COACH LEAVING NITRO

Publication: CHARLESTON DAILY MAIL
Published: 06/26/2002
Page: 1B
Headline: COACH LEAVING NITRO
Byline: TOM ALUISE

DAILY MAIL SPORTS EDITOR

Robert "Little" Burdette is hoping to make a name for himself as an assistant football coach in South Carolina.

The St. Albans native didn't do a bad job of that at Nitro High School, where he served as the Wildcats' head coach for six seasons and led the school to unprecedented heights in the sport.

Burdette, 41, announced this week that he's accepted the position of assistant football coach at Waccamaw High in Pawleys Island, S.C. Waccamaw begins practice July 29. The school is located about 25 miles south of Myrtle Beach.

Burdette also will serve as Waccamaw's head girls basketball coach, a position he held at Nitro as well.

It was in football, though, where Burdette made the most significant strides. In six seasons, he led the Wildcats to a 45-21 record (.682 winning percentage), including a 14-0 mark in 1998 when Nitro, behind the passing of QB J.R. House, won its first-ever Class AAA state football title. Burdette's career winning percentage is among the best in Nitro history.

"We'll either stay there forever or make a better move," Burdette said this morning. "If it doesn't happen to work out, we can always come back. But at 41 I thought it was too good of an opportunity. If I didn't take this one, I may never get another one until I retire."

Burdette will work under first-year Coach James Brown, who's already boosting numbers in Waccamaw's sagging program. "They have not been winning in football," he said.

The school, with an enrollment of 550 in grades 9-12, had 28 players on the football team last year. Brown hopes to have 70 out this season.

"He's doing something right to get people excited," Burdette said.

That was never a problem at Nitro, where Burdette and assistant coach Scott Tinsley annually entertained fans with the Wildcats' wide-open passing offense.

"Leaving Nitro is tough," Burdette said. "(Principal) Paul McClanahan is not only a great boss, but we've become good friends. To be able to work with him and the whole staff, it's been a great job and a great place for us and my boys."

Burdette is married with two sons, ages 10 and 8. The Burdettes were already familiar with Pawleys Island, a favorite vacation spot.

"We always thought someday if there was an opportunity we'd look into it," Burdette said. "I kind of stumbled into this."

Burdette visited the area earlier this month and stopped by the school to talk to assistant principal Jerry Hughes. He met a few other school officials and toured the facility.

"Out of the clear blue sky he tells me they have a job," Burdette said. "I think I got interviewed and didn't even know it."

Waccamaw plays in South Carolina's Class AA division. There are four classes in the state. Burdette said he'd like to convince Tinsley to come south as well. But if Tinsley decides to stay, Burdette said his friend should get the head football position at Nitro. Tinsley does not teach in the school system.

"I don't pull any punches on that," Burdette said. "If Scott Tinsley is going to stay here and coach, it's only right for him to be head coach and continue with the system we've put in, especially with the personnel we have coming back.

"If they want to do what's best for the kids, then they'll hire him and let him run this football program."