Dunivant to Try to Revitalize Sagging Program at Burroughs : High school football: Three-term coach of Indians replaces Butch McElwee who quit because of personal reasons.

Bob Dunivant once again has been named football coach at Burroughs High, replacing Butch McElwee who abruptly resigned because of personal reasons after the Indians’ 34-7 nonleague loss to Chaminade on Friday night.

Dunivant, 56, who compiled a 102-75-4 record in three stints as Burroughs coach (1961-74, 1976-79 and 1986), is coming out of retirement for the second time.

McElwee, 44, in his fifth season as coach, announced his resignation to school administrators after Friday night’s game was halted with 2 minutes 28 seconds to play when a brawl erupted after an onside kick. He said that neither the fight nor the team’s 0-2 record influenced his decision and that he privately had told school administrators before the season that he would not return next year.

McElwee said both teams were to blame for the melee, and he was not criticized for Burroughs’ involvement.

“Things just took place that I did not appreciate and I felt that the situation was getting worse,” McElwee said of his decision to resign.

McElwee said that he was upset by comments Dunivant made to a local newspaper before the season about the decline of Burroughs’ football program in recent years.

Dunivant and McElwee took turns assisting each other as coach at Burroughs. In 1986, McElwee served as defensive coordinator under Dunivant. The following year, Dunivant served as an assistant when McElwee became head coach.

“He’s made some comments that were not appropriate,” McElwee said of Dunivant. “But I don’t want to bad-mouth or black-mark anyone. You’d have to ask him about it.”

McElwee, who compiled a 23-24 record, led the Indians to the Northwestern Conference final in his first year. However, Burroughs is 5-16 over the past two years. Last season, the Indians were 2-8 and suffered a 63-0 loss to Quartz Hill, the worst defeat in school history.

Dunivant had criticized McElwee and Burbank Coach Randy Stage, claiming they had allowed the Burbank-area youth football program to decline in popularity and, consequently, contribute to a shortage of talent and lack of interest in football among the area’s high school athletes.

On Tuesday, Dunivant defended his remarks, saying he will make youth football a priority.

“It is the responsibility of the high school coaches to keep (youth football) alive,” Dunivant said. “They’re the ones who benefit from it, so they should keep it going. The only comments I heard from anybody about it was, ‘You hit the nail right on the head.’ ”

Stage declined comment about Dunivant’s remarks.

Dunivant led Burroughs to six Foothill League titles and a Southern Section championship game. In 1986, he led the Indians to a 10-2-1 record after the team was 2-8 the previous year.

Dunivant, who is not being compensated to coach, retired from teaching in 1989 and was elected to the Burbank Unified School District Board of Education last February. Dunivant said he does not plan to return to coaching next year but would not rule out the possibility.

The return of Dunivant, a popular community figure, likely will draw support among Burroughs followers. Dunivant described players as “very enthusiastic” after his first practice Monday.