Burton Quits Fullerton to Coach Basketball, Teach at Villa Park

Chris Burton, who coached the Fullerton High School boys’ basketball team to two Freeway League titles in three seasons, has resigned to accept a similar position at Villa Park. Burton also will teach history at Villa Park.

Burton, who celebrated his 26th birthday on Tuesday , became the youngest varsity basketball coach in the county three years ago when he was named Fullerton’s coach and led the Indians to the league title in his first season. Burton’s teams had a 43-32 record and qualified for the Southern Section playoffs three consecutive seasons.

Burton replaces Andy Beyer, who resigned because he wasn’t offered a teaching position at Villa Park. The Spartans finished 4-17 under Beyer this season, losing to La Habra in the first round of postseason play.

“I like the idea of taking a program that hasn’t been strong recently and building it,” Burton said. “At Fullerton, I took a good product and made it better. I consider the job at Villa Park a great challenge.”

Fullerton’s basketball team won the Southern Section’s academic team award this season with a cumulative grade-point average of 3.52.