Buccaneers' volleyball coach bolts

Fri, Oct 16, 2009    to del.icio.us

It was an emotional roller coaster for the Grand Haven volleyball team Thursday evening.

Coming off a disappointing sweep at the hands of visiting East Kentwood on Senior Night, the team also learned after the match that their first-year head coach, Steve Burmaster, would be resigning from the position, effective immediately.

Burmaster held what he called a "lengthy, emotional" meeting with his team following the loss, informing them that he had accepted a teaching and coaching position at James Logan High School in Union City, Calif. — located in the East Bay of San Francisco.

Burmaster will coach boys varsity volleyball at the school, starting in the spring.

"It's just been a crazy week," Burmaster said Friday morning. "I've been trying like crazy to land a teaching job for the past year, and I've had applications out all over the place.

"I got a call on Wednesday on my way to practice and they want to set up a phone interview to get some more information about myself. It was a 15 minute interview. Then I get another phone call later that night around 8 p.m. and they offered me the job. I was just blown away. It was all based on a recommendation from a former coaching friend of mine that lives out there.

"It was just a whirlwind of events."

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Burmaster said the Union City district wanted him to begin teaching "almost immediately," meaning he couldn't finish out the volleyball season at Grand Haven. He was packing on Friday for his move to California while his wife, Laura, and their two children remain in Grand Rapids trying to sell their home. Laura recently gave birth to the couple's second child three weeks ago.

The Bucs have one remaining dual meet in the O-K Red, host the Grand Haven Invite on Oct. 24, and play in the Fruitport Quad to close out their regular season.

Grand Haven athletic director Jack Provencal said this morning a candidate to replace Burmaster hasn't been identified yet, but there will be a new coach in place by Tuesday, when the Bucs play at Muskegon.

"I don't see a great need to panic about it," Provencal said. "We've had discussions about it, and a decision will be made soon."

Burmaster said the decision left him and his family emotionally drained.

"My wife and I have been praying for a job, and when I told her, she was happy, but she also started crying, because it means that we had to move," Burmaster said.

"Coaches constantly preach commitment, and then I had to get up in front of the girls and tell them I'm quitting," he added. "That was the hardest thing. There was a lot of tears shed from both sides. It's hard. But I give them credit. I think they understood, and they all thanked me and gave me a hug. That really meant a lot."

Burmaster said he's leaving a squad with "a ton of talent," and believes they have a tremendous shot at obtaining postseason success — including repeating as district champions.

"They were asking, 'Who is going to coach us now?' And I told them, I don't know," Burmaster said. "But they're going to be fine. If they just focus on playing volleyball, work hard and have fun, they'll be successful. I just wish I could be there on the sidelines when they win districts."