The 'Buzz' is gone from Driscoll
Mike Burzawa, the 1992 Driscoll graduate who returned to play a leading role in the Highlanders' unprecedented seven straight Illinois state football championships, the last three as head coach, has been hired as Evanston's head varsity football coach.
"Coach Buzz" decided to accept the position to lead the Central Suburban South team Monday.
Tuesday he told Driscoll players and athletic director Bob Carlson and was subsequently approved by the Evanston school board.
"To be part of an 8A football conference is something that's very exciting and appealing," said Burzawa, who will also work full time as a student advisor in Evanston's new "Systems of Support" program, effective July 1.
"That'll present many challenges and obstacles, but my belief system has always been nothing good comes easy. I'll give my best effort there like I did at Driscoll."
He succeeds Tony Johnson at Evanston. The Wildkits went 1-8 and 0-5 in the CSS last season and were 25-49 in Johnson's eight seasons with a sole playoff berth in 2003.
Boasting hall of fame coaches Murney Lazier and John Riehle in its history, Evanston hopes Burzawa can restore the glory.
"We're just thrilled to death to have a coach with his level of success and commitment, not only to a winning program but to the person," said Evanston athletic director Chris Livatino.
"We just couldn't ask for a better coach to come in and help us turn this thing around."
Burzawa, who lives in Bartlett with his wife, Jenny, and daughter, Alexa, was a two-year starting running back at Driscoll, helping the Highlanders to the 1991 state championship as a senior.
A member of Driscoll's 1992 baseball champs, Burzawa played football at the University of St. Francis under Gordie Gillespie.
Upon his graduation with a degree in communications, he returned to Driscoll in 1996 to coach underclass football. When Tim Racki was hired as head coach in 1998, Burzawa accompanied him as offensive coordinator.
After Driscoll's state titles from 2001-04, Burzawa took over in 2005 for Racki, now at Nazareth. Burzawa's teams have gone 41-1 with three more state titles.
Burzawa, citing his appreciation of Driscoll's "family atmosphere" and mentors such as Racki, former Driscoll coaches Gene Nudo and Rod Molek and the late Mike Loconsole, said the move to Evanston was "definitely one of the most difficult decisions I've had to make in my life.
"Driscoll has been great to my family and I for years," Burzawa said.
"It's a special place. I've been able to develop life-long relationships with so many people. I'm just proud of being part of that football tradition that I definitely know will continue."
Carlson, who favors an in-house promotion, said the search will begin next week to fill Burzawa's coaching spot.
First, he had to exhale.
"The first thought," Carlson said, "is we hate to lose him."