Johnson: Burkey decides to stay 'home'

Lynn Burkey talks with his Shelbyville Golden Eaglettes. (T-G File Photo by Gary Johnson) [Click to enlarge] [Order this photo]

Such was the case for Shelbyville Central Golden Eaglette coach Lynn Burkey.

Burkey was recently contacted about the possibility of joining the Tennessee Tech women's basketball program as an assistant coach. After a lot of thought, he's decided to withdraw his name and remain an Eaglette wearing blue and gold instead of purple and gold.

Former Tech head coach Amy Brown resigned back in July and Sytia Messer from Georgia Tech was hired.

Shortly after, Burkey was informed that she was interested in meeting him and wanted to talk to him about joining her staff.

Burkey had a phone interview several weeks ago and another interview on campus last Friday.

"To be honest, I'm still not sure how coach Messer got my name or heard about me but she contacted me and asked if I would be interested being on her staff as an assistant coach," Burkey said. "Even though I had mixed emotions about it from the start, I think a lot of coaches would like to take the challenge of going to that next level. Even though it hasn't been a lifetime goal of mine, it's something you think about.

"The timing of all of this was just horrible with school already started but I decided that I owed it to myself and since she called me I would look at it. There were a lot of good things about the situation but after a lot of thought I just didn't feel right about it."

Burkey, who came to Shelbyville in June 2005, has become a close friend to my family and me as well so I was extremely glad to hear that he decided to stay in Shelbyville.

There's no doubt in my mind that he could be a successful coach at the college level, but I also know he has a passion to coach and teach at the high school level.

I think his love for this community and the respect he has for the program at Shelbyville Central are a couple of reasons he decided to stay.

"A lot of people in Shelbyville have been very loyal and good to Kim and I. We both really like this community, and we decided that it was best for our family to stay right here where we are," Burkey said.

When you have outstanding coaches, others notice it and they become a hot commodity.

Eagle basketball coach Kevin Thomas decided to withdraw his name from the head coaching position at Oakland last spring. One reason he chose to stay here was the love he and his family have for this community.

A lot of times we all get wrapped in wins and losses and that's fine. My grandfather once told me that "they keep score for a reason."

Wins are important as long as we keep them in perspective, but often they are forgotten.

True friends and friendships last forever and, when you have quality coaches like Lynn Burkey and Kevin Thomas turning down other jobs to stay in Shelbyville, that says a lot about the people in this community,