May 30, 2007
Release courtesy of Darren Miller, Cornell College sports information director

MOUNT VERNON, IOWA . . . Fred Burke, one of the most successful women’s tennis coaches in the history of the Midwest and Iowa conferences, has resigned his position at Cornell.

Burke coached 28 seasons, leading the Rams to the 2001 Iowa Conference championship — the first and only IIAC title for the school in any sport. He was named Iowa Conference Coach of the Year in 1998, 2001 and 2002. Burke led Cornell to top three finishes in the Midwest Conference 14 times in 18 years, including team championships in 1982, 1984 and 1987. Since joining the IIAC in 1996, Cornell has finished first once, second five times, third three times and fourth once. Burke’s career record at Cornell is 280-100, the best in school history. The 2002-03 Rams set a school record for wins at 19-3; the 1999-2000 squad was 17-1.

“I tried not to emphasize winning, because sports shouldn’t be all about winning,” Burke said. “But winning should be one of your goals and there was always an undercurrent among the players that in their mind, winning was kind of expected. I thought that was the proper atmosphere.”

For five seasons (2000-04) Cornell had the Iowa Conference Most Valuable Performer — Lindsey Pfalmer (2000 and ’02), Sarah Leavenworth (2001) and Marie Schutte (2003 and ’04). Cornell has had seven 100-match winners, including senior Emily Loewen (Lawrence, Kan./Lawrence Free State), who set the school all-time record this season with 147. Four of the last 11 winners of Cornell’s Russell W. Landis Award, which recognizes academic excellence, campus leadership and athletic achievement, have been women’s tennis players.

“One of the unique things about this is that I was a part-time coach for 28 years,” said Burke, who is a self-employed chartered financial consultant. “I never thought of myself as working for Cornell, but rather I viewed it as working with Cornellians.”

Burke’s final team compiled a record of 14-8 and finished runner-up in the IIAC to Coe. Cornell never experienced a losing season during Burke’s 28-year career.

“Coach Burke will be greatly missed,” said Tina Hill, Cornell athletics director. “He will not only be remembered for success on the court, but for his loyalty, dedication and commitment to Cornell athletics.”

Burke, a Rock Island, Ill., native, graduated from Cornell in 1970. The Cornell women’s tennis team has had the highest finish of any sport (men or women) at the school every year since joining the Iowa Conference in 1996.

“I didn’t hit one shot for Cornell, so the records are those of the players,” Burke said. “I just happened to be there. It’s the players who’ve been standing on the shoulders of giants to make Cornell tennis special.”

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