Burke Resigns Post at Guilford; Rowe Named Interim Coach

by **Sonny** on Wed Jan 26, 2005 11:07 pm

Greensboro, NC -- Guilford College Athletic Director Marion Kirby announced John Burke's resignation as the Quakers' head men's lacrosse coach Wednesday and appointed Andrew Rowe as interim head coach for the 2005 season. Burke, a 1988 Guilford alumnus, leaves the post after 18 months to return to his family and business opportunities in California.

"I regret John's departure after he invigorated our men's lacrosse program in a relatively short time," Kirby said. "The college appreciates his efforts and wishes him well in his future endeavors.

"Andrew has played an important role as a recruiter and instructor of the many student-athletes on this year's squad. He is the best person to lead the lacrosse team through the upcoming season."

Guilford went 5-9 overall and O-6 in the Old Dominion Athletic Conference (ODAC) in 2004, Burke's only season as head coach. The Quakers matched their highest win total of the past 10 seasons, but went winless in the conference for the 10th straight season. Defenseman Rob Mallonee '04 became Guilford's first All-ODAC men's lacrosse selection since 1996 in 2004 under Burke's direction. Attackman Josh Miller '04 led the ODAC in points per game, graduated as the Quakers' NCAA Division III career scoring leader and ranked fourth in school history with 199 points.

Burke coached the first five men's lacrosse teams at neighboring Greensboro College from 1991-95 and has a 42-43 head coaching record in six seasons. He spent three years as an assistant men's lacrosse coach at Ohio Wesleyan, during which time the Battling Bishops went 40-10 with three NCAA Division III Tournament appearances.

Rowe becomes Guilford's 12th head men's lacrosse coach in the program's 36-year history. He takes over a team with 14 returning letter winners and the 14 newcomers he and Burke recruited. A 2003 Ohio Wesleyan graduate, the St. Louis, MO, native twice received honorable mention All-America honors from the United States Intercollegiate Lacrosse Association (USILA) as a midfielder. He scored 100 career goals and helped the Battling Bishops to three North Coast Athletic Conference (NCAC) titles and two NCAA Division III playoff berths in his four years. Rowe played in the 2003 STX/USILA North-South All-Star Game and was a two-time First Team All-NCAC pick.

Kirby said a search for Burke's permanent replacement will begin later in the spring, near the conclusion of the men's lacrosse season. The Quakers open the 2005 campaign Feb. 6 at the Tony Cullen Jamboree in Durham, NC, and host Goucher Feb. 19 in the team's first regular-season contest.