Basha wide receiver Dejon Walker said some of his teammates were surprised when Bernie Busken was recommended as the football team’s new coach.

Turns out even those so-called “old school” coaches get roped into the semi-ridiculous.

His voice is calm and quiet, that of a man comfortable with where he is at in his life.

Bernie Busken was easily approved as Basha's new football coach and physical education teacher by the Chandler Union School District governing board on Wednesday night.

Polarizing figure Bernie Busken will be the next coach of the Basha football team, pending school district approval, principal Ken James said on Monday.

Sports editor Mark Heller: Another unofficial declaration was made Monday: Only winning matters. What better explanation is there for Basha principal Ken James shipping out Tim McBurney and hiring Bernie Busken?

Bernie Busken still believes he got a raw deal.

Trying to stop Chandler Basha was an exercise in futility for the Casa Grande on Friday night.

Less than four months before their season was due to begin, the Mountain View football team was adrift in an uncertain sea of turmoil.

The investigation of Mountain View's football program was felt far outside the confines of the team. The allegations of physical, mental and verbal abuse against former coach Bernie Busken divided what always had been a tightly knit community into two camps, pitting Busken's supporters against his detractors, neighbor against neighbor, friend against friend.

They were the whistle-blowers.

Judy Brown didn't want to come forward as the investigation of Mountain View football coach Bernie Busken unfurled around her. She worried that her daughter, Briley, would be mistreated by her Mountain View classmates.

Just seeing those red helmets and the white, blue and red uniform schemes of the Mountain View Toros across the field were enough to evoke seasons of memories for Basha coach Bernie Busken on Friday night.