After Coach's Death, Football Program Comes Together Under New Leadership

The road to new head football coach at was a winding one for Jim Pobursky.

A longtime fixture on the area’s prep sidelines, Pobursky came out of retirement last December, fulfilling a promise he made to a dear friend.

In the mid-2000s when they were assistant coaches together at Troy High School, Pobursky promised his buddy and fellow coach Nick Deane that if Deane ever became a head coach, he would come on board as his top assistant. So, after Deane was hired as head coach at Seaholm in December, Poburksy joined him on his staff.

“I wasn’t expecting to come back, but sometimes things happen for a reason,” he said.

, Pobursky — 68 and set to enter his 43rd year coaching football — agreed to take over the Maples' program as Deane's replacement. Feeling obligated to his deceased friend, Pobursky said he's intent on carrying on the message Deane had begun preaching during his few short months as head coach at Seaholm.

“The goal from when Coach Deane started in December was to help Seaholm re-find its pride on the football field, and that’s still the goal,” Pobursky said. “We started something here together, something I think that can turn out to be very special, and I’m going to continue it in his honor.

"The kids on the team bought in to what we were selling and really gave a commitment to Nick and myself the moment we came on board and they deserve to have that kind of commitment reciprocated."

Pobursky admits it’s been a tough few weeks for everyone involved with the program after Deane’s sudden death at 52 years old.

“It’s been a very trying time for all of us,” Pobursky said. “Nick was a great man and these guys loved him. But I have faith that we’re going to gain strength from going through this hardship together and come out on the other end of it for the better.”

Deane had been the Maples’ offensive coordinator since 2009. This will be Pobursky’s second head coaching job, previously leading Hazel Park’s program from 2001-2003. His assistant coaching stints have been at Troy, Hazel Park, Madison Heights Bishop Foley and Bangor, on the state’s west side.

Between 1977 and 2005, Seaholm was one of the area’s most successful prep football teams, qualifying for the postseason 14 times and capturing seven conference titles, while finishing below the .500 mark on five occasions. The Maples last made an appearance in the postseason six years ago. Last fall, Seaholm started the year 3-0 before dropping five of its final six games to finish 4-5.

The prospects for a good first year on the sidelines in 2011 for Pobursky are solid. His squad will feature 17 returning starters, including senior quarterback John Glazier and senior lineman Dan Gibbs and Neal Page, both Division I recruits.

“The transition between coaches has been real easy,” Glazier said. “Coach Po reminds us all a lot of Coach Deane. When Coach Deane originally brought him into the program back in December, we knew we were getting a coach with a lot of knowledge and experience. He’s been imparting all that knowledge and experience on us as a team from the day he got here and I can already tell we’re starting to reap the benefits.”

Gibbs, a hulking 6-foot-7, 325 pounds and the anchor of the Maples’ offensive line since his sophomore year, has similar sentiments.

“Coming off the extremely difficult loss of Coach Deane, Coach Po has been unbelievable in making certain our machine stays well-oiled and running strong,” he said. “I’m excited to play for him and I know we’re all excited to get out there and make both him proud and Coach Dean proud from above this upcoming season."

There’s no doubt Pobursky is excited as well and appreciates the opportunity he has been given.

“I can’t explain how much it has meant to me that the Seaholm football family has embraced me and supported me in taking this job and carrying on Nick’s message,” he said. “They’ve been 100 percent behind me and I want to make them proud. We can't wait to get out there when the season kicks off and we'll be ready when it does.”

The Maples' first varsity game will be against North Farmington at 7 p.m. Aug. 25 at North Farmington High School. The junior varsity and freshman squad will take on North Farmington the day before at Maple field.