2008 Woodie Awards
Burton set to lead women's soccer into new era
Issue date: 7/16/08 Section: Sports
With the athletic program's switch to the Ohio Valley Conference, all sports, including women's soccer, will be going through a period of inexperience.
New SIUE women's soccer coach Derek Burton brings plenty of experience to the table to help the Cougars through this time of transition.
Burton was a starter for Arkansas-Little Rock, starting in 1997. After four years on the men's soccer team, he stayed on as a student assistant coach for the team. Burton said he enjoyed this position early on.
"From there, I knew that's what I wanted to do," Burton said.
Burton went to graduate school at Morehead State where he was an assistant coach during the school's first and only year of OVC women's soccer.
"The program was cut during the second semester, but it gave me some good experience," Burton said.
Burton left Morehead for Mount Senario College in 2000 for a head coaching position, followed by another head coaching position at Missouri Valley College from 2001 to 2006.
At Missouri Valley, Burton said he made some large strides on and off the court for the women's soccer program. There he coached four All-American players and 14 All-American Scholar-Athletes.
"We only had winning seasons, we raised the team GPA and consistently made playoffs," Burton said. "We changed the environment of the program."
Other systems Burton instituted at Division II Missouri Valley included year-round fitness programs and academic studying programs.
"I ran it like a Division I program," Burton said. Burton's most recent coaching position was at Iowa State University as an assistant coach. A large part of the team had recently graduated and introduced nine freshmen.
"It was a new time for (the team)," Burton said. "It was satisfying to see them grow."
Burton is married with two children and said he was attracted to SIUE because of head coach position and the chance to move back to his native St. Louis area.
"Moving back here gives my kids a chance to grow up around their family," Burton said.
SIUE senior women's soccer player Jenny Kates said she is confident Burton will fit in well with the team.
"He seems pretty laid back," Kates said. "He knows what he wants and what he wants us to do."
Burton said he hopes to build upon the success of the women's soccer program from before.
"I know SIUE has a strong tradition of success with the soccer program," Burton said. "We're not starting from scratch."
New SIUE women's soccer coach Derek Burton brings plenty of experience to the table to help the Cougars through this time of transition.
Burton was a starter for Arkansas-Little Rock, starting in 1997. After four years on the men's soccer team, he stayed on as a student assistant coach for the team. Burton said he enjoyed this position early on.
"From there, I knew that's what I wanted to do," Burton said.
Burton went to graduate school at Morehead State where he was an assistant coach during the school's first and only year of OVC women's soccer.
"The program was cut during the second semester, but it gave me some good experience," Burton said.
Burton left Morehead for Mount Senario College in 2000 for a head coaching position, followed by another head coaching position at Missouri Valley College from 2001 to 2006.
At Missouri Valley, Burton said he made some large strides on and off the court for the women's soccer program. There he coached four All-American players and 14 All-American Scholar-Athletes.
"We only had winning seasons, we raised the team GPA and consistently made playoffs," Burton said. "We changed the environment of the program."
Other systems Burton instituted at Division II Missouri Valley included year-round fitness programs and academic studying programs.
"I ran it like a Division I program," Burton said. Burton's most recent coaching position was at Iowa State University as an assistant coach. A large part of the team had recently graduated and introduced nine freshmen.
"It was a new time for (the team)," Burton said. "It was satisfying to see them grow."
Burton is married with two children and said he was attracted to SIUE because of head coach position and the chance to move back to his native St. Louis area.
"Moving back here gives my kids a chance to grow up around their family," Burton said.
SIUE senior women's soccer player Jenny Kates said she is confident Burton will fit in well with the team.
"He seems pretty laid back," Kates said. "He knows what he wants and what he wants us to do."
Burton said he hopes to build upon the success of the women's soccer program from before.
"I know SIUE has a strong tradition of success with the soccer program," Burton said. "We're not starting from scratch."
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