Pennridge looking to replace football coach Chuck Burgy after one season
Pennridge is moving on from football coach Chuck Burgy after one year.
Burgy gave the returning Pennridge players the news face to face after school Tuesday in what had originally been scheduled as a gathering to discuss the upcoming offseason. Athletic director Scott Hegen sent out a letter about the change via email to the football players and their families following Tuesday's meeting.
In the letter, Hegen wrote that the athletic department does a full evaluation of all coaches at the end of each season that "includes observations from the season as it pertains to the management of the program, coaching skills, relationships and performance. The player/parent survey results are also integrated into the rating."
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The Rams went 2-9 in 2022 (1-6 in the Suburban One League National Conference) under Burgy, a 12-year English and business teacher at Pennridge. He had been an assistant to former Rams coach Cody Muller for the three previous seasons and with ex-Rams coach Randy Cuthbert. Muller left for a teaching and coaching job (defensive line) at James Martin High School in Arlington, Texas.
"Following a grueling two-month 'national' search, I was hired under the premise that I would build a program," Burgy said in a statement. "I operated in good faith. The administration did not. I was blindsided by the arbitrary nature of the end-of-season evaluation."
This year's team lost four games by a total of 10 points and faced eight district playoff qualifiers. Two-time all-state linebacker Phil Picciotti left Pennridge after his junior year to play at IMG Academy in Bradenton, Florida.
"Throughout the season, I was commended by administrators for my efforts," said Burgy, noting his players remained eligible, didn't have disciplinary issues and were involved in community service projects.
"Until last Friday, I was working on plans for the future. There was no reasonable explanation for my non-renewal. Over the past five months, I have given everything to the program and players."
The Rams had compiled a 23-20 record during Muller's four-year tenure, with trips to the District One Class 6A playoffs in 2020 and '21.
Chuck Muller, father of Cody and a longtime coach who served as Pennridge's defensive coordinator in 2020-21, blasted the move.
"What was done to Coach Burgy was the most disrespectful action I have ever witnessed in high school football," Chuck Muller said. "The man was made to jump through hoops and crawl over obstacles for months before being named the head coach at Pennridge in late June (the 22nd). At no time was he given a level playing field or an opportunity of any length to develop his own program.
"To think the administration uses unsigned parent surveys as a tool to determine a coach's competence or ability is as absurd as the decision to not renew this man's contract for another year."
The plan is for Pennridge's interview process to begin in early January, according to Hegen, and start the off-season training prior to the new coach's arrival.
Hegen wrote that he "will be completing a thorough search to find the next head coach" at Pennridge.
"I do appreciate the players," said Burgy, his voice breaking. "They took a shot and showed some faith in me. I hope after some time passes, the seniors can look back and think they got something out of their last year of high school football and see the positives that there are."
SOL schools William Tennent, Abington and Harry S. Truman also have football coach openings.
Tom Moore: tmoore@couriertimes; @TomMoorePhilly
This article originally appeared on Bucks County Courier Times: Pennridge looking to replace football coach Chuck Burgy after one season
