Burlington AD Cliffe announces retirement

Burlington Central High School assistant principal and athletic director Dan Cliffe has informed Central School District 301 Superintendent Todd Stirn that he will retire on June 30.

Cliffe has been Central's athletic director for the past 14 years.

"I gave Todd my letter (Monday)," Cliffe told the Daily Herald Tuesday afternoon. "Pending board approval I'll be retiring at the end of June."

Cliffe said the main factor in his decision was his family.

"My wife's retired now and I'll spend more time with her," he said. "We have a grandson in California and I'll be able to spend more time with him. I've been thinking about this for a year and a half and it's the right time."

Cliffe, 56, spent the better part of his career as an athlete and coach at DeKalb High School. He was a two-time state wrestling champion for the Barbs, winning the 98-pound championship in 1971 and 1972. He went on to receive his education from Northern Illinois University, then spent 15 years as a teacher and coach at DeKalb High. He came to Central in July of 1996, replacing Monte Phillips in the Rockets' AD office. He was a dean at DeKalb for eight years and taught math and cooperative education as well as being the Barbs' wrestling coach for 13 years, posting a 233-48-2 dual meet record as well as winning 11 regional titles, seven sectional championships and leading the Barbs to two top-three finishes in the Class AA dual-team state tournament in the late 1980s.

He was inducted into the Illinois Wrestling Coaches and Officials Association Hall of Fame in 1993.

"There's a lot of special people at Central and we did a lot of good things in my 14 years," Cliffe said. "It's a special place and one of the best school districts in the state."

Cliffe oversaw the school's growth through the late 1990s and early 2000s and was instrumental in the school constructing a new baseball field, refurbishing its football stadium, adding dugouts to baseball and softball facilities and adding a lighted soccer field.

He also formed and administered the Central Athletic Hall of Fame.

"I worked for one of the best principals (Dave Oleson, who is also retiring) and I had one of the best assistants (Jan Maas) that anyone could ask for," Cliffe said. "The coaches at Central are second to none and the support from the board, the administration and the community is second to none.

"Central is a special, special place and I'll miss it. I'll miss all the people."