The definition of a sports coach on Google is: a person who helps athletes improve their skills and reach their full potential in a sport. A man walked through the gates of Lazier Field 17 years ago and changed that definition, rewriting the narrative of what it means to be a coach. That man’s name is Mike Burzawa, known as “Coach Buzz.”
Coach Buzz worked outside the norms of sports coaching. He was more than just someone assisting athletes, more than the guys you see on TV holding a clipboard and a whistle. His passion for the game of football was contagious, but his love for his players, co-workers, and community will forever be remembered.
Before starting his memorable coaching career, Coach Buzz demonstrated leadership traits at an early age.
“He was a natural leader. He would do his own thing. He’s invincible, he’s fearless. He played football like that; he was like that his whole life. You couldn’t tell him, ‘No, you can’t do that,’ because he wanted to do it so badly. He had tremendous determination for what he was set out to do,” said Buzz’s older sister, Angel Anderson.
“He’s the glue, always the one bringing everyone closer, bringing life into the room. He’s just a role model for everybody,” Anderson added.
Regardless of whether it was coaching or playing, he always had that drive that everyone around him noticed. As a player, Buzz attended Driscoll Catholic High School, a private school located in Addison, Illinois. Buzz was a remarkable two-sport athlete, competing in baseball and football. He earned two state championships as a student-athlete: the 1991 Class 4A football state championship and the 1992 Class A baseball state championship.
After graduating from Driscoll, he went on to play collegiate football at the University of St. Francis as the starting running back and eventually team captain. Years later, he found himself returning to Driscoll to start his coaching career. Initially, he landed the offensive coordinator role, co-coaching alongside Nazareth Academy current head football coach Tim Racki. Buzz later became Driscoll’s head coach.
As a versatile coach with both defensive and offensive expertise, Buzz contributed to seven Class 4A football state championships while coaching at Driscoll—three as a head coach and offensive coordinator, and four solely as offensive coordinator.
“What I tell people and what people don’t know is that I might’ve been the head coach when I first started at Driscoll, but really I always looked at it as Buzz and me being co-head coaches. He ran the offense, and I ran the defense. But when it came to leadership, shaping the program, motivation, and all those other things, we did all that together. We collaborated together. Him and I were just like yin and yang. It was the perfect combination of two young football coaches,” said Racki.
Buzz had the brains, schemes, and tools to be an excellent coach. His love for the people around him elevated him to become the perfect coach—and one of the greatest to come out of Driscoll. He had a record of 41-1 during his three years as head coach and 92-6 as offensive coordinator over seven years.
“I didn’t realize his love and passion for coaching until he started at Driscoll. I was working with him as the special teams coach when he was running the offense. That’s when I first realized he had a gift for teaching kids,” said Buzz’s best friend, Mike Kamienski. “When I first started observing him coaching kids is when I realized it was more than just football. It was his overall passion for teaching them the game of life. It was always more than football for him, and that’s why he was so successful.”
Buzz moved on to his next chapter in life, landing the head coaching position at ETHS in 2008. From there, he spent years racking up wins and mentoring players. He bonded not only with the Evanston community but with many others outside E-Town, whether it was hosting football scrimmages in the summer against Nazareth Academy or organizing team dinners at sleepaway football camps with other schools.
“He helped me at Nazareth with all my failures and successes. I always invite him during any state title I’ve ever won at Nazareth. I had Buzz be a guest speaker the week of Thanksgiving. He would come in and deliver an incredible motivational speech. All my players and the Nazareth football program absolutely love Coach Buzz,” said Racki. “It’s something Evanston should be proud of. He not only had that much impact at Evanston but also at Nazareth.”
Coach Buzz didn’t let you forget who he was. His presence left a mark on past players and alumni at ETHS, forming what’s known as “The Buzz Bond.”
“From the first day I got to Evanston as a freshman, even though I wasn’t on varsity, Coach Buzz went out of his way to constantly push me and coach me,” said ETHS alum Ben Tarpey. “Even though [Evanston] had their quarterback, he didn’t need to do that, but he did because it challenged me, it pushed me, and helped with my development.”
After the 2024-25 season, with the Kits going 3-6, Coach Buzz decided it was time to hang up the cleats and step down from the head coach position. Buzz will continue working alongside ETHS Athletic Director Chris Livatino as Evanston’s assistant athletic director. He also dedicates a portion of his time to helping the ETHS boys JV baseball team.
Coach Buzz gave everything he had on the field. He will forever be remembered, loved, and bonded with the Evanston community.
“He has influenced kids at Evanston by teaching them values of life, teaching you guys as players about family—the love of family, the respect for each other, and trusting each other. It’s not all about the wins and losses in life. It’s about how you treat each other on and off the field. That’s how he has impacted Evanston,” said Buzz’s wife, Jenny Burzawa.
Thank you Coach Buzz.
