Soccer provides Rea of hope

BARRY FAULKNER

What better preparation for a successful life than a game for which

the object is to achieve goals.

Rea Elementary boys soccer coach Gannon Burks sees the sport as a

tool as much as a game. And since, at the prompting of his

then-future wife Jenny, he began working with his Rea students on the

soccer field in 2000, the former University of Redlands football

standout has vigorously and enthusiastically wielded that tool to

help fortify his players’ educational goals.

Soccer goals seem to come easily for the Sharks, who won their

fifth straight boys fifth- and sixth-grade Gold division title at the

Daily Pilot Cup Sunday.

But Burks, who teaches sixth grade at the school and last year

also became the boys soccer coach at Estancia High, would love for

his players to attack learning with the same fervor they unleash upon

opposing goalkeepers.

“I want to challenge them in things beyond soccer,” said Burks,

whose passion for his athletes is as readily apparent as their ample

and impressive soccer skills. “I don’t want my kids to be remembered

just as good soccer players.”

To this end, he and Jenny, a former teacher at Rea now working at

Sonora Elementary, have vowed to contact colleges on behalf of any

former Rea player to try to assist their acceptance, whether they

play soccer or not.

And this year, for the first time, Burks tied academic progress to

his players’ eligibility to compete in the Daily Pilot Cup, an annual

tournament for students in third, fourth, fifth and sixth grades who

made up 114 teams from 28 Newport-Mesa public and private schools

this year.

“We want our kids to be reading and writing better,” said Burks,

who coordinated grade checks with each of his players’ teachers to

ensure they were attending to their schoolwork, before being allowed

to play.

Three Rea students failed to meet the academic requirements this

year, which meant they could not play in the tournament.

Few who observe the Rea soccer squad’s competitive zeal,

sportsmanship and outright joy on the field, fail to come away

impressed by the kids, as well as their coach.

Burks, who grew up in Willows, Calif., supplies equal parts

structure and support, with a vocal, energetic approach that can wear

you out just watching.

“He’s very effective with the kids,” said Jenny, who went to UCLA

to play soccer out of Newport Harbor High, but gave up competing to

begin her coaching career.

“She has taught me everything about soccer,” said Burks, who knew

little when he began as Jenny’s assistant the first year of the Pilot

Cup. “Jenny still teaches me things, but I also learn from my kids.”

It took Burks, 33, a while to learn the value of education, he

said.

After being denied admission to Chico State University near his

hometown, he served four years in the Army, which may explain the

frequent “Yes, sir,” responses that punctuate his slightly

accelerated speech pattern.

Upon returning from the army, he enrolled at Butte Community

College in Oroville, where he said he took several “bonehead classes”

to get his academic career back on track.

Two teachers there inspired him to pursue a college degree and he

eventually received scholarships, both athletic and academic, to

continue at Redlands.

A receiver at Butte, he volunteered to convert to safety at

Redlands, where he started in the secondary and returned punts and

kickoffs.

During a casual visit to Newport Beach, he was so impressed by the

area, he changed into a shirt and tie he had in the car and marched

into the Newport-Mesa Unified School District offices looking for a

teaching job.

They sent him to Rea, where he was quickly hired, and he has been

touching lives for the last seven years.

He said he would eventually like to work as an administrator,

though he continues to enjoy his time in the classroom.

He and Jenny had their first child, daughter Bailey, in September,

but Burks’ “kids” already number in the hundreds.