Burbank’s Kemp Resigns Positions With Cross-Country, Track Teams

Dave Kemp, one of the Valley area’s most successful distance coaches in the past two decades, has resigned as Burbank High’s cross-country coach and assistant track and field coach.

Cal Linam, Kemp’s son-in-law and a runner at Burbank before he graduated in 1980, will take over for Kemp, who guided the boys’ and girls’ teams.

Kemp, who coached at Burbank from 1974-86 and again from 1987-90, will take over the Bulldogs’ sophomore football program and continue to coach golf.

“I’m not burned out,” said Kemp, 51. “This just seemed like the right time to switch. They’ve been short of full-time football coaches (at Burbank) the last few years, and it was a great opportunity for Cal.”

Linam, 28, who ran for Glendale College and Cal State Long Beach, will inherit a program stepped in tradition.

John Musich, Kevin Burkin, Jeff Nelson, Lin Whatcott, Benny Cruz and Todd Lewis all starred during Kemp’s tenure.

In 1974, Musich timed 1 minute 51.0 seconds to win the 880-yard run at the state championships. He also ran the mile in 4:08.9 that season.

Two years later, Burkin clocked 9:02.8 in the two-mile.

In 1979, Nelson and Whatcott finished first and fourth in the two-mile at the state meet.

Nelson, who also won the state title in 1978, set the national high school record of 8:36.3 in the two-mile at the Pepsi Invitational before the ’79 state meet. Whatcott’s best in the two-mile was 9:01.9.

Cruz, who won the 1987 NCAA Division II West regional cross-country title for Cal State Los Angeles, was runner-up in the 1982 Southern Section 3-A Division cross-country championships.

Lewis finished sixth in the 1988 state Division I cross-country championships, and placed third in the 1,600 meters (4:09.02) at the state track meet in ’89.