Jake Burkholder guided Southwestern to the New York State Public High School Athletic Association Class C semifinal last fall. P-J file photo by Tim Frank

Jake Burkholder was named the interim varsity head football coach at Southwestern Central School late last September after the resignation of Jehuu Caulcrick. More than three months and Section VI Class C and Far West Regional titles later, Burkholder has been named the program’s permanent head coach.

The announcement was made Tuesday at the district’s board of education meeting.

“We’re just glad to be able to continue the strong tradition with Southwestern football, and we know with Jake’s leadership we’ll be able to do that,” Superintendent Maureen Donahue said. “Jake’s a Southwestern graduate, he understands what we need to do to move forward, and they don’t come any finer than Jake. He definitely knows the kids, and we’re ready to move forward.”

A quick look back, though, reveals what a job Burkholder did after taking over the head coaching duties, beginning in Week Six after Caulcrick departed to take a job with the National Football League/Xenith in Detroit. From that point on, the Trojans didn’t miss a beat or lose a game until narrowly falling in the New York State Public High School semifinals and finishing 11-1.

Burkholder said he has no plans to change the approach that led the Trojans one game short of a trip to the Carrier Dome in Syracuse.

“I take this very seriously. There’s been a lot of blood, sweat and tears,” he said. “It’s going to be the same going forward in terms of my approach and that of the staff.”

Burkholder is also buoyed by the fact he will have about 24 players returning from last year, in addition to about 16 others who will move up from the modified program.

“We should have pretty good numbers,” he said.

The win-loss numbers were more than pretty good in 2019 and he hopes for similar results in 2020.

“Having graduated from Southwestern, having played there and knowing what the program is about and its expectations, it’s kind of a perfect fit,” he said.