By Geena Monahan—For the North Star Reporter
After more than 25 years coaching student-athletes at North Attleborough High School, Geoff Burgess is stepping into a new leadership role, but keeping one foot on the sidelines.
Burgess has been named athletic director at NAHS following the departure of Nick Schlierf, who recently accepted a position as assistant principal at Mansfield High School after three years leading NAHS athletics. Burgess will oversee the district’s athletic program while remaining head coach of the boys varsity soccer team
Principal Thomas Rizzo said Burgess’ decades of experience and deep ties to the school made him the ideal choice to lead the department.
“For more than 20 years, Coach Burgess has been a dedicated leader, mentor and role model for our student-athletes,” Rizzo said in a statement. “His deep understanding of what makes North Attleborough athletics special, combined with his passion for growth and the values he holds, makes him the right person to lead us into the future.”
Burgess said he first discussed becoming director eight or nine years ago with former Athletic Director Kurt Kummer.
“I’ve always wanted to continue the traditions at North, while hopefully adding a few of my own nuances to make the experience better for kids, coaches and our community,” said Burgess.
A teacher at NAHS since 2001, Burgess has coached wrestling, boys and girls soccer, girls tennis, and volleyball, compiling more than 500 varsity victories and numerous league championships. Now, Burgess said he hopes to create a more unified athletic department.
One of his first priorities is improving communication with families, particularly those entering high school athletics for the first time. He plans to introduce parent meetings before each sports season to explain expectations, schedules and the commitment required.
“Parents coming from the middle school don’t always realize how early things start or how much of a commitment high school athletics can be,” Burgess said. “If we can get everyone together before each season and communicate those expectations, I think it will make the experience better for everyone.”
He also plans to bring coaches together across all sports to develop a shared vision that emphasizes character development alongside athletic success.
“I’ve been a coach for a long time, and I’ve never felt more isolated,” Burgess said. “Everyone kind of functions as their own island. I want us delivering the same message across every sport, every season and every level.”
While winning remains an important goal, Burgess said athletics should also prepare students for life beyond high school.
“The true purpose of athletics is education,” he said. “Obviously, we strive to win on the field, but I don’t think enough attention has been paid to character development, social interactions and the life lessons kids learn through sports.”
Burgess will continue coaching the boys varsity soccer team while stepping away from wrestling, a program he has been part of since 1999. The decision to leave wrestling, he said, was the hardest of his career, but decided the year-round demands would make balancing the roles too difficult.
“I felt very strongly that I wanted to stay connected to coaching,” Burgess said. “I got into education to work with kids in the first place, and I didn’t want to lose that connection.”
Burgess said that his leadership philosophy has also evolved after more than two decades of coaching. He said that he wants to surround himself with good coaches, trust them to do their jobs and remove obstacles that keep them from working with students.
“When I first became a head coach, I wanted to manage every little detail,” Burgess said. “Over the years, I’ve learned that’s not how kids learn, and it’s not how adults improve either.”
Burgess’ new role comes during the transition to the district’s new high school, a process that will temporarily reduce access to athletic fields during construction. While he expects scheduling challenges, particularly during the fall and spring seasons, he said that organization has always been one of his strengths.
“We’re really excited about the new building and seeing the progress every day,” he said. “The biggest challenge will be making sure everyone has access to the facilities they need while construction continues.”
Burgess said his appreciation for North Attleborough has only grown during his time in the district, particularly now that his own children have become involved in youth sports.Â
“North is a special place,” Burgess said. “We have a duty to continue those traditions while making changes that improve the experience for everyone. It’s our responsibility to keep it special for generations to come.”