Golf is nothing like football, but it may not hurt to try and do things football players do if it will improve your golf game. That's what Lassiter boys golf coach John "Butch" Burden thought, and the decision is paying off.

"The guys really just bought into what we were trying to accomplish," he said. "We do 6:30 a.m. workouts in the morning. Everybody questioned it cause it was golf, and you're working out. They were like, 'You're a football coach. You shouldn't be bringing that to the golf course,' But, these guys bought into it.

"The kids see what it takes. Not only do you have to put the time in on the range, like they do, and play on the weekends. There's diet, nutrition, exercise. I wanted to bring something new to the table outside then just plain golf, that can help them be successful. Now, I think that's what the whole team bought into. They were excited about it, and we became a family."

The results speak for themselves. In his first season as the Trojans golf coach in 2010. Lassiter won its first golf tournament in program history with a five-stroke victory at the Cobb County championship at City Club Marietta.

This season, the Trojans beat Walton in a four-hole playoff to capture the Region 5AAAAA championship - the first region title in the program's history - and earn their first trip to the state tournament. Their momentum continued at the state meet where Lassiter finished in eighth place.

For leading Lassiter to a region championship and first state appearance, Butch Burden is the 2011 Marietta Daily Journal/Cobb County boys golf coach of the year.

"It's a big honor," Burden said of receiving the accolade. "It's nice to be thought of by you guys. We're quick not to blow it off like it's not that big of a deal, but it is. It means a lot. I was pleasantly surprised and thankful that you guys think that much of me.

"Those kids (I coach) are tremendous golfers. I just don't want to mess them up. So, that's what I try to do. I try to stay out of their way.

"I was excited (when I found out I was coach of year). I couldn't wait to tell my wife. She says, 'Well you know honey, someone has to drive the bus,' so, I keep that in perspective. It's about (the players). I got them there on time. They weren't late for their tee times. They had golf balls and all of the shirts."

Lassiter also had great comradery and team chemistry, which benefited the Trojans throughout the season.

"We would go out to eat together and have breakfast together," Burden said. "We would work out together. It didn't matter who was the low scorer, whether it was the second guy or the fourth guy. They all supported one another. When someone would have a bad day, the other guys would pick him up. That went a long way for us."

Burden inherited a team with four freshman last year, but has molded the group into a winner. There will be several more good years ahead for Lassiter, and he can't wait for them to arrive.

"It's been a lot of fun," Burden said. "Those guys play everyday, they practice everyday. When you have good players, it goes a long way. They are a lot of fun to work with and I attribute all of our success to those kids. I look forward to working with them over the next couple of years.

"We were fortunate two years ago to win that City Club tournament, which was the first tournament success they had. Then, of course, the first region championship this year, was just something to build on. Now, the bar is way up there. Now, we're really going to have to work this summer and in the offseason to continue to grow as a team and as individuals."