BURBANK — Greg Sobiech, who guided the Burbank High School football program for five seasons, was fired from his head-coaching duties Friday, school officials said.
Sobiech, 52, was let go because the administration wanted to move the program in a different direction, Burbank High Principal Bruce Osgood said.
"I can't get into a lot of details with that, but there are some other things we want to see with the program, and we want to do some different things," he said.
Osgood added that Burbank High is appreciative for what Sobiech has brought to the football program — and to the school — during his tenure.
"Greg Sobiech has made a significant difference in the football program at Burbank High School," he said. "Wins and losses are one thing, and we're better than we've been. But he also brought up the grade-point averages of the kids and he helped build the character of the kids. He's worked very hard.
"I have a great deal of respect for him as a person and a coach."
All Sobiech would say about the reason for his ouster was that he and the administration had philosophical differences.
Sobiech, who helped turn around a Bulldog program that had struggled for a decade before he arrived, said he was taken aback by the news, which he received during a meeting with school administrators on Friday.
He was so upset about the news that he was unable to meet with his players to inform them about the school's decision, the coach said.
"I am just numb right now," Sobiech said shortly after the firing. "I am in a state of shock … this is something that is very painful for me."
Many of Sobiech's players reacted in much the same way. They were shocked and saddened after being informed about the news.
Senior defensive end Roni Alvandi was at school Friday afternoon when he was told about Sobiech.
"I don't know why he would get fired," Alvandi said. He did such a great job with us. He was here for five years and he did a great job.
"The great thing about him is he didn't want us to just succeed in football, but as students and in life as well …. He has meant a lot to us."
In five years guiding the Bulldogs program, Sobiech's teams had a 22-30 record and advanced to the California Intercollegiate Federation Southern Section playoffs twice.
Last season, Burbank went 6-5 and finished third in the Pacific League with a 5-2 record.
In the three years before Sobiech's promotion to the varsity coach in 2002, Burbank went 4-16 and hadn't been to the postseason since 1991.
The school will immediately begin the search for Sobiech's replacement, Osgood said.
