High school football: Jack Daniels comes out of retirement to take Newman job after Burack resigns

Legendary area football coach Jack Daniels is coming out of retirement to take the Cardinal Newman job, becoming the Crusaders' third head coach in as many years and replacing Dan Burack.

Daniels won 234 games and two state championships in 23 years at Dwyer before retiring in 2018. He coached more than 20 future NFL players, including Colts quarterback Jacoby Brissett and former Dolphins tight end Nick O'Leary.

Cardinal Newman announced the hiring Monday afternoon.

"I would like to thank the Cardinal Newman administration for the opportunity to be its next head football coach," Daniels said in a news release. "I look forward to working with the great kids, faculty and staff at Cardinal Newman. As a lifelong resident of Palm Beach County, I am aware of the great tradition that the school and football program have established. I am both fortunate and blessed to be given this wonderful opportunity. I look forward to coaching football at the same school as the great Sam Budnyk."

Budnyk coached football, along with other sports, at Newman for decades and also was athletic director.

The hiring was announced hours after Burack posted on Twitter that he was stepping down. Burack went 4-4 in his one season as head coach.

"I will be pursuing other opportunities for advancement in my career at Newman that will provide me the opportunity to spend more time with my expecting wife and family, while furthering my career in education in coaching," Burack wrote in a letter posted on Twitter. "To the parents, players, and coaches, I want to say thank you for always giving me your support and your all. Please know that I will always do whatever I can to help."

Burack said he turned in his letter of resignation to the Cardinal Newman administration before the holiday break. 

Burack was named head coach last January after Joe Molina stepped down. Burack was the Crusaders' defensive coordinator in 2019 before being promoted. The Crusaders' season ended with a 20-3 loss to St. John Paul II in the Class 3A-Region 4 quarterfinals.

More:Cardinal Newman hires Daniel Burack as head football coach

Looking back:Cardinal Newman football adapting to new head coach, crazy offseason

More:Cardinal Newman football coach Joe Molina steps down

This past season, Molina was an assistant coach at Port St. Lucie-John Carroll.

Cardinal Newman athletic director Andre Torres, Burack and Daniels were all unavailable for comment.