LAFAYETTE – The Acalanes football program reached new heights during Floyd Burnsed’s nine-year run as head coach.
He led the Lafayette public school to its only state championship, in 2023, and was a two-point conversion away from reaching another title game last season. He ended Campolindo’s reign as the unquestioned top program among the Lamorinda schools as Acalanes beat Campo twice last fall.
That was not enough for Burnsed to keep his job.
Burnsed told the Bay Area News Group on Saturday morning that he was let go as coach after meeting on Friday with principal Eric Shawn to discuss the program’s future.
“The administration thought it was time to start over and start a new program, so that’s what they’re doing,” Burnsed said.
Shawn did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Saturday, but athletic director Randy Takahashi told this news organization, “I am thankful for the nine years that Coach Burnsed dedicated to the football program and to Acalanes HS.”
Takahashi deferred comments about the separation to Shawn.
Burnsed, who is in his late 70s but declined to give his age, did not get into specifics about why the school has decided to move on. But he said that he and his family were “very disappointed.”
“I thought that with the work that I’ve put in there and all that, there would be more support for me to continue,” Burnsed said.
Burnsed, who was the 2023 Bay Area News Group coach of the year, did not believe that age was a factor in the school’s decision.
“The plan was to stay at least two more years,” Burnsed said. “We have some great kids, and the next couple of years at Acalanes, they can compete with anybody and have a chance to win against anybody. So we left the program in really, really good shape.”
Burnsed said he had not decided whether or not he would pursue another coaching job.
West Coast Preps first reported Burnsed’s departure.
Before leading Acalanes, Burnsed coached at Miramonte – another Acalanes rival – from 1982-2000 and then Solano Community College from 2000-2016.
Acalanes went 68-34 under Burnsed, with the coach turning the program into a consistent contender over his near-decade at the school. He had many battles with former Clayton Valley Charter coach Tim Murphy, a man who has deep respect for Burnsed.
“He has the best mind for the pass game, better than any coach in NorCal, and he’s been doing it since before spread became trendy,” Murphy told this news organization on Saturday. “Huge loss for Bay Area sports.”
The Dons won a share of the Diablo Athletic League title in each of the last two seasons.
“I think it was great to help some kids move on and play at the next level, which we did,” Burnsed said. “You know, wins and losses are always secondary-type stuff, but I thought over the years, our kids played really well and became competitive with whoever we were playing.”