Bill Burke announces retirement
After 20 seasons leading Penn State Mont Alto golf, former coach Bill Burke decided last week that it was time to retire. He leaves Penn State Mont Alto with six team championships, four conference coach of the year and one national coach of the year awards.
Bill Burke recently announced his retirement as Penn State Mont Alto golf coach after 20 seasons at the helm.
“I want to thank Penn State Mont Alto for giving me the opportunity to coach golf over the past 20 years. I have met many administrators, professors, staff, and coaches over the years, whom I will never forget. I coached golf at Chambersburg High School for 23 years prior to coming to Penn State Mont Alto. When I did the math, I realized it was time to retire”, said Burke.
“I have had the pleasure of coaching some wonderful young men and women at Mont Alto. The names are too numerous to mention. These young golfers were not only wonderful players, but excellent students. Most have moved on from college and are having rewarding careers, all starting in the classrooms at Penn State Mont Alto”, added Burke.
Burke leaves Penn State Mont Alto earning four Pennsylvania State University Athletic Conference (PSUAC) Coach of the Year awards. He also won the United States Collegiate Athletic Association (USCAA) National Coach of the Year award following the 2016 season.
He made an immediate impact on the Penn State Mont Alto golf program as the team won the College Athletic Conference Championship (CCAC) in his first season as head coach in 2002. He was named CCAC Coach of the Year following the season.
In 2003, Burke led his team to back-to-back CCAC titles, led by the duo of Randy Sellers and Galen Evans. Penn State Mont Alto finished second in the national tournament in 2003. The 2003 CCAC Championship gave Penn State Mont Alto its third title in four seasons.
The title run came to an end in 2004 as Penn State Mont Alto finished third in the CCAC.
Burke’s teams won multiple team championships during his time. In addition to the CCAC team championships in 2003 and 2004, they won the PSUAC team championship in 2009, 2010, 2012 and 2016.
Penn State Mont Alto finished the 2009 season as runners-up in the USCAA national tournament. Kevin Reiber won both the PSUAC and USCAA individual championships that season.
In 2010, Burke coached Dan Zeiders to a PSUAC Individual Championship. Zeiders also went on to earn USCAA All-American and Academic All-American status for his hard work as a student-athlete. Zeiders won the PSUAC title in a playoff against Alex Humphreys of Rochester College.
In 2012, his squad won eight tournaments including the PSUAC Championship. They also finished sixth in the USCAA Championships. Adam Poulson finished tied for ninth while Chase King finished tied for 14th place. Both players were awarded USCAA All-Americans following the season. The 2012 season finished a run of three conference titles in four seasons for Burke.
The 2016 season was nearly perfect for Penn State Mont Alto. The team won six tournaments and finished seventh in the Franklin & Marshall Fall Invitational. Following the season, Austin Green was recognized as an USCAA All-American for the second consecutive year.
Pictured above: The 2016 Penn State Mont Alto golf team
Penn State Mont Alto golf has added six USCAA Academic All-Americans and six USCAA All-Americans since 2009 under Burke’s guidance.
Pictured above: The 2018 Penn State Mont Alto golf team at USCAA Nationals
“Coach Burke’s impact on the golf program over the past 20 years has been invaluable. He’s been an exceptional leader not only winning championships, but mentoring the young men and women who played for him. His dedication and service will be hard to replace. On behalf of the entire athletic department, we wish him well,” Penn State Mont Alto Director of Athletics Staci Brennan said.
BILL BURKE ACCOMPLISHMENTS
- Four-time PSUAC Coach of the Year
- USCAA National Coach of the Year
- CCAC Champions 2003, 2004
- PSUAC Team Champions 2009, 2010, 2012, 2016
- Six academic All-Americans since 2009
- Six USCAA All-Americans since 2009
ACADEMIC ALL-AMERICANS
Seth Besecker - 2009
Dayne Conner - 2017
Cory Eberly - 2013
Austin Green - 2015, 2016, 2018
Charles Snow - 2013
Dan Zeiders - 2010
USCAA ALL-AMERICANS
Austin Green - 2015, 2016, 2018
Chase King - 2012
Scott Levy - 2010
Adam Poulson - 2012
Kevin Reiber - 2010
Dan Zeiders - 2010
