Sports: Johnny Burns is named New London High School football coach
New London names 1995 grad Johnny Burns its new head football coach
New London — Johnny Burns spent the last 11 seasons as a youth coach and administrator in Norwich, but always kept tabs on New London.
“I've followed the home team no matter where I was living,” he said. “And I've maintained some of the long-time bonds and relationships as we've all grown older.”
Burns became part of the “home team” again on Thursday when he was introduced as New London High School's new head football coach.
“It's a great opportunity to join the family again,” said the 41-year-old Burns, a 1995 New London graduate. “There's no better opportunity than coming back home.”
Burns replaces Juan Roman, another New London grad and friend. Roman resigned after leading the Whalers for two seasons in order to follow his sons Hunter and Major, who are playing collegiately at Yale.
“Juan's time with New London has been extensive, even beyond the last couple of years as coach,” Burns said. “He's certainly someone I will look to for continued support, and he's more than willing to assist in the transition.”
This will be the first high school coaching job for Burns, a Spring-
field College graduate who has spent more than a decade working in child protection services for the State of Connecticut. He has considered a few high school coaching opportunities in recent years, but when the New London job became available, “this was the one I wanted to pursue. Thankfully, I was still on the radar of coaches (New London) was looking to bring onto their varsity staff.”
“Coach Burns brings a great deal of excitement to our program,” athletic director Kasi Fletcher said in a release. “He understands kids, has a great work ethic, and is ready to take our program to the next level. He is an individual that can motivate our kids on and off the field.”
Burns was a fullback and linebacker for Jim Buonocore, serving as team captain as a senior in 1994. He watched the Whalers win a state championship in 1991 as a freshman, then played a part when New London repeated a year later.
“That 1991 team showed us frosh the way,” Burns said. “And then I had the great fortune in 1992 of being one of two sophomores that Coach Buonocore deemed ready enough to participate as a player, and it was a great experience.
“I affectionately refer to Coach Buonocore as ‘The Legend.' He provided the foundation by which I've been able to do anything successful in coaching kids, and I'm looking to take many of those same lessons and translate that to these times.”
Burns, who was introduced to his new team on Thursday, said his immediate goals are to assemble a staff, make sure his team is working hard in the weight room, and taking care of their academics as the school year nears an end.
Then it will be time to get ready for the 2018 season.
“We have quite a storied history at New London,” he said. “Our expectations are not to fall beneath our own belief that we can still accomplish great things.
“If we can get our players to become their best on and off the field, that should translate into getting us back to the old days.”