Burbank’s Kemp Resigns Positions With Cross-Country, Track Teams

Dave Kemp, one of the Valley area’s most successful distance coaches in the past two decades, has resigned as Burbank High’s cross-country coach and assistant track and field coach.

Cal Linam, Kemp’s son-in-law and a runner at Burbank before he graduated in 1980, will take over for Kemp, who guided the boys’ and girls’ teams.

Kemp, who coached at Burbank from 1974-86 and again from 1987-90, will take over the Bulldogs’ sophomore football program and continue to coach golf.

“I’m not burned out,� said Kemp, 51. “This just seemed like the right time to switch. They’ve been short of full-time football coaches (at Burbank) the last few years, and it was a great opportunity for Cal.�

Linam, 28, who ran for Glendale College and Cal State Long Beach, will inherit a program stepped in tradition.

John Musich, Kevin Burkin, Jeff Nelson, Lin Whatcott, Benny Cruz and Todd Lewis all starred during Kemp’s tenure.

In 1974, Musich timed 1 minute 51.0 seconds to win the 880-yard run at the state championships. He also ran the mile in 4:08.9 that season.

Two years later, Burkin clocked 9:02.8 in the two-mile.

In 1979, Nelson and Whatcott finished first and fourth in the two-mile at the state meet.

Nelson, who also won the state title in 1978, set the national high school record of 8:36.3 in the two-mile at the Pepsi Invitational before the ’79 state meet. Whatcott’s best in the two-mile was 9:01.9.

Cruz, who won the 1987 NCAA Division II West regional cross-country title for Cal State Los Angeles, was runner-up in the 1982 Southern Section 3-A Division cross-country championships.

Lewis finished sixth in the 1988 state Division I cross-country championships, and placed third in the 1,600 meters (4:09.02) at the state track meet in ’89.