Lamar Viking Coaches

Coach Zachary Burks – Varsity Head Coach
Coach Zach Burks attended the University of Central Arkansas from 1987-1991 on a full Athletic Scholarship.  While attending UCA, he was named NAIA All-American 1991, NAIA National Runner-Up 1991, AIC All-District Champ 1990-1991 & AIC All-Conference 1990-1991.  In October 2009, he will be inducted into the UCA Hall of Fame. 

Coach Burks graduated from Philander Smith College in May 1994.  He has been coaching for 15 years.  He was the Head Varsity Coach at the Arkansas School for the Deaf.  Additionally, he was the Head JV & Asst. Varsity Basketball Coach at Parkview High School where they won the State Championship in 2002 & State Champ Runner-Up in 2003.  He comes to Lamar High School from Martin High School where he coached for six years.  Four of the six years, these teams made it to the State Playoffs.

Coach Burks has been married for fifteen years to his beautiful wife, Connie.  They have three children:  Zachary IV-17, Kennedy-11 & Drew-7.  They reside in Grand Prairie.

Coach Paul Shaffer – Assistant Varsity / Junior Varsity
Coach Paul Shaffer begins his fifteenth year in the district and his fourth year here at Lamar High School. Coach Shaffer graduated from Arlington High School in 1984, and lettered in basketball. He also graduated from the University of Texas at Arlington with a B.A.in Exercise Science.

Coach Shaffer began his career in Arlington in 1992 at Shackelford Junior High, then moved to Nichols Junior High School in 1996. He served as the head basketball coach from 1998 to 2006 and the Athletic Coordinator from 2003-2006. Coach Shaffer also coaches the freshman baseball team here at Lamar. He loves traveling, fishing, and golfing when he’s not in the gym or on the field. Coach Shaffer married his lovely bride, Melissa, in July of 2009.  

Coach Wilson Collins – Freshman B Team
Coach Wilson Collins grew up in Crawford, Texas graduating from Crawford High School in 1988. He served as team captain on the football team. He also ran track. He graduated from Southwest Texas State University in 1995.

Coach Collins coached at Shackelford Junior High from 1997 to 2002. He was athletic coordinator at Shackelford from 2003 to 2007. Thereafter, he resumed his coaching duties at Lamar in both Basketball and Football. His wife, Amanda, teaches honors biology at Arlington Seguin High School. They have two daughters, Tessa and Avery.