Dale Coach Burnett Keeping His Job

Though losing his position as middle school principal due to a reduction in force, Benny Burnett will return to coach defending-champion Dale girls.

Thursday, July 28th 2011, 5:38 pm

By: News On 6

Originally Published: May 4, 2010 11:18 AM CDT

Dave Carty
Oklahoma Sports Staff Writer

DALE, Oklahoma -- Cutbacks in school budgets have led to job losses across the state of Oklahoma.

One of the more high-profile victims of the cut is Benny Burnett, who coached the Dale high school girls basketball team to a Class 2A Gold Ball.

Despite losing his job as middle school principal, Burnett will return to coach the Dale girls next season, according to CoachesAid.com.

"I was called in and told that now the district is in a situation where they think the funding is there," Burnett told the website. "It was put on the agenda and I was hired back by a 5-0 vote of the board."

Burnett offered to coach the Lady Pirates for free, which is what he'll do for the upcoming season.

When Oklahoma Sports contacted athletic director Bruce Throckmorton in mid-April, he wasn't aware of the budget reduction, but stated his support of the coach.

"As of right now, he definitely is [our head coach]," he said at the time. "As far as I’m concerned, I hope he is for a long time."