Men's Lacrosse Release - Burke Hired - Guilford College

Greensboro, NC (06/27/03) -- Guilford College Athletics Director Marion Kirby announced the appointment of John Burke as Guilford's 11th head men's lacrosse coach Friday. Burke, a 1988 Guilford alumnus, replaces Randy Mercer who resigned in May after 10 seasons on the Quakers' sidelines.

Burke returns to his alma mater from San Francisco where he worked as a territory sales manager for SRI Sports, a synthetic turf/track system manufacturer. He also coached the men's lacrosse club team at the University of California, Davis in 2002 and 2003. The Aggies compete in the A Division of the Western Collegiate Lacrosse League.

Prior to heading out west, Burke spent three seasons as an assistant men's lacrosse coach at Ohio Wesleyan where he helped the Battling Bishops to a 40-10 record and three NCAA Division III Tournament appearances. He served as the team's defensive coordinator in 2000 and assisted coach Lelan Rogers' 1998 club that reached the national semifinals. Ohio Wesleyan won two North Coast Athletic Conference (NCAC) titles in Burke's three seasons and had 25 all-conference players, including two NCAC Players of the Year. Sixteen Bishops earned All-America honors and seven participated in the United States Intercollegiate Lacrosse Association (USILA) Division III North-South All-Star game from 1998-2000. Ohio Wesleyan spent the 1998 season ranked first in the USILA Division III national poll.

Burke coached Hilliard High School's boys' lacrosse team to second place in the 1996 Ohio High School Lacrosse Association B Division Tournament and helped the Wildcats move into Division A the following year. Before taking the Hilliard post, Burke directed Greensboro College's first five men's lacrosse teams from 1991-95. He remains the Pride's men's lacrosse coaching wins leader with a 37-34 record. After Greensboro debuted with an 0-13 mark in 1991, Burke built the team into a respectable 12-4 unit that ranked 16th in the final 1995 USILA Division III national poll. While not a member of the league, the Pride compiled an 8-2 record against Old Dominion Athletic Conference (ODAC) teams in 1994 and 1995. Burke coached three All-Americans and 11 All-Deep South Conference players at Greensboro, including Eric Bayersdorfer, the 1994 Deep South Conference Player of the Year and a two-time All-American. Burke was selected to coach in the 1996 North-South All-Star Game, but did not due to his move to Ohio.

A native of Parkersburg, WV, Burke grew up near Annapolis, MD, where he first played lacrosse. He moved to North Carolina's Outer Banks and lettered in football, basketball and baseball for Manteo High School. Burke played three lacrosse seasons at Guilford and earned honorable mention All-America honors as a defenseman in 1988. He started his career as a midfielder and compiled 27 goals, 10 assists and 164 ground balls in 40 career contests. Coach Geoff Miller's Quakers went 29-12 in Burke's three years, including 11-3 in 1986. Guilford placed sixth in the final 1986 USILA Division III poll, but was ineligible for the NCAA playoffs because it was not an NCAA member. Burke, who played football for Guilford in 1987, received the school's Best Senior Athlete Award in 1988.

Burke looks to restore the Quakers' men's lacrosse team, which has not had a winning season since 1992. Guilford went 3-11 in 2003 and returns all 18 letter winners in 2004.