Burbank football’s Broussard steps down following historic season

Richard Broussard, who orchestrated the most successful season in the history of Burbank High football, said he has stepped down as head coach after three years.

Broussard said he told his team about his decision Wednesday and actually tendered his resignation in November. The coach, who is also a special education teacher at Burbank, said he will be leaving the school at the conclusion of the current semester.

Broussard wouldn’t go into specific details about the reasons for him stepping down, but did say it was not football related.

“This is all I’m going to say. Waking up and coming to work has been hard for me and really the only thing that made my day was practice and being around the football stuff,” said Broussard, who has been with the football program since 2008. “At the end of the day, I just wasn’t myself because of what I was dealing with for six hours of my day. I just couldn’t live like that.

“So, I’m just taking some time to evaluate what it is I’m doing with myself. I’m doing some soul-searching and trying to figure out how to get back to me and live the way that I want to live. I really want to see what’s next for me.”

Burbank Principal Michael Bertram said it was Broussard’s decision to step down.

“I will tell you he has not been fired from any position,” Bertram said. “He has resigned and we’ll leave it at that. There are things he wants to do with his life and I fully support him and I wish him nothing but success. I know if he decides to coach again he’ll be as successful, or even more successful, than he was here.”

“But what I can tell you is what he’s done for our football program is an incredible thing. He and his staff have to be commended for really instilling integrity and values and dedication and commitment and hard work in these young men. ... He did so much for our program and we are so appreciative for that.”

With a stingy defense and a balanced offensive attack, the Bulldogs went 10-4 and 6-1 in the Pacific League this past season, finishing second behind Crescenta Valley. What followed was a historic playoff run by unseeded Burbank, which upset two top-four seeds in Division VIII to earn a berth in a CIF championship game for the first time in program history. The Bulldogs fell short of winning a first-ever title, losing to Yorba Linda, 31-21, on Dec. 2.

In the playoffs, Burbank earned wins against Brea Olinda (52-32), Northview (30-27) and Don Lugo (44-14). It was only the third time Burbank advanced to the semifinals and the second time since 1927.

“That was just a very special run with a special group of players,” Broussard said. “That’s why when I had to tell them about my decision it was one of the hardest things I’ve ever had to do. To do what we did this season and to be around this group was just a blessing.

“Sometimes kids take things hard and I just wanted to reassure them it was nothing that they did that led to my decision. They have been nothing but great. I let them know that sometimes we have to make decisions that are difficult.”

In his three years with Burbank, Broussard’s teams went 24-13 and 16-5 in the Pacific League with two second-place and one third-place finish. The Bulldogs qualified for the playoffs all three years.

A graduate of Ontario High, Broussard took over the Burbank program from Hector Valencia in March of 2014, after he served as an assistant in the program for eight years. He was hired just 18 days after Valencia stepped down following a five-year tenure.

Burbank will lose a host of seniors to graduation, including receiver/defensive back Forest Fajardo, linebacker Jake Kelley, quarterback Guy Gibbs, running back Nick Warren and linebacker/safety Andy Reyes.

Bertram said the school will likely start the process of finding a new coach after the holidays.