By Dana Williams
, says he has had a fulfilling experience as a Bruin. And Burton's memories are the catalyst for his efforts to help the students and athletes of the next generation enjoy their Baldwin experience as well.
"Coaching is my way of giving back to the Baldwin community and the high school I graduated from," Burton said. "Baldwin was very good to me, and I want to help the kids to benefit from living in Baldwin also."
Last month Burton was named High School Coach of the Year by the Nassau County Sports Commission. Under his leadership this season, the Bruins proved time and again that an underdog should not be underestimated. The team made it known that it was for real in the Nassau County Class AA playoffs, defeating top-seeded Uniondale by two points on Feb. 23 and moving on to the Class AA championship game against Hempstead.
"To win games, I think you first have to believe you can win them," Burton said. "I think what helped us in that Uniondale game was that the kids went into the game believing that they could beat the team, and they did."
Although the Bruins - who finished the season with a 15-6 overall record - lost the county title game to Hempstead on March 3, Burton said he believes the team still had a very successful season. "It was the first time in 14 years that we reached the finals," he said. "The kids played well, and nobody expected us to get that far this year. This group worked hard and we had some challenges, but we overcame them."
Burton, 32, was a basketball and soccer All-American during his athletic career as a Bruin, and went on to compete in both sports at Hofstra University before playing a year of pro ball in the American Basketball Association. In addition to teaching phys. ed. at the high school, he became head basketball coach in 2001.
"I owe my success as a coach to all my staff and individual players," Burton said. "It is to their credit that I've been successful in my coaching tenure thus far, and this award just motivates me to become a better coach."
Burton, who coaches girls' varsity soccer and boys' junior varsity lacrosse as well, also attributes his success to his father, Darius, who, he said, played a major role in making him the person he is today. "My father was a coach also, and he is definitely one of my inspirations," Burton said. "My parents-who are both retired teachers - have been by my side all my life. They try to make it to every game that I have and show their support for the team, and they have been great."
The best part about being a coach, Burton said, is building relationships with his players and knowing that he can have a positive impact on their lives. "The rapport that I develop with the kids is why I continue to do what I do," he said. "I just try to help them be the best they can be by telling them that they have to work hard to achieve their goals."
Finding ways to show his players the skills and values he has tried to instill in them has been a key to his success as a coach, Burton said. "I believe that what you ask from the kids, you have to display also." And from time to time, he joked, he has put on his sneakers or cleats to show his players he still can play like he did as a high school star.
"Coach Burton gives us some competition when he laces his sneakers up and plays against us on the court," said senior Scott Henderson, who has made a commitment to play basketball at Queens College in the fall. "He has also helped me a lot with searching for colleges and calling coaches, which has helped us to build a friendship. He is a great friend and coach."
Burton said that he frequently scrimmages with young athletes to show them the level of intensity he wants to see in them. "I treat all the kids that play for me like my own, and I coach the way I was taught to play," he said. "I also teach them that nothing comes easy, and you have to work hard to win the game."
Through the years he has received a number of offers to coach at the collegiate level, but Burton said he has turned them down because he is happy at Baldwin High. "Darius is a great role model for our kids through the way he carries himself on and off the court," said Athletic Director Eduardo Ramirez. "This award just shows that the county now knows what we already know here in Baldwin: that Coach Burton is a great coach."
Burton will be one of a number of honorees at the county awards dinner to be held on April 30 at the Chateau Briand in Carle Place.
Comments about this story? DWilliams@liherald.com or (516) 569-4000 ext. 282.
