Burich finds joy coaching in Pa.

The former City Series coach is an assistant at Kennedy Catholic.
By BRIAN RICHESSON
VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF
HERMITAGE, Pa. -- George Burich had no doubts. He vowed to coach again.
A longtime City Series basketball coach, Burich left Wilson High after last season, culminating eight years there and 18 overall.
He felt it was time to step back, re-evaluate and start anew. So he waited for that one opportunity.
"I always knew I'd go back to coaching," Burich said. "I just love it so much."
He didn't have to wait long before the telephone rang.
It was Tim Loomis, who had just been hired as head coach at Kennedy Catholic in July.
"George was the first guy who came to mind," Loomis said of his search for assistants. "I wanted someone who had been a high school coach for a long time."
Eyed job: Burich had applied for the head coaching position there to replace Joe Votino. When Burich didn't get the job, his old ties with Loomis suddenly strengthened.
"We go back 15-16 years," said Burich, who initially met Loomis when the latter was coaching at California (Pa.). "He went on from there, and I never saw much of him after that."
Loomis continued his collegiate coaching career at Penn State and Florida Atlantic before stepping away from coaching for nearly five years in 1996.
But when Kennedy Catholic sought a seasoned coach to steady the program following Votino's departure, it turned to Loomis, who then turned to Burich.
"A little bit of everything," said Burich, when asked of his role with the Golden Eagles.
"Anywhere I can help. Whatever I can do," he said. "I give suggestions -- we talk a lot on the bench. [Loomis] is good like that because he lets me speak my piece, and I appreciate that."
New realm: Burich's opportunity has opened a new realm of coaching he never before experienced.
"I've enjoyed the fact that we've been to so many different places I've never been," said Burich, 57. "We've played in five or six college arenas.
"It's different," he added. "We have a great following, great fans. They'll give you anything you want -- help and support."
Kennedy Catholic adjusted to its new coaching staff and advanced to the PIAA Class-A state championship for the fifth straight season.
The Golden Eagles will attempt to become the first Pennsylvania school to win five straight state titles Friday when they play Scotland at 3 p.m. at Hersheypark Arena.
"A lot of them have been there before," Burich said of the continued success. "Those seniors knew what it took to get there -- leadership, desire, heart. They just believe they're going to win. That's the bottom line."
Reinforcement: All the while, Loomis, Burich and assistant Rick McGee, a former assistant at Rayen who runs Kennedy Catholic's junior varsity program, have been that bench support.
"He really handles the job like a college coach," Burich said of Loomis. "Everything is low key. He's not a real temperamental person. I try to holler more when I have to, but he keeps the kids calm. No panic."
Burich never has been to Hershey. He has never participated in a state tournament, either.
But Kennedy Catholic's 69-64 victory Tuesday over Monessen in the state semifinal game guaranteed his trip east.
"I wouldn't know what to do tomorrow if we didn't win tonight," Burich said after the game.
"I don't care if it was a 20-hour ride," he said, "I'm happy to be there."
richesson@vindy.com