- Has served as head coach of the men's cross country program since 2005 & the women's program since 2007
- Has led the Royal men's program to six top-20 finishes in the NCAA Mideast regional and a third-place showing at the 2011 & 2016 Landmark Conference championships, Scranton’s top finish at a conference meet since 1951
- Women’s team has also thrived under his direction, winning its first conference championship in school history when it captured the Landmark title over two-time defending champion Susquehanna in 2009 and also won the conference in 2022 after holding off Elizabethtown by one point.
- Women have also recorded 10 top-20 NCAA Mideast regional finishes under his watch, including a program-record third place finish in 2022 and a fifth-place finish in 2023.
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- Head coach men's cross country, University of Scranton (2005-present)
- Head coach women's cross country, University of Scranton (2007-present)
- Assistant coach, men's & women's track & field, University of Scranton (2017-present)
- Boys' track & field coach, Scranton Prep (1990-2005)
- Boys' and girls' cross country coach, Scranton Prep (1989-2004)
- B.S., Education, The University of Scranton (1985)
- M.A., American History, the University of Notre Dame
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Former Royal standout runner Bill Burke returned to his alma mater in 2005 as head men's cross-country coach, after a highly successful career at nearby Scranton Preparatory School. He served as head boys’ track and field coach there from 1990-2005 and as boys’ and girls’ cross-country coach from 1989-2004. In 2007, he was named head coach of the Royals' women's cross country program.
His success at the Scranton Preparatory School, where he currently serves as a faculty member in the history department, has carried over to the collegiate level, leading the Royal men’s program to six top-20 finishes in the NCAA Mideast regional and a third-place showing at the 2011 & 2016 Landmark Conference championships, Scranton’s top finish at a conference meet since 1951. He has coached two NCAA Division III championship qualifiers — John Mercuri (2005) and Chris Wasnetsky (2008, 2009, 2011) — and 10 other runners who have gone on to earn all-conference honors.
The women’s team has also thrived under his direction, winning two Landmark Conference Championships (2009, 2022) and posting two-runner up finishes (2010, 2013). The Royals have also recorded nine top-20 NCAA Mideast regional finishes, including a program-best third place finish in 2022. Individually, Cara Notarianni earned all-NCAA regional honors in 2013 and Abigail Corrigan matched that feat in 2017 after winning the Landmark Conference championship. In total, 21 female runners have earned all-conference performers under Burke's tutelage.
Jessica Hoffmann qualified for the NCAA Championship meet in both 2021 and 2022; earning All-American honors with a 29th place finish in 2022. She is the lone two-time NCAA qualifier in program history.
Burke earned Landmark Coach of the Year honors in 2022.
He is widely regarded by coaches and runners for his extension knowledge of long-distance training techniques, nutrition, and up-to-date practices of strength and conditioning.
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During his tenure at Scranton Preparatory, Burke led the Cavaliers to four Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association (PIAA) Class AA cross-country championships (2000, 2001, 2002, 2004) and 12 PIAA District II titles. He also produced three state champions in track and field and cross-country and 17 state medalists. In 2005, he was named to the Scranton Times-Tribune list of the Top 25 coaches all-time in Northeastern Pennsylvania.
Burke, who holds a Bachelor of Science degree in secondary education from the University and a Master of Arts degree in American history from the University of Notre Dame, was a two-time NCAA all-regional selection (1984, 1985) during his career (1982-1985). He is the first Scranton runner to qualify for the NCAA Division III championships, where he finished 89th overall in 1984, and placed third at both the 1982 and 1984 Middle Atlantic Conference championships. He is also a member of the University’s athletics department’s Wall of Fame.
Bill and his wife, Maripat, reside in Scranton with their four children: Bill, Jack, Peter and Maeve.
NCAA Division III Championship Qualifiers (4)
John Mercuri (2005)
Chris Wasnetsky (2008, 2009, 2011)
Abigail Corrigan (2017)
Jessica Hoffmann (2021, 2022)
NCAA All-Mideast Regional Selections (9)
Tim Lanahan (2021, 2022, 2023)
Shane McKeon (2022)
John Mercuri (2005)
Liam Mead (2022)
Chris Wasnetsky (2008, 2009, 2011)
Abigail Corrigan (2017)
Jessica Hoffmann (2021, 2022)
Samantha Hoffmann (2022, 2023)
Cara Notarianni (2013)
Landmark Conference Champion/Performer of the Year (2)
Abigail Corrigan (2017)
Jessica Hoffmann (2021, 2022)
Landmark Conference Selections (25)
Eric Bartlett (2nd team, 2017, 2018)
Jason Bohenek (1st team, 2009; 2nd team, 2010; 1st team, 2011)
Jimmy Buckley (1st team, 2016)
Patrick Casterline (2nd team, 2010; 2nd team 2011)
Maria Cifone (2nd team, 2009, 2010)
Catriona Corbett (Honorable Mention, 2023)
Abigail Corrigan (1st team, 2017)
David deLeon (2nd team, 2016)
Kathleen Druther (1st team, 2009, 2010)
Laura Fay (2nd team, 2012)
Zach Gutekunst (2nd team, 2018)
Patricia Hoffman (2nd team, 2016)
Jessica Hoffmann (1st team, 2021, 2022; 2nd team, 2019)
Samantha Hoffmann (1st team, 2022; 2nd team, 2023)
Emily Hopkins (2nd team, 2022)
Nicole Huth (2nd team, 2009)
Stephanie Huth (2nd team, 2008; 1st team, 2009)
Rachel Kerr (1st team, 2018; 2nd team, 2019)
Tim Lanahan (2nd team, 2021; 1st team, 2023)
Shane McKeon (1st team, 2021)
Molly Neeson (2nd team, 2022)
Kyrianna Nemitz (2nd team, 2023)
Cara Notarianni (1st team, 2013)
Rob Olechna (2nd team, 2007)
Mary O'Neill (2nd team, 2011; 2nd team, 2012; 1st team, 2013)
Stephen Postupak (Honorable Mention, 2023)
Becky Prial (1st team, 2007)
Colleen Roe (2nd team, 2008)
Erika Sarno (2nd team, 2013)
Katherine Sullivan (1st team, 2008)
Olivia Tullman (2nd team, 2021, 2022; 1st team, 2023)
Chris Wasnetsky (1st team, 2007; 1st team, 2008; 1st team, 2009; 1st team 2011)
Landmark Conference Rookie of the Year Selections (5)
Kathleen Druther (2009)
Chris Wasnetsky (2007)
Jack Patwell (2017)
Angel Perez (2022)
Kyrianna Nemitz (2023)
Middle Atlantic Conference Selections (1)
John Mercuri (2005)
