Edward Burke (basketbol) – tr.cruzcal.org

Edward J. Burke (December 4, 1945 – March 23, 2009) was an American college basketball coach who led the Drexel Dragons men’s basketball program from 1977 to 1991.

Early life and high school

Burke was born in 1945, the fourth of five children. He liked to point out that he was the only one among his siblings who did not enter religious life. Playing quarterback on the high school basketball team, St. Joined Joseph’s Prep. With NBA player Matt Guokas, Burke was part of the 1962 Philadelphia Catholic League championship team. The team lost 61–52 to West Philadelphia High in the city title game. As a senior, Burke led the entire Catholic League in scoring.

College

Burke played at La Salle University from 1963 to 1967. A major knee injury ended his football career in his final season.

Early coaching career

After graduating from La Salle, Burke went to St. He coached first class at Joseph’s Prep. He was soon promoted to head coach and won the 1971 Catholic League Championship. st. Joseph’s current coach, Phil Martelli, was a member of that team and said that Burke “personalized coaching. It was about you as a person. He used a lot of humor. He wanted to practice you and made you want to play.” The following year, Burke, St. He coached Thomas More High School to a Catholic League championship and the 1972 City Championship. Burke won the Catholic League Coach of the Year award for the second season in a row. He is the only coach to achieve this feat in two different high schools. st. Thomas More closed in 1975 and Burke came to Bishop McDevitt and West Catholic for one year each.

Drexel

Drexel hired Burke as their new head coach in 1977. For several years in the 1980s, his best assistants were Villanova coach Jay Wright and former Bucknell coach Pat Flannery. His best season was in 1985-86, when the Michael Anderson-led Dragons won 19 games and defeated Hofstra in the East Coast Conference title game, receiving an offer to qualify for the school’s first NCAA Tournament. Drexel picked up 15 seeds and lost to eventual national champions Louisville 93–73 in the first round. After the season, he was named East Coast Conference Coach of the Year, and Michael Anderson became the first Drexel player to make the NBA. In 1987, he upset the Dragons in Palestra because of Naval Ensigns led by David Robinson.

Burke was released by Drexel on March 8, 1991, after finishing 12-16, the third losing season in a row. When the school moved to the North Atlantic Conference in 1991-92, Drexel wanted to take “a new direction,” according to Richard E. Woodring, Drexel’s vice president of student life. He was replaced by George Washington’s assistant, Bill Herrion. He compiled Burke’s record of 205-189 in 14 seasons. His 205 wins are the second most of any Drexel coach.

later life

After his tenure at Drexel, Burke moved to St. He returned to coaching at Joseph’s Prep. In 1999, he became the school’s alumni relations manager and held this position until 2004. After retiring, he started coaching his family again. The restaurant is at Burke’s Inn, Havertown, Pennsylvania. He added it to the menu and turned the tavern into a sports bar.

Death

In 2009, Burke was diagnosed with lung cancer. He was on the verge of receiving treatment when he died at the age of 63 in Havertown on March 23. He was survived by his wife, Bette Ann; their children Melissa, Maureen and Brendan; and five grandchildren. Burke is buried in Holy Cross Cemetery in Yeadon.

Career coaching record

Edward J. Burke’s career coaching record is as follows:

References