
Mr. Mike Burns was a fixture at Highlands High School. He was a teacher and a multi-sport coach that
pushed students to achieve for 37 years.
His brash personality preceded him, but his passion for helping his
pupils was unwavering.
Mike himself was a gifted athlete specifically in football
and softball. He played both sports in
college and coached both sports at Highlands.
He led one Lloyd football team to a state championship and led four
Highlands football teams to the same pinnacle of success.
Mike’s personal athletic achievements include Greater
Cincinnati Softball Hall of Fame inductee in 1997, and he was also inducted into the Northern
Kentucky Coaches Hall of Fame and the Tioga (PA) County Sports Hall of Fame.
I experienced Coach Burns in the classroom as well as on the
football field. He was a focused and
diligent leader in both areas. Behind
the desk he taught American History and Government; behind the whistle he
taught running backs and defensive backs.
I remember him being an outstanding teacher with a wealth of knowledge
on his particular subjects. I remember
him stressing the importance of your right to vote, which I am sure all of his
students are taking advantage of soon.
On the football field he had an in-your-face coaching style. He stressed the importance of being physical with
the offensive opponent utilizing his patented fore arm shiver move. Many running backs would complain of having
nightmares of Coach Burns repeatedly yelling at them “The ball is in the wrong
arm!” Coach obviously was doing
something right because during his tenure at Highlands the team churned out
outstanding running backs and defensive backs year after year. He was a position coach, but every person that
went through the football program under Mike Burns benefited from interacting
with a person like him; a true leader.
I gathered information from students and athletes that
interacted with Mike Burns to show a broader example of what a great person he
was. Here are some thoughts regarding
Mike Burns’ legacy at Highlands High School:
Ø
He started off the first day of school with a
saying – “Out there (pointing out the window) it is a democracy. In here, it is a dictatorship.”
Ø
If someone fell asleep in his class he would
somehow create a noise that could wake the dead. (Note - Students were quick to find out; you do not fall asleep in Mr. Burns’ class.)
Ø
He molded boys into men on the football field
Ø
Incredible softball coach and friend
Ø
Great colleague, coach, and friend
Ø
He knew how to connect with the students to
keep their interest, but at the same time educate them on extremely important
issues. He was an educator through and
through, truly special.
Mr. Michael G. Burns was an outstanding coach and teacher,
but he was an even better person. He
influenced the lives of everyone around him whether it was in the classroom, on
the diamond, or the football field.
Everyone who was afforded the opportunity to spend time with Mr. Burns
is better for it. People like him do not
come around very often; he will be missed.
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