Cowley Press

Growing up in the little town of Ketchum, Okla. near Grand Lake, Dave Burroughs knew he was going to coach baseball. Having a family background in baseball he learned to love it at a young age. Starting at the age of five or six he quickly grew fond of the sport.

“It was a childhood passion and it never went away. I remember playing catch out in the yard when I was little.”

Burroughs was an outstanding athlete and loved to play catcher. He graduated in 1975 and signed to play for the University of Oklahoma. During the same year he was drafted by the Kansas City

Royals organization and chose to give up his amateur playing status. He played for the Royals’ Rookie League team in Sarasota, Fla. He left baseball two years later and enrolled at Northeastern Oklahoma College at Tahlequah where he earned a bachelor’s degree in 1982.

“My father introduced my whole family to the sport. It soon became a love affair of our whole family and it has been for 50 years.”

Burroughs began coaching from 1982 to 1984 at Bacone College, Okla. as an assistant coach and also coached at Northeastern in Tahlequah, Okla. from 1985-1986. The next year he came to coach at Cowley.

The start of his 23^rd season has started off decently and considering that he has led the Tigers to 13 Jayhawk Conference Eastern Division titles in the past 15 seasons, the outcome of the season looks promising.

“He is an outstanding coach and an outstanding person all in one. It is such an honor to have a working a social relationship with him.” -Tom Saia

Since 1992, Burroughs has carried the Tigers to the Eastern Sub-Regional championship every year but one. He has also won 868 games as a coach. With these records, it is no wonder that he was inducted into the Hall of Fame last January.

“It is a huge honor and very humbling to have been inducted. Just to be considered for it is a privilege, no question about it.”

One of his past players, Steven Haines of Independence, Kan. came from Wichita to watch his old coach being inducted into the Hall of Fame. Haines was a pitcher and also pitched for Wichita State University. Among past players, Burroughs’ father made it to the induction ceremony as well.

According to Tom Saia, athletic director, the reason Coach Dave was inducted was that his record “spoke for itself”.

“There are about fifty really amazing members but Dave is certainly one that stands out,” said Saia.

Coaching is simple in his eyes. All you have to do is recruit the best players, teach them what you want to know, help them reach their potential, and stay out of the way of progress.

“My favorite thing about coaching is that I get to be around the players. It keeps me young and the friendships last forever.”

“I played baseball for Winfield High School and could have gone anywhere for college. I chose Cowley because I wanted to play ball for a really good team and a really good coach.” -Eric Faust, sophomore

One of his past players, Steven Haines of Independence, came to watch his old coach’s induction ceremony. Haines was a pitcher and also pitched for Wichita State University.

When asked if he had the power to change anything he wanted to about baseball he replied,

“Baseball is a great sport. It is going to take someone a lot smarter than me to change it. Plus they got it right the first time.”

The team’s biggest rivalry this season is everyone. Beating them is Burroughs’ main goal although his goals never seem to change. Win championships, regional, and national and improve a little bit every day.

The team spends their fair share of time practicing because practice makes perfect. They spend three to four hours a day in the field working on things such as hitting, fielding, catching, and base running.

Rituals before games include many superstitions. Each player has their own but for the most part, practicing takes care of it. Knowing that the team does well at practice insures the success of a game situation.

“Coach motivates us [the players] by always letting us know that we are the best. He has made me a better player. I love playing for Coach Dave because he can be so incredibly hard on you when you’re on the field, but really care about you and have fun off of it.” -BJ Misialek, sophomore

Many athletes come to Cowley because of Burroughs’ traditions he has set. Many of the players don’t want to let them down, so they work hard.

Coach encourages his players to be better athletes and students by working hard. Being a good person is also important to him.

“I expect a lot of my players because I know they can handle it.”

Burroughs’ favorite baseball team, besides the Tigers is a toss up between the Red Sox, the Indians, and the Diamond Backs because fellow players play for those teams.

Although Burroughs is highly dedicated to baseball, he is also a family man. His family includes his wife Vickie and his children, [Derek], Erin, Blake, Dylan, and Rachel. Erin is an active student at Cowley, Blake and Dylan play baseball at Ark City High School and Rachel is an 8th grader at the Ark City Christian Academy.

“I am so proud of everything my kids have done. They are a blessing and a joy.”

He and his family also attend First Baptist Church in Ark City.

“Dave is one of the most knowledgeable people I know, not just about baseball either. He reads a lot and I enjoy listening to his knowledge. I enjoy working with him and value his friendship.” -Sue Saia

“God has influenced our lives by bringing us to Ark City in the first place. I feel like this is where we belong. He has blessed us and He has been a great thing for our family.”

Working with his younger brother Darren is also a treat.

“Coaching with Darren makes it worthwhile since we both share a huge childhood passion for the sport. Not many people have the opportunity to work with family. I have no regrets but wish we could just go back in time and do it all over again.”

“All I’ve known is baseball. It was a cool thing growing up to know that out of all my friends, my dad was a baseball coach. He didn’t have a desk job or worked in a machine shop. Some were mean about it saying it wasn’t a real job but it is. It takes 100% heart. It is mentally and physically demanding and requires a lot of traveling. We have met a lot of neat people through him and have gained life long friends. I love it that he coaches.” -Erin Burroughs, sophomore