PUTNAM CITY COACHING LEGEND DIES
Longtime Putnam City boys basketball coach A.D. Burtschi, who led the Pirates to four state championships, died Thursday night at age 70
Long time Putnam City boys basketball coach A. D. Burt sc hi died Thursday night due to kidney failure. He was 70 years old.
Burtschi, who retired in 2016 after 39 years of coaching, won four state titles at Putnam City in 32 seasons. He guided the Pirates to the state tournament 22 times and recorded 30 winning seasons.
"We are heart broken at Putnam City ," athletic director Dick Ba len se if en told The Oklahoman. "Coach A.D. Burt sc hi was an outstanding leader of young men and young women. Our hearts go out to his family."
Burt sc hi won 752 career games. The Chickasha native spent his first seven seasons at Mount St. Mary.
Burtschi was set to be inducted into the Putnam City inaugural Hall of Fame Class on Friday night. He was inducted into the Oklahoma Basketball Coaches Association Hall of Fame in June.
He was also a member of the Oklahoma Coaches Association Hall of Fame.
“Putnam City Schools sends condolences to the family of coach A.D. Burtschi on his passing,” Putnam City Schools said in a statement. “Coach Burt sc hi' s imprint on Putnam City students sp ans several generation sin his coaching career of over 30 years here.
“Our hearts are heavy as we plan to in duct Coach Burtschi into the Putnam City Athletics Hall of Fame( Friday
night). His 30 winning seasons and f our state basketball championships with the Putnam City Pirates make him a legend, but his character and relationships with athletes were f ar more valuable. He will be dearly missed.”
Funeral arrangements are pending.