ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1997, Roanoke Times
DATE: Saturday, March 1, 1997 TAG: 9703030105
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-2 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: BOB TEITLEBAUM STAFF WRITER
The turnover of boys' basketball coaches in the Roanoke Valley District isn't over yet.
Pulaski County's Pat Burns, one of Timesland's veteran coaches, announced his resignation Friday. The Cougars' veteran swimming and volleyball coach, Maggie Manning, also announced this would be her final year.
Burns is the fourth of five RVD basketball coaches to resign in the last year, following William Fleming's Burrall Paye, Patrick Henry's Woody Deans and Cave Spring's Chris Carr, who all resigned last year. Franklin County's Calvin Preston says he'll return next year, ending the turnover for the moment.
Burns had a 264-223 record in a career that started 22 years ago at George Wythe. He was 145-102 at Wythe and took his last three teams to the Group A tournament. In 11 years at Pulaski County, Burns' record was 119-121 with two Northwest Region appearances.
He also coached girls' basketball for a few years at Wythe and had one state tournament team that was led by Meg Turner, who at one time was the state's all-time career girls' scoring leader.
``Even when I was at Wytheville, Judson Booker [team physician] told me I worry about everything too much,'' said Burns. ``I don't just worry about X's and O's, but I worry about kids in class. I care too much. I was at the point where I realized it wasn't good for me.''
Burns talked with Deans and Paye earlier this year and found out they are both happy in retirement.
``I've been doing this for more than 20 years, not visiting my wife's family or my family during Christmas. I never had a Christmas or a Thanksgiving off,'' said Burns. ``I have a good friend diagnosed with cancer. You never know how long he'll be on earth. It's time for me to think about myself and my wife [Anna], and have some Christmases off.''
Burns has influenced several prominent coaches, headed by Greg Ervin of Gate City and Mark Hanks, who coaches defending Group AA champ Liberty. He also leaves a program with 11 returning players that could be a huge factor in next year's RVD race.
Burns replaced long-time veteran Allen Wiley, a legend among Timesland coaches.
Manning coached volleyball for 15 years and has been the Cougars' swimming coach for both boys and girls the last eight seasons. For a while she coached both sports, but gave up volleyball several years ago.
``It's time to let someone else do this. I've enjoyed it, but even strawberry shortcake three times a day gets old,'' said Manning. ``I've done this for a long time and it's time for someone else to try and get the kids revved up. You just get tired after this many years.''
Pulaski County athletic director Todd Browning said the positions will be advertised and ``the best possible available person'' will be hired.
Many people might wonder if Hanks would be interested in the job, though he has most of his current Liberty team, which beat Gretna 77-54 in a Region III semifinal Friday, returning next year.
``If he were interested, we'd be interested in him. But that's true of anyone,'' said Browning.
LENGTH: Medium: 62 linesby CNB