The Shadow
Gary Burdette spent 18 years coaching football at Alleghany High School.
The 2019 season was his last.
Burdette, a Mountaineer assistant for 11 years and the head coach for the past seven seasons, has resigned.
His resignation was accepted by the Alleghany County School Board at their meeting on Tuesday night.
“The relationships that football helped create will always be very special to me,” said Burdette Wednesday morning. “I am really grateful for all those memories.”
Burdette started at strong safety for Clifton Forge High School in 1982 and played in the final Little Brown Jug football game against Covington. He played his senior season at the consolidated Alleghany High School for John Reynolds.
Burdette was an assistant coach on the staff of Mark Keith in 2002 and served under Jack Baker from 2003-2012.
When Baker left for Rustburg, Burdette was named the head coach before the 2013 season.
The Mountaineers were 20-53 in his seven years, with playoff trips in 2015, 2016 and 2017.
“I’m appreciative of past administrations for their support through the years and the positive parents that I got a chance to work with,” Burdette added.
“I really cherish all the memories with the boys. And I was so fortunate to work with some outstanding men as assistant coaches.”
Burdette remains an assistant wrestling coach and assistant baseball coach at Alleghany.
“Mr. Burdette has done a great job working with the student-athletes at Alleghany High School,” said AHS principal Dwayne Ross. “He has helped mold our football players into better athletes and great young men. I am extremely proud and appreciative of the time and hard work Mr. Burdette and his coaching staff put in to help our players improve and grow.
“Mr. Burdette is a man of great character,” he added. “It has shown in the character of his football players regardless of the score. I thank him for all that he has done for the football program and the school.”
The board also accepted the resignation of Thumper Leitch as varsity assistant softball coach.
Coaching appointments made by the school board Tuesday included:
• Thumper Leitch, girls varsity tennis coach;
• Anthony Lowry, JV baseball head coach;
• Heather Mayes, JV softball head coach;
• Madison Carter, Volunteer girls soccer assistant coach;
• Seth Bradley, Volunteer JV baseball assistant coach.
—————————————————————————————————————————————
Alleghany football coach Gary Burdette has resigned after 18 years in the program. Burdette is pictured talking to quarterback Brian Broughman in the Mountaineers’ game with Giles in October. (Gavin Dressler Photo)
