By Rick Assad
Edwin Real knows his way around Burbank having grown up in the city and is a fixture on the Burroughs High girls’ varsity volleyball bench as the longtime head coach.
In four months, Real, who graduated from Burbank High and resides in Sun Valley, will take over as the school’s new athletic director.
Keith Knoop, the longtime football coach, girls’ flag football coach and physical education instructor, will retire on December 18.
Knoop took over for Marty Garrison on June 1, 2018, and will help guide Real through the ropes.
Real attended Glendale Community College and Los Angeles Valley College before transferring to Pepperdine University where he obtained a bachelor’s degree in Physical Education with a concentration in Teaching/Coaching and also earned a teaching credential from Pepperdine.
Real was asked why he was offered the job as athletic director.
“I don’t know exactly … maybe I’ve been around the athletic department for 35 years and been a head coach for 20 years,” he said.
Still the position wasn’t sought out by Real.
“It’s not something I’ve had my sights on but the opportunity came up and I thought it would be an honor to represent the athletic department at Burroughs,” he said.
Real talked about some of the responsibilities of being the athletic director.
“You have to do the scheduling, the matches and games, get the referees and the buses,” he said. “You have to gather and submit paperwork for transfer students. You have to work closely with the administration and coaches and make sure all the teams run smoothly.”
For sure, Real will have to juggle two other jobs that included being a physical education teacher, but everything should work out,
“At first it will be a little bit difficult,” Real readily admitted. “Keeping up with the administrative, especially in the fall and also handling transfer students. But the good thing is that Coach Knoop and I will be working together for the first semester before [his] retirement. He’ll make sure I can handle everything.”
Once Real gets involved in the day-to-day requirements of being the athletic director, he’ll be as solid and successful as he is on the sidelines coaching the volleyball team.
“I think it will be tough to do but with the help of Coach Knoop and the administration, I think things will go well,” he stated.
