There were coaching changes that took place with the Burroughs High and Burbank boys' soccer programs during the offseason.
Allen Machuca is out with the Indians and has been replaced by former longtime Coach Mike Kodama, the winningest coach in program history and one of the most successful encompassing all Burroughs sports.
Taking over the Bulldogs' job is Loi Phan, who moves over from leading the girls' program. He takes over for Frank Chavez, whose teams struggled in recent years.
Kodama returns to the school after being inducted into the Burroughs Athletic Hall of Fame in 2009. He served as the Indians' coach for 22 years before stepping down in 2009. His teams captured seven league titles, five in the Foothill League and two in the Pacific League.
Along with 244 victories and 110 league wins, his teams have garnered 12 CIF playoff appearances and he has coached 23 All-CIF players. His last season in 2009, the Indians (16-7-5) advanced to the Division IV quarterfinals, where they fell to No. 1-seeded Channel Islands, 1-0. Burroughs was also co-Pacific League champion. In 2008, the Indians won the Pacific League outright.
Phan has been trying to right a program that was in disarray and had its share of problems last season. Because of CIF Southern Section violations for fighting and excessive red cards a year ago, Burbank has been penalized this season and has been allowed just two nonleague contests.
Providence returns its coach in Kordo Doski. However, the Pioneers will have an inexperienced squad with few impact players.
Here is a closer look at how the season is shaping up.
BURROUGHS
Last season, the Indians went 9-3-3 and placed second in the Pacific League. Burroughs fell in the first round of the CIF Southern Section Division IV playoffs to La Puente, 3-1.
"We actually don't return that many players," said Kodama, whose squad graduated 11 seniors from a year ago. "But they look good, they've come a long way and I'll think we'll be fine. They work really hard and there's a lot of skill there."
"We do have a lot of 10th-graders, more than normal. But they are very talented as well."
Two of the Indians' key returners are senior defender Julio Guillermo, who is in his third varsity season and senior midfielder Francisco Baez, who is also in his third varsity season.
