Reily steps down as Burroughs football coach
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There were many factors that inevitably led Mike Reily to an important decision.
The Burroughs High football coach, who directed the Indians program for two seasons, made the decision to step down as coach.
Reily said he spoke with Burroughs Principal Deborah Madrigal on Jan. 10 and informed his players of his decision one day later.
“There’s a handful of reasons and most of those reasons I don’t want to necessarily put out there,” Reily said. “Some of it goes into that I recently moved to Santa Clarita and the commute with the hours that I was putting in was making it a little more difficult. But that’s not the primary season, but a contributing factor.
“There are also some health things that I want to address … and some things related to that that have taken a back seat the last couple of years. I think it’s just time for me to step back, push the pause button and bring some balance back into my life.”
In his two seasons with the Indians, Reily compiled an 8-11 record, going 6-8 in Pacific League play. During the 2017 season, Burroughs was 4-5 (a game against West Ranch was canceled due to fires and poor air quality) and finished 3-4 in league for fifth place.
Reily was hired in January of 2016. Prior to taking over the head coaching duties, Reily was an assistant under Keith Knoop for 14 years, the last four serving as associate head coach.
Reily, who was a lineman at Burroughs, graduating in 1994, went on to play at UNLV. He has been a teacher at the school for 17 years.
“I have been coaching here for a total of 16 years and then that, coupled with my four years playing, I’ve given 20 years to the football program at John Burroughs,” Reily said. “All through that time it has been all about the relationships and I’ve been able to develop some amazing relationships, and that’s what means the most to me.”
Burroughs assistant principal of activities and athletics Robyn Anders said the school has already begun the search for a new football coach. The job is currently listed on the CIF Southern Section website.
“That’s where we’re starting and it’s a little bit informal at this point,” Anders said. “We wanted to post the position and see what kind of results we got back in preliminary and then we will fly it a little officially through Burbank Unified and kind of get a feel for what kind of candidates are applying.”
Anders said after the application process is complete, Burroughs will compile a search committee to complete the process.
Reily said he will continue to teach economics at Burroughs and doesn’t rule out a return to coaching in the future.
“I don’t think I’m done with coaching. I don’t think I am done with being a head coach as well. At this moment in time, I just need to step back a little bit,” Reily said.
Twitter: @jefftsports
