Burbank Reportedly Near Hiring Hazelton as Football Coach

Montclair Prep assistant John Hazelton is the overwhelming choice to be named football coach at Burbank High, a Burbank district official said Tuesday. Hazelton and two other finalists will be interviewed today by a selection committee.

The other candidates to replace Dave Kemp as coach are Glendale College assistant Robert Dos Remedios and St. Genevieve Coach Richard Fong.

But the official, who wished to remain anonymous, said Hazelton is the favorite to turn the Bulldogs around from their 2-8 record in 1993.

“Hazelton will go 7-3 next year,” he said. “Hazelton has won CIF championships. We’re serious about building athletics here. It’s important to us to turn this thing around.”

Hazelton has served two stints at Montclair Prep, from 1982-85 and from 1989 to the present. His only head coaching job lasted one season at Banning in 1987. The Pilots were 6-4 and reached the quarterfinals of the City Section playoffs.

“People in the community, boosters and people on the inside are telling me I should be the guy,” Hazelton said. “There’s a tremendous amount of support.”