‘Something I needed to do’: Knoch football coach Tim Burchett resigns

By: Michael Love
Thursday, February 6, 2025 | 4:22 PM

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Tim Burchett has resigned as coach of the Knoch football team, and he said the decision was not an easy one but one that was the best for him moving forward.

“It was a combination of a lot of things,” said Burchett who is a teacher in the school district. “It didn’t have anything to do with the kids, to be honest. This was an agonizing, month or two long decision. You can ask my wife. It wasn’t all peaches and cream at the Burchett household. It was something that had kind of been building. It was just time, sadly.

“I wanted to be there longer, but things in terms of vertical alignment I just didn’t see there. There were some toxic things around the program. For as many hours as I put in and as much dedication as I try to give to the program, a lot of things that were said didn’t need to be said, and I don’t think I was given the chance I felt I should have by some people.

“I knew I wasn’t going to be everyone’s favorite. I am a football coach. I don’t sell ice cream. I kind of knew that going in. I am not 100% happy that I (stepped down), but I just felt it was something I needed to do.”

Burchett stressed that there were positives with many he worked with, including booster club members and athletic director Josh Shoop.

“Josh did a really nice job working with me,” Burchett said. “He was, ultimately, pretty supportive. But there were just some other factors which were out of my control.”

Shoop confirmed that he received Burchett’s resignation. A post on X Wednesday afternoon said Knoch School District is accepting applications for the position of head football coach.

The deadline to apply, according to the job posting, is Feb. 19.

“Tim and I had a good relationship, and I am disappointed that he left. He had to have had his reasons,” Shoop said. “He has a great mind for offensive football. It was very prolific where he tried to get the ball to speed. I’ve been around some really good offensive coaches, and he knows his stuff. In order to be a competitive program, he was doing all the right things for the kids.”

Shoop said the district is actively looking to have a new coach in place.

“The quicker the better, but we want to get the right person, so it will take as long as needed to get the right person in place,” Shoop said. “We have a lot of people around the district who are heavily interested in who we’re going to hire. With it being posted (Wednesday), hopefully, applications start coming in. The job is open internally and externally, so anyone can apply at this point.”

Shoop said a couple of assistant coaches are interested in keeping the winter workouts going while the search is on for the new head coach.

“I am excited for the opportunity to find the right person,” Shoop said. “I wish Tim the best.”

Burchett, 36, an assistant coach at Peters Township when he was hired to coach at Knoch in January 2022, took over a program that had finished a combined 2-15 in the 2020 and 2021 seasons.

Knoch went 1-9 in 2022, but, the next year, the Knights were one point away — a 14-13 overtime loss to East Allegheny — from capturing the 2023 Class 3A Allegheny 6 Conference championship.

The Knights qualified for the WPIAL playoffs for the first time since 2014.

This past fall, Knoch finished 3-6 overall and 2-3 in the Class 4A Greater Allegheny Conference.

“In my opinion, we, as a staff, did a lot of good things in my three years,” Burchett said. “I worked with some really good, dedicated coaches. We did a lot for the kids and cared for them. We took over a struggling program and turned it around to where it is not that anymore. We were one point away (in 2023) from bringing a conference championship here for the first time in 10 years. Hopefully, they can find someone who will bring a championship here.”

Burchett said he hopes to continue coaching.

“I still have football in me and coaching in me,” he said, “and I will go somewhere.”

Michael Love is a TribLive reporter covering sports in the Alle-Kiski Valley and the eastern suburbs of Pittsburgh. A Clearfield native and a graduate of Westminster (Pa.), he joined the Trib in 2002 after spending five years at the Clearfield Progress. He can be reached at mlove@triblive.com.

Tags: Knoch