The Austin boys track and field team is looking to a new leader this spring.

Ryan Timm, who moved to Austin in 2013, is taking over for long-time head coach Tony Einertson and Timm is well aware of the program Einertson built up for him to take over.

“I’m a little nervous because of I have big shoes to fill and a lot of people have a lot of respect for Tony,” Timm said. “I don’t want to replace him, but I certainly want to keep the program at a high level.”

Timm had coached middle school track and field before taking the Packers head coaching job and he also has plenty of experience as a track and field athlete. Timm went to Wisconsin Lutheran College in Milwaukee, Wis. where he set the school record in the 100-meter dash and competed in the decathlon for three years.

Timm said that decathlon experience gives him a good insight on a lot of the events he will coach this season.

“I feel like I have expertise to teach any athlete who comes up to me,” Timm said. “I can always give them an answer, I have no doubt about that.”

The Packers were able to practice outside last week to give their new head coach a look at what kind of athletes the team has, but snow this week has put the team back inside. Austin senior Connor Sheehan said the transition from one coach to another has gone pretty smooth.

“We’re getting along pretty well and we’re all understanding each other. It’s going pretty good so far,” Sheehan said.

Timm, who graduated from Wisconsin Lutheran in 2010, has gotten a head coaching job much quicker than he even he imagined he would.

“This is a dream of mine,” he said. “I’ve been wanting to be a head coach since I left college and I didn’t think think it would happen within five years. I couldn’t be happier to be here working with the people I’m working with.”

The Packers are scheduled to open their season in Faribault March 31 at 4:30 p.m.