Craven takes over Burroughs High football program
Looking at Jesse Craven’s age, the coach realizes there are some who might think he’s on the young side when it comes to heading a high school football program.
However, the 26-year-old Craven counters those skeptics with a wealth of knowledge as an assistant coach, having started coaching when he was in college.
Craven hopes to bring that knowledge to his first head coaching position, as he was named to head the program at Burroughs High.
“It’s kind of that old adage that in a sense age is just a number,” said Craven, who will serve in a walk-on capacity at Burroughs. “I think if I was 40, there wouldn’t be any talk about that at all.
“I’m a very competitive person and I like to learn from people who I think have done things the right way and do things the right way. I believe I have a good set of tools and a lot of resources that will help me. But it really comes down to me being able to earn the trust of the players, the parents, the school and the community. I think that matters a lot more than age.”
Growing up in North Hollywood and attending North Hollywood High, Craven is familiar with Burbank area.
“It’s a really special place and I’m very glad to be a part of it,” Craven said of Burroughs High. “Hopefully we can continue that tradition. I have spent a lot of time in the city of Burbank and my son was actually born at Providence [St. Joseph Medical Center].”
Craven takes over for former coach Rand Holdren, who stepped down in January after heading the program for two seasons.
Burroughs assistant principal of athletics and activities Steven Hubbell said Craven looks to be a good fit.
“He is from the area being from North Hollywood, so he knows football around the [San Fernando] Valley,” Hubbell said. “I know some people might think he’s young, but I started head coaching younger than he is right now. There have a been a lot of coaches who started out young and who have been successful.
“We are proud to have him on the staff and he really has a lot of energy. He was very impressive, more than anyone else, during the interview process. He thinks he is going to do very well here at Burroughs.
Craven was a three-sport athlete at North Hollywood, graduating in 2011. From there he went on to play football as a running back at St. John’s University in Collegeville, Minn., the most successful NCAA Division III program in the nation with four national championships under coach John Gagliardi, who coached for 60 seasons.
It was after his sophomore season that an injury propelled him into the coaching ranks. Unable to play, Craven landed a position as a student assistant helping with quarterbacks at St. John’s.
That began a wealth of experience for Craven as an assistant. In addition to earning an internship at UCLA, he was also an assistant at UC San Diego, California Lutheran University, Santa Monica College, Crespi High under coach Troy Thomas, and most recently last season at Harvard-Westlake.
“I have been very privileged to have been able to play and work under some outstanding coaches,” Craven said. “It was a real impact for me working at Crespi under coach Troy Thomas. He made a huge impact on me and my coaching philosophy and coaching ability and that was a great education for me.
“I have been able to gain and learn from every coach who I have played for or worked with. I think learning things from various coaches makes you a better coach.”
In his two seasons at Burroughs, Holdren’s teams went 8-12 and 4-9 in the Pacific League. In 2019, Burroughs had a 6-4 record and went 2-4 in league to finish tied for fifth. The campaign included what many considered a 29-28 upset Pacific League win against cross-town rival Burbank in the annual “Big Game” rivalry game.
Burroughs didn’t qualify for the CIF Southern Section playoffs either season. The Indians haven’t made the postseason since 2015 under coach Keith Knoop.
Prior to Holdren’s arrival, Burroughs was 4-5 and 3-4 in league for fifth during the 2017 campaign.
In the wake of the shutdown of all school athletic activities because of the coronavirus, Craven said he will spend the time compiling a coaching staff so the Indians can hit the ground running when practices and meetings resume.
“With everything going on right now [because of the virus], we understand that,” he said. “During this time we will take advantage of it, finish hiring the coaching staff and start working toward the upcoming season. We will do all we can as a staff so can be ready for once the school can resume. Then we can really get down to business and get things running.”