Knoch football coach Tim Burchett resigns after 3 years, WPIAL playoff appearance
Tim Burchett has resigned as Knoch football’s head coach.
The decision was approved by the Knoch School Board on Wednesday night, and Burchett spoke with his team earlier in the day.
“One hundred percent my decision. It was just a culmination of a lot of things, to be honest,” Burchett said Thursday. “The kids were pretty great, we did a lot of really good things there, in my opinion. ... Ultimately, I don’t think maybe people agreed with my vision.”
He said he had a good relationship with Knoch athletic director Josh Shoop and will miss their conversations.
Burchett was hired as head coach three years ago and went 12-18 in three seasons, including 3-6 while competing in WPIAL Class 4A in 2024 as injuries zapped a roster that started with around 40 players before the season. The Knights went 8-3 the season before and made the WPIAL Class 3A playoffs.
“Our kids were good, our kids were prepared, we had a really good weight-training program,” he said. “I just wish we could’ve come a little bit more together.”
Burchett said he began thinking about stepping down and “agonized” over whether he wanted to return for a fourth year a few weeks after the season ended, and once it hit that point he felt “you’re probably not the best fit for the kids.”
Burchett teaches seventh grade at Knoch Middle School. He will miss the kids on the team, he said, but he felt there wasn’t enough agreement “with my vision.”
“It was never about the wins and the losses,” he said. “(But) I couldn’t foresee me getting that vertical alignment.”
Knoch’s football program would be entering offseason weight training soon. Burchett hopes local gyms in Saxonburg will assist them.
Shoop said Thursday the job was posted Wednesday and he hoped to fill the position by March or April.
“Just (looking for) the best person for the job,” Shoop said. “Someone who the kids look up to and want to work hard for.
“Tim did a great job, we wish him well.”
This is the third head coaching position to open in Butler County this offseason. Moniteau filled its opening in January with the hire of Clay Kohlmeyer, and Seneca Valley approved the hire of Don Barclay on Monday for its opening.
