Tim Burk has been named the next varsity head football coach for Deer Lakes High School.
Burk succeeds Steve Sciullo, who went 11-28 in four seasons at Deer Lakes. Sciullo left the program in the spring to take a position at Hampton Township School District. As the offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach on Sciullo’s Deer Lakes staff, Burk’s up-tempo zone read offenses compiled the most prolific offensive numbers in school history and helped lead the program to a berth in the 2015 WPIAL Class AAA playoffs – just the school’s second ever playoff appearance.
A West Deer native, Burk is a 1997 Deer Lakes alumnus and played at the school under Coach Anthony Taliani. He and his wife Nikki (DL, ’99) have two children currently attending Deer Lakes schools, Derek (Grade 7) and Bella (Grade 4). Additionally, Burk’s father, John taught mathematics in the district for decades; and his father-in-law, Larry Rommes coached the Lancer football program from 2000–2002.
Director of Athletics, Charles Bellisario admits to being disappointed to lose Sciullo, whom he said had built a really nice culture within the football program. However, when he was forced to consider Sciullo’s replacement, it became obvious early on that Burk was the right person for the job from both a philosophical and cultural perspective.
“It is difficult to imagine a better fit for the program at this time than Tim Burk,” said Bellisario. “He’s a great coach and an even better person and we are thrilled to have him as our head football coach.”
Burk, who also serves as a patrolman for the West Deer Township Police Department, is understandably excited for his newest challenge. “I’ve had the privilege of playing and coaching under some excellent head coaches and I am excited beyond words to apply some of the lessons I’ve learned over the years as an assistant to this job as the head coach at my alma mater,” he said.
Burk intends to retain the entire staff and plans only minor adjustments to the offensive and defensive systems. Camp starts next week and Burk said he looks forward to meeting with his players again to go over the team’s goals for the upcoming season.