General | 11/9/2022 2:36:14 PM
Jamie Burke enters her 18th season at Keuka College as head coach of the softball program in 2022-23. In addition, Burke serves as Keuka's Eligibility Certification Officer. As head coach, Burke has enjoyed a 304-189-1 record (.616 winning percentage), while her teams have won 10 regular season conference titles and seven conference tournament championship. Burke's teams have appeared in seven NCAA Tournaments.
A native of Prattsburgh, NY, Burke received a bachelor's degree in Physical Education from Canisius College in 1998. She was a member of the Canisius College women’s basketball team from 1994-98 and was selected to the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) All-Academic Team from 1996-98.
A standout athlete at Prattsburgh High School, she held the national high school record for batting average in softball from 1993 to 2000, and holds various New York State basketball records. In November of 2008, Burke and her father, Jim, were inducted into the Section V Basketball Hall of Fame. She is the second leading scorer in the history of Section V girl’s basketball with 2,458 points.
Jamie Burke - Empire 8 Pioneer
Year at Current Institution/Total in College Athletics: 18th year at Keuka College/19th overall
College Attended/Class Year: Canisius College ’98
Playing Career:
Four-year member of the women's basketball team at Canisius College (1994-1998)
Favorite Professional Athletes/Favorite Team:
Jcelyn Alo and Derek Jeter/New York Yankees
Favorite Movie: A League of Their Own
Last TV Show You Binge Watched: Chesapeake Shores
Favorite Ice Cream Flavor: Heavenly Hash
What Do You Enjoy Doing When Away From College Athletics? Remodeling projects and watching my daughter play sports.
Dream Vacation Spot: Hawaii or Ireland
Favorite Athletic Memory from Your Time as a Player in College: Playing at the University of Michigan in 1995. The atmosphere with their alumni pep band was awesome.
Favorite Athletic Memory as a Coach/Administrator? Beating Ithaca twice in the NCAA Regionals on their home field.
Who Was Your Greatest Mentor(s) and Why: My parents, but specifically my father in athletics. I attended my first baseball game at two days old because my dad was coaching a Babe Ruth team in the state tournament. My dad has coached thousands of athletes at all levels including Cinderella softball, high school basketball, baseball and softball, collegiate baseball and softball and semi pro baseball. He has coached a number of athletes that went on to play Division I basketball and baseball and also major league baseball. From an early age, I was always involved with athletics because of my dad. I attended his baseball camps every year. I was the ball girl and batgirl for his basketball and baseball teams until I was old enough to be on his high school basketball and softball teams. After college, I became his assistant coach for the high school boys’ basketball team before taking over the girls’ basketball team. For the past 18 years, my dad has been my assistant coach (more like a co-head coach) here at Keuka College. Almost everything I know about coaching is because of my father. I was fortunate to learn from one of the best my whole life and I did not have to go very far to find him!
Most Rewarding Aspect of Being a Coach/Administrator: Seeing the growth of each player on and off the field during their time at Keuka. Also watching them lead successful lives both personally and professionally once they leave Keuka College.
What Have You Learned About Yourself as a Leader and In Your Role: Being a coach allows me to have a unique role in the growth and development process of each individual that is a part of our program. The years of experience have taught me how to get the most out of each athlete and that each athlete may not always respond the same.
Recent Community Service Projects Your Teams or Departments Have Worked On: We are working with the Yates Community Center this year, helping senior citizens get signed up and programmed in their computer system. Our whole athletic department takes part in a special Veteran’s Day parade, ceremony, dinner, etc for veterans who attend Keuka College, live in Keuka Park, Penn Yan or surrounding Yates County towns.
How Does The Empire 8 Stand Out Among Other Conferences? The Empire 8 strives for each member institution’s student athletes to excel in the classroom as well as on the field or court, while emphasizing good leadership and sportsmanship skills. These important values will allow our student athletes to better prepare themselves for a successful future upon graduation.
How Did Title IX Played a Role For You as a Student-Athlete? I was fortunate enough to play a sport that offered a full scholarship. If not for Title IX, I do not know if female athletes would have had the same opportunities as their male counterparts.
How Has Title IX Impacted You After Your Collegiate Career? There are more opportunities for females to coach or be administrators at the college level because of Title IX.
What Do You Think Is the Greatest Impact of Title IX/How Has it Changed Your Life? I believe the biggest impact of Title IX is the growth in the number of females who have received a college education and went on to make a positive impact in the work force. Before Title IX, it was more common for the female to get married and start a family at an early age than it was to get a college education and earn a profession. Since I grew up in the Title IX era, it was a no brainer for me to go to college after high school. I was fortunate enough to play one of the sports that I loved, while receiving an education and then start my profession of being a teacher/coach.
How Has Title IX Changed the Collegiate Sports World? Title IX has opened a lot more doors for females in athletics at the college level. Every institution has to have a female administrator and equity among its sports including budgets across the board.
What Can Be Done to Continue the Growth of Women’s Sports? We just have to keep promoting female sports to our youth and encourage their participation at an early age. We need to keep pushing the envelope when inequities arise and bring them to the forefront so they can be diminished.
Advice for Aspiring Student-Athletes (Youth/High School and Incoming Collegians): First and foremost, make sure you are putting in the work to help you be the best that you can be, but also take the necessary breaks when needed. Too many young athletes are being burnt out from being pushed too hard year round. Be well rounded, get involved in more than one sport or other activities. Take advantage of any opportunity that allows you to show off your skills. Most importantly be a good teammate and always put the team first.
Advice for Graduating Student-Athletes: Leave it all out on the field or court so when you walk away from the sport you love there will be no regrets, no what ifs or what could have beens. Take the lessons that you have learned from your sport and incorporate them into your personal and professional career. If you were fortunate enough to win championships, they are nice, but the memories that were made with your teammates, coaches and friends are the real trophies and should be cherished forever.
The Empire 8 Pioneers series celebrates 50 years of Title IX and highlights the growth of women's sports, while featuring a standout women's coach of administrator from each of the league's 10 institutions.
ABOUT THE EMPIRE 8 CONFERENCE
The members of the Empire 8 Conference are committed first and foremost to the pursuit of academic excellence and the league is regarded as an outstanding NCAA Division III conference. The membership has distinguished itself among its peer group for its quality institutions, spirited and sportsmanlike competition, outstanding services and highly ethical policies and practices. Its commitment to serve the educational needs of its student-athletes is the hallmark of the E8. For more on the Empire 8 visit
www.empire8.com.
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