Head coach Kevin Willard announced the addition of Bill Burke as the program’s Director of Basketball Operations. Burke comes out of retirement to join the Gaels after serving along side Willard at Louisville for four seasons under Cardinals coach Rick Pitino.
“We’re extremely excited to have Bill join our staff,” said Willard. “He will not only be a great asset for our players on the basketball court but most importantly he will be a great asset for our players off the court. He brings a wealth of knowledge in all aspects of a college basketball program.”
Burke was a part of the Louisville program for four years prior to his retirement in the spring of 2006. He served as both Administrative Assistant and Director of Basketball Operations. Before joining the Cardinal staff in 2002, Burke spent 20 years with investment firms in New York and San Francisco, including the last six as managing director at Robertson Stephens in San Francisco.
After earning a bachelor’s degree in psychology at Fordham in 1972, Burke coached and taught psychology and theology for six years at Nazareth High School in Brooklyn, his alma mater. He guided Nazareth to the New York City Championship in 1977.
He joined Coach Pitino’s first staff at Boston University in 1978, helping the Terriers win 51 games in building the program. He was head coach and associate athletic director at Loyola College in Baltimore for the 1981-82 season before entering the business world. Burke has two sons: William and Daniel.
