Sources: Burnett Accepts Tuscarora Job
Gameday has confirmed through various sources that Broad Run head coach Michael Burnett has indeed been offered the Tuscarora job, and has accepted it. His hiring will need to be approved by the Board of Supervisors before it becomes official...
Photo By: Gary Sousa / GamedayMagazine.com | VIEW GALLERY
Burnett, seen here celebrating with his wife Kim, will be closer to his family as a teacher and coach at Tuscarora.
Photo By: Gary Sousa / GamedayMagazine.com | VIEW GALLERY
Burnett's success at Broad Run will be hard to match for the next Spartan coach. Burnett compiled a 43-6 overall record and won two state championships in his 4 years at the helm.
Photo By: Gary Sousa / GamedayMagazine.com | VIEW GALLERY
ASHBURN, VA - According to various confirmed sources, GamedayMagazine.com has learned that Broad Run head coach Michael Burnett was offered the Tuscarora High School head coaching job, and has accepted it. This is news that many have come to expect in Loudoun County, as Burnett's possible departure from Broad Run, where he led the Spartans to two straight state championships, has been rumored for more than a month.
Burnett took over the Broad Run program amidst a dismal period of losing for the Spartans. They had only reached the playoffs once in a span of 15 years, but Burnett quickly turned things around.
The Spartans went from 5-5 to 10-1 from year one to year two, and then did the unthinkable. They won the last two Group AA Division 4 State Championships in 2008 and 2009. Broad Run is riding a 28 game winning streak dating back to November of 2007. In four years, Burnett compiled an impressive 43-6 overall record.
It is rumored that Burnett's decision to leave Broad Run may have hinged on something other than football. He is a respected teacher in the social studies department at the school, teaching AP Economics, and 5 classes a day.
Tuscarora offered Burnett the social studies department chair job, along with its head football coaching vacancy.
As a department chair, Burnett's teaching schedule will be much more flexible, and he should also be in line for a raise. Those simple economics to someone all too familiar with that very subject, was most likely the deciding factor.
Burnett also lives in Leesburg, and an even shorter commute to work will allow for more time with his young kids and wife.
A source close to the situation said Burnett's move was expected by those close to him, and was going to be explained to the Broad Run players early this week.
Since Burnett's move to Tuscarora has to be approved by the School Board, his Broad Run job will not officially be open until that occurs.
WHO'S NEXT AT BROAD RUN?
There will be plenty of candidates lining up to take the reigns of Group AA's best program. Gameday is hearing two names to keep an eye on.
Stone Bridge offensive coordinator Matt Griffis and Park View head coach Andy Hill have been mentioned as possible candidates to replace Burnett.
Griffis, who has been instrumental in helping Stone Bridge to unparalleled success over the last decade, is very familiar with Broad Run. His wife works in the building, and he lives in Ashburn and works just a few miles away. His track record of winning and working for one of the state's best coaches in Mickey Thompson should make him an attractive option for Broad Run athletic director Jack Kirby.
Hill, who just completed his 5th year at the helm at Park View, has guided the Patriots to the playoffs in 4 of his 5 seasons, and an overall record of 35-21. In that time span, Hill's Patriots have won 2 Dulles District championships, and played in two regional championship games.
One key factor in this search could hinge on the current Broad Run assistant coaches. Many are rumored to be on the move to Tuscarora with Burnett, but defensive line coach Jason Dawson's name has been mentioned as a potential candidate to stay on staff at Broad Run.
Dawson is currently the defensive line coach at Broad Run, and is in charge of running the Spartan strength and conditioning program. His knowledge of the program, and the players could be a major factor in keeping the winning tradition established during Burnett's tenure going.
Of course, Kirby and the Broad Run administration could also decide to go outside of Loudoun County, and hire from outside the area, just like they did back in 2006 with Burnett.
As for Tuscarora, the newly built school is getting quite a start to their existence. Athletic Director Derek Farrey has made a huge first hire. With Burnett's arrival, Tuscarora immediately is on the map across the state, and all eyes will be on how the Huskies evolve with a two time state champion coach at the helm from the start.
Tuscarora will have the finest athletic facilities in Loudoun County, and that could have also played a part in Burnett's decision to accept the job. The Huskies will field their first team this next fall, and will be in Division 3.
Tuscarora's student base will be comprised of kids from Leesburg, and also from the Lansdowne area.
Stay tuned for more coverage of this breaking story right here online at GamedayMagazine.com.
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