BOSTON – Simmons University Director of Athletics & Recreation Erica Schuling has announced Bri Burke as the next Head Lacrosse Coach. She will officially begin her new role on July 17.
Burke will also serve as the Fit@Simmons Coordinator. In this role, she will create a variety of non-credit fitness and wellness activities, ranging from introductory level to higher intensity courses for the greater Simmons community. The program's mission is to provide opportunities to encourage students to stay active, incorporate regular exercise into their everyday lives and to enhance their overall wellness, while building a sense of community.
"I'm thrilled to welcome Bri to our team," says Schuling. "Bri has a positive and enthusiastic personality that pairs well with her competitive nature. I am confident that she will be an excellent recruiter and continue to move the team forward in pursuit of a conference championship."
Burke arrives at Simmons with a familiarity to Boston, spending the past two years as the assistant women's lacrosse coach at nearby Emerson College. In her two-year stint with the Lions, she primarily served as the defensive coordinator working alongside the defenders and goalkeepers honing their skills and techniques. Additionally, she has an immense amount of recruiting experience attending many tournaments across the country.
Prior to coming into the city, she spent a season coaching at the Division II level in upstate New York as the assistant coach at The College of Saint Rose. While with the Golden Knights, she assisted the head coach in game planning and coordinating the defense with a major focus on the goalkeepers.
"I am beyond excited to be joining the Simmons Lacrosse Program," says Burke. "I want to thank Erica Schuling and members of the search committee for extending this opportunity to me. I am not only committed to building on the tremendous success this program has had but on the overall wellbeing of the student-athletes."
A native of Medford, Massachusetts, Burke played four years of Division II lacrosse at Southern New Hampshire University. She was an integral member of Southern New Hampshire's defensive unit, appearing in every game for the Penmen in her career. During her junior season, Burke registered a career year appearing and starting in all 15 games for the first time in her collegiate career. As a senior, she was selected to represent the Northeast-10 Conference and Southern New Hampshire on the 2019 Australian Women's Lacrosse Tour.
Burke also excelled in the classroom as a member of the Northeast-10 Commissioner's Honor Roll as she graduated in the spring of 2019 with a degree in communications and a dual minor in sport management and political science.