Burt’s Move to CSUN Viewed by Fullerton as His Best Opportunity

As Cal State Northridge prepares to welcome Bob Burt as its new football coach, Cal State Fullerton on Thursday was mourning its loss.

Burt, the defensive coordinator at Fullerton, was offered the CSUN job Wednesday. He will be introduced today at 11:30 a.m. during a news conference in the lobby of the Northridge gym.

Ed Carroll, Cal State Fullerton athletic director, said he accepted Burt’s resignation with reluctance.

“We’re disappointed to see him leave, but we wish him well. It’s never fair to stand in the way of a person’s progress,” Carroll said Thursday. “He will do a great job at Northridge. He has always wanted to be a head coach. It’s a great opportunity for him.

“A man gets tired of being No. 2 after a while. It was time for him to move on. He was certainly one of the critical components in our rise to success here.”

Burt, 44, will take over a program that has had only five winning seasons in the past 16 years.

Northridge had a 4-7 record in 1985 and tied for last place in the six-team Western Football Conference. Tom Keele, who had a 31-42-1 record in seven years as Northridge coach, was fired two weeks after the season.

Burt was the Fullerton defensive coordinator for six seasons, during which the Titans were 36-30. They are 24-11 the past three seasons.

Fullerton’s best season was 1984. Its defense led the nation with 27 interceptions and was second in turnover ratio and fifth against the rush.

The Titans were 11-1 in 1984.