

Background

A product of Kerrville Tivy High School, Molder excelled in football and baseball, earning a scholarship to continue playing football in college. He earned his degree at Southwest Texas State University, and was elated to land a job with the Judson ISD in San Antonio, beginning his teaching and coaching career at Woodlake Hills Middle School. He later moved to Judson High School, where he was an offensive coordinator for the football team and assistant baseball coach for eight years.

Most recently, Molder was the assistant head football coach and offensive coordinator at Samuel Clemens High School in Schertz.

While still in high school, Molder met the young woman who would become his wife. He and Kimberly share four children, and are the proud grandparents of 5-month-old Hudson.

The real Brad Molder

LVN: Do you have a pet peeve? “People not doing what they say they’ll do, lack of accountability.”

What do you enjoy most when you’re not working? “Time with my family is priority No. 1. Otherwise, play golf, or go hunting or fishing — with family!”

What’s your go-to snack? “I’m a Cheetos fanatic (laughing). Almost to a fault.”

Favorite place to dine out? “Garcia’s Mexican Restaurant; that’s our go-to place. Mexican food is our favorite to eat out, and pizza is a close second.”

What would people be surprised to learn about you? “I’m a very compassionate person, very easy to get along with. People look at me, see this big guy, and they don’t expect that. But I’m overly compassionate. I love kids.”

Favorite charitable organization? “Blue Santa. My wife works for the Schertz Police Department, so Blue Santa is our current No. 1 charity. I also give blood regularly.”

Are you a person of faith? “Yes. We attend Tree of Life Church in New Braunfels.”

What’s your worst habit? “I fidget. I can’t sit still. It drives my wife insane.” (Laughs)

What do you enjoy most about coaching? “I don’t go to work. I go to change lives.

“Helping young men and women in our community is what drives me.

“When a kid comes back to you 10 or 15 years later, and maybe they weren’t the best as a student, and tells you what they’ve done with their lives — that’s the reward.”

As we’ve just celebrated Christmas, what’s the best gift you’ve ever received? “That’s easy. The gift from my wife this year: A big stand-up video game that I was good at when I was a kid (Galaga). It brought me back to my childhood. I’ve already put my name as the high scorer in all the places.

“It was awesome!”

DAN SHERRARD/www.dansherrardphotography
“It’s always a challenge, when you come in at a time when you have to wait to meet and talk with everybody,” Brad Molder tells La Vernia News Editor Nannette Kilbey-Smith Dec. 17, as he was unanimously approved by La Vernia ISD school board members as the district’s new athletic director. He’ll hold some meet-and-greet events to get to know staff, students, and community members as classes resume in January.

Looking ahead

Molder’s looking forward to meeting the athletics department staff and the students as school resumes after welcoming in the new year.

“I’m honored and blessed for the opportunity,” he told the La Vernia News. “My whole goal is to put the kids first. It’s what I’ve been doing for 22 years.

“I want to make this the best place to go to school and to compete in athletics.”

He wants to help the kids compete in a very difficult real world.

But Molder’s main goal, he said, is “to build a person strong from the inside out. Everything else follows from that.”