By Rick Assad
Two worthy candidates were added to the Burroughs High Athletic Hall of Fame on Friday night.
Jose Valle, a longtime coach and an administrator along with Kenny Knoop, the current Burroughs principal were honored during a nearly two hour ceremony at the Brian Hurst Gymnasium.
Friends, family and teammates were on hand to sing their praises on an extremely hot day and evening.
Keith Knoop, who was inducted in the Hall of Fame as the school’s longtime football coach, presided over the event and handled that job with poise and aplomb.
Introducing Valle was Terry Scott, who worked in the Burbank Unified School District for 35 years.
Scott was a longtime physical education instructor at Burroughs and was the baseball and basketball head coach.
When Valle, who graduated from Burroughs in 1983 and served as athletic director from 1999 to 2026, which is the second longest tenure in school history, was told he was being inducted, it confirmed his time at the school had value.
“I was very excited and honored,” he said. “It gives a person a sense of validation for their body of work.” 
Valle, who was the varsity baseball coach from 1994 to 2002 and led his teams to the CIF Southern Section playoffs six of the nine seasons after the then Indians only qualified to make the postseason twice over the previous two decades, looked back at his career.
“I think my greatest contribution, or what I’m most proud of is that I was part of two championship teams that ended long championship droughts,” he acknowledged.
Valle, who was tabbed Coach of the Year in 1997 by the Los Angeles Times after Burroughs claimed the first Foothill League title in 38 years, reflected on what traits made him succeed.
“I think my best quality in this job has been that I gave my students and student/athletes my best effort every day,” he said.
After more than four decades with the school, Valle talked about how he wants to be remembered.
“My legacy is maybe that I helped raise two different programs to a competitive and well-respected level,” he said.
Being on campus for such a long time was gratifying for Valle and it was the bridge to the students and so many others.
“The thing I will remember, and I cherish the most is the amazing relationships I’ve developed with students and also my colleagues over the course of my career,” he said. “I also value the beautiful memories that I have in my mind and in my heart of a wonderful place.”
Kenny Knoop was introduced by his sister Karin, who was also inducted into the Hall of Fame after toiling at three sports, softball, basketball and volleyball.
Knoop, a 1995 Burroughs graduate, was a three-sport athlete having played football, basketball and track and field and was an important member of the Associated Student Body as a senior.
Karin Knoop said of her brother that he is a person who brings people together.
This single attribute is an extremely important facet of his personality is also vital because it shows that he cares about people and is willing to be a builder and assist in any way that he is able.
Real leaders don’t need to take credit for everything that goes well and shy away from the decisions that aren’t successful.
Leaders like Knoop aren’t bothered when someone else gets the credit. He’s satisfied knowing that he put that person in a position to succeed and that’s enough recognition.
“I don’t need to be the smartest person in the room but I want to put the best people on the leadership team,” he said. “I want to put them in a position to succeed.”
Knoop talked about his philosophy.
“I run the school like it’s a sports program,” he stressed. “I try to put the pieces together and get the best people.”
Being a principal isn’t easy and it can be extremely demanding and taxing.
Still, Knoop, who finished his senior season by claiming the Mike Torres Award, was named a Foothill League first team member in football and also placed first in the 100-meter championship, is always eager to get to work.
“I never have a bad day at school because I love my job,” he said. “I love my school and I love the people I work with.”
Knoop is a man of integrity and is always accountable. Those two qualities are key.
“Whether you see me at Ralphs [supermarket] or at Burroughs, I’m the same person. I try to be the same person every day,” he stated. “I try to be of good character and I don’t pretend.”
Additionally, Knoop is a keen listener and a problem solver.
“I care about what people say and feel and I hear them,” he said. “I want to turn that into a positive.”
Keith Knoop is an old hand at these ceremonies.
“I thought the ceremony went well and was excited to see all the people who came to celebrate,” he said. “Both were chosen because of their service to John Burroughs over many years. Both were students, athletes and teachers. They impacted many lives.”
There is a long line of Knoop’s in the Burroughs Athletic Hall of Fame.
“My brother being inducted into the Hall is special because he is the third Knoop sibling to do so,” he said.” How cool is that?”
How cool? It’s very cool.
