Bears will be looking for their second head coach in two years following Johnson’s resignation 

The John Burroughs Bears football program will again look for a new head coach as LaRon Johnson resigned after one season with the team. This will be the Bear’s second head coaching search in two seasons following Jesse Craven taking the vacant Head Coaching Job at Westlake High last December. Not only has LaRon Johnson stepped away from his head football coaching duties at Burroughs, but he will also not return to serve as the Head Track and Field Coach for the school. 

This past fall, Johnson guided the Bears to a 6-4 overall record and a 4-3 record in Pacific League play which resulted in not qualifying for the CIF Southern Section Playoffs. The team also lost the tiebreaker for fourth place, dropping them to fifth in the Pacific League behind Crescenta Valley and Pasadena. The program’s next head coach will be tasked to maximize the potential of senior running back Matteo Tarca, who earned all-first-team offensive Pacific League honors, and junior defensive back Carson Shrode, who earned all-second-team Pacific League defensive honors. 

Another position of focus for whoever takes over the head coaching duties for the program will be who will start at quarterback next fall for the varsity squad. Brandon Chaparro is waiting for his chance to shine after sitting behind Mingus Allen this past season as the backup quarterback. Chaparro is expected to be a primary option to earn the spot as Bears starting quarterback next season. “If coach Johnson has some better opportunities I am happy for him. He will do well wherever he ends up.” said Athletic Director Keith Knoop. Knoop added that the athletic administration team will all be part of the interview process and have the final say on who takes over the Burroughs Bears football program. The ultimate decision will be a team decision from Burroughs’s athletic administrators with the Burbank Unified School District also playing a role. 

The expectation is that a head coach will be in place well before Spring practices begin. The Bears will start conditioning for the 2025 season following the holiday break and then return to the field for Spring practice between late March and Early April in hopes of starting a revenge tour next fall.