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Rebels coach resigns

First, Frank Burke called in sick. Then he didn't call at all.

When he finally did show up at Dixie Hollins on Tuesday after missing a week's worth of practice and two games, he became a Rebel without a team, resigning after a meeting with school officials.

Hired to replace the popular Jonathan Wiggins, Burke failed to make it through his first season for reasons unknown. The team was 4-15 when he quit.

Assistant principal Walter Weller said Burke told him and principal Jeffrey Haynes that he needed to resign for personal reasons.

"There were some circumstances that had happened and he thought it best for him to resign," Weller said. "He was not in any way, shape or form told to resign."

Burke, who could not be reached for comment, does not teach at the school. According to Weller, he called in sick before an April 2 game against Northeast. Weller said he missed a practice as well but did not mention any other games.

His replacement, assistant Brennan Hervey, said he hadn't seen or heard from Burke since before the Northeast game, which was suspended when a Northeast player was inadvertently hit by a thrown bat and knocked unconscious.

Hervey said Burke did call the other assistant, Reed McMillan, to tell him he wouldn't be at that game, but no one had heard from him since. Burke missed last Friday's game against Gibbs and Monday's resumption of the Northeast game.

A self-employed building inspector, Hervey was named interim coach and Weller said he would open the job up at the end of the season. Hervey played first base at Dixie Hollins and graduated in 1993. After playing at Florida Atlantic, he was drafted by the Detroit Tigers in the 14th round in 1997 and spent two seasons in the minors.

He said his plans now are to get the Rebels ready for the district tournament in two weeks.

"I'm going to try and get as many good things going as I can before the end of the season," he said.

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