Drexel University Athletics
Former Drexel Head Coach Eddie Burke Passes Away
3/24/2009 12:32:53 PM | Men's Basketball
Former Drexel Men's Basketball Coach Eddie Burke passed away on Monday. Mr. Burke, a mainstay in the Philadelphia basketball community, was 63 years old. A viewing will be held on Thursday from 6-9 p.m., and Friday from 10-11 a.m., at St. Dorothy's Church on Township Line and Burmont Rd. in Drexel Hill. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Friday at 11 a.m. Interment will take place at Holy Cross Cemetery in Yeadon.
Burke led Drexel to its first NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Tournament appearance in 1986. That team, led by Michael Anderson, won 19 games and played eventual national-champion Louisville in the first round of the NCAA Tournament. Burke was named the East Coast Conference Coach of the Year in 1986. He coached 14 seasons at the school and amassed 205 victories, the second-highest total in the history of Drexel basketball. Burke also led the Dragons to an upset of a David Robinson-led Navy team in the Palestra in 1987, one of the biggest wins in school history.
Prior to his coaching career, Burke was an outstanding player at St. Joseph's Prep. He helped lead the team to the Catholic League title in 1962 and tied for the scoring title in 1963 when he also served as captain. He then went on to play three seasons at La Salle University before injuring his knee during senior year.
After graduating from college, Burke returned to the Prep as coach of the freshman team. By the end of that year he was coaching the varsity and eventually led the Prep to the league title in 1971. Burke then coached at St. Thomas More and led that team to both the Catholic League and City Championship. He was named the league's Coach of the Year for the second straight season. After St. Thomas More closed, Burke moved to Bishop McDevitt for a year and West Catholic before taking over the Drexel program in 1977.
Burke returned to the Prep in 1992 and coached for seven seasons before stopping for good in 1999. He also served as the school's Director of Alumni Relations, a position he held until he retired in 2004.
Burke has left a mark on Philadelphia basketball and has ties with virtually every school and most coaches in the area. He coached Phil Martelli at the Prep and while at Drexel hired Jay Wright, Joe Cassidy (Rowan head coach), Pat Flannery (former Bucknell head coach), Whitey Rigsby (Villanova color analyst) and Walt Fuller (La Salle assistant) among others.
Burke is survived by his wife, B.A. and their three children, Maureen, Brendan and Melissa.
Bill Avington of St. Joseph's Prep contributed to this story