Jeff Tully
Burbank High boys' basketball Coach David Goosen said he is ready
to defend himself and willing to answer allegations of any wrongdoing
associated with the Bulldog program.
Goosen, a first-year coach who was put on administrative leave
Friday, met Tuesday morning with Burbank Unified School District
officials to address possible CIF Southern Section and district rules
violations.
"We met with Mr. Goosen and his father [Tuesday morning], and we
have not yet come to a resolution on the matter," said Alexis
Sheehey, a district assistant superintendent for instructional
services. "We are hoping to have the matter resolved by Friday."
Goosen -- who said he has retained an attorney -- has continued to
teach physical education at the school.
Sheehey said the conference was intended as a fact-finding effort,
as well as an opportunity for Goosen to address the allegations.
Goosen was put on administrative leave from coaching duties
because of allegations surrounding incidents that occurred during a
trip to the Las Vegas Prep Championship tournament Dec. 26 to 30.
One of the incidents took place in a tournament game Dec. 26, in
which Goosen received two personal fouls and was ejected from the
game. Under CIF Southern Section rules, Goosen was required to sit
out the Bulldogs' next game, which he didn't.
Goosen also failed to inform the Burbank athletic director of the
ejection.
The coach said he was unaware of the rule that required him to sit
out the game.
"I've been a head coach for five years," Goosen said. "I was an
assistant at Venice for two years and I was an assistant at [L.A.]
University High School for two years. This is my ninth year total in
coaching, and I have never been kicked out of a game until the Vegas
tournament.
"To be honest with you, I didn't even think about it, wasn't aware
of it, and it's never crossed my path. I never knew, and I was never
told, the fact that if you get kicked out of a game you have to sit
the next game."
The district is also investigating an incident involving a Burbank
player. On the trip home from Las Vegas to Burbank, Goosen said he
allowed a Bulldog senior to drive a school van part of the way.
"At the time, I didn't think it was a big deal," Goosen said. "I
still don't think it's a big deal because the kid was 18 years old,
he is a licensed driver, he has his own car and he drives every day
and he is a very responsible kid. And to me, the most important point
of it all is that at all times, he was the car behind us on the road
