Milano superintendent Lindy Robinson has come up with her own maxim when it comes to selecting coaches: if you can't beat 'em, hire 'em.

 Robinson has plucked a key assistant from the fruitful Thorndale athletic program and named longtime assistant Tim Berg as the Eagles' new head football coach.

 "Principal Greg Decker and athletic director Jay Wise went through all the applications and this is who they brought to me as their number one choice," said Milano ISD Superintendent Lindy Robinson. "They liked his philosophy and felt he was a good fit for our school district."

 "There are only so many head football coaches in Texas," Berg said. "So you have to take the opportunity when it comes along. It's the right place at the right time.

 "Milano has a good program and I think we can do some good things over there."

 Thorndale is losing a jack of all trades.

 "It will be hard to replace Tim," said Thorndale Athletic Director Jeff Lieberman. "He has done so many things for us.

 "Besides the great contributions he has made to football, basketball and softball, he is also a great classroom teacher.

 "But, this is an opportunity for him to become a head coach and those opportunities don't present themselves often. I'm sure Tim will do a great job in Milano."

 Berg is Milano's fourth football coach in the past six years.

 Berg replaces Brad Jones, who resigned last month after one season to take the head basketball job at Iraan.

 Under Jones, the Eagles registered their first victory over Thorndale in 72 years.

 Jones also led Milano to its first-ever playoff victory this past season. 

 As Thorndale's softball coach, Berg has led the Lady Dogs to unparalleled success with three straight playoff appearances and two consecutive regional quarterfinals.

 The Lady Dogs will face Shiner Friday for a chance at a state tournament berth (see related story).

 The regional finals represent the furthest the school has ever gone in softball.

 Berg has also been on the sideline as Jeff Lieberman's top assistant in basketball as the Bulldogs won back-to-back state championships.

 Berg will need to draw from all of his experiences due to the fact that Milano lost nine key seniors off last season's 8-4 squad, including the District 27A offensive player of the year, quarterback Chad Burgess, who accounted for almost 3,000 yards of offense and 32 touchdowns in 2007.

 Berg can also draw from his large-school experience, including national power Southlake Carroll, where he was an assistant for four years.

 In Milano's 31-year, 11-man era, the Eagles have posted 11 winning seasons and four district championships under 12 different coaches.

 Chad LaGrone is Milano's longest tenured coach with eight years of service (1996-2003) and is the school's all-time win leader with 44, including back-to-back district championships in 1999-2000.

 "It's going to be tough to leave Thorndale and these girls I have been coaching, especially after the year we are having," Berg said, "but I can't pass up this opportunity."