Lakers hires new varsity football coach/PE teacher

Starting Feb. 6, Elkton-Pigeon-Bay Port Lakers will have a new high school teacher/coach joining its staff, but he is anything but new to teaching and coaching.

Laker High School is excited to welcome Steve VerBurg, who will be a physical education Instructor and head varsity football coach.  He is replacing Adam Grybauskas, who left to teach and coach at Jackson Northwest High School.

VerBurg has been a health and physical education teacher for 13 years, serving the past nine at North Branch, where administrators say he has done a great job of developing physical fitness, character and relationships with his students.

The coach/teacher is excited about starting his new venture with the Green Machine, and he’s impressed with the Laker programs and facilities.

“Lakers has a tradition of good schools and good football,” VerBurg said. “I appreciate when the community takes care of their school. It’s a big seller.”

He said a friend of his told him about the job opening at Lakers.

“And the rest is history,” he added.

On the football field, VerBurg has served as head coach at North Branch, Genesee and Lakeville, where his teams have set rushing records for each of these schools. He has had multiple teams qualify for state playoffs, 30 of his players have gone on to play college football, and the majority of his teams have earned Academic All-State recognition. VerBurg was named Regional Coach of the Year in 2010 while at Genesee.

A native of Fenton,  VerBurg was a four-year letter winner in football and track at Adrian College, where he graduated in 2001 and was inducted to the college’s Athletic Hall of Fame in 2014. While still in college, VerBurg joined the U.S. Marine Corp and served in the Marine Reserves for eight years, being called to active duty for a tour in Iraq in 2003.

VerBurg said his military experience taught him the importance of developing strong relationships.

“I tell my players it’s important to build relationships with your teammates and be there for each other,” he said.

He began his education career in 2004 as a physical education/health teacher and assistant football coach at Howell. He said as a physical education teacher, he focuses on lifelong fitness and developing healthy habits and traits.

VerBurg’s wife, Jill, a native of Harbor Beach, is a sixth- grade teacher at North Branch and an aspiring school administrator. The VerBurgs currently reside in Caro with their seven children.

VerBurg is ready to get things going at Lakers.

“I’m looking forward to meeting the players, the staff and the parents,” he said. “I’m looking forward to getting things rolling, getting a routine going.”

The Laker search committee consisted of Athletic Director Mark Weidman, Secondary School Principal Jon Good, Technology Director Scott Miklovic, junior high teacher Tyler Scharf, and high school teacher Karen Smith.

“Committee members were very excited about Coach VerBurg and look forward to introducing him to the Laker Family in the near future,” said Superintendent Brian Keim.