ITHACA, N.Y. – Dayna Smith, The Rebecca Quinn Morgan '60 Head Coach of Women's Basketball, has announced that one season after serving as a volunteer assistant, Brendan Burke has been promoted to a full-time assistant coach for the upcoming 2015-16 season.
 
"I am thrilled to have Brendan join my staff on a full-time basis," says Smith. "He served as our volunteer assistant last season and did a tremendous job for our program. All year he went above-and-beyond what I have come to expect from a volunteer, and he proved to have the work ethic and the drive to become a tremendous young coach."
 
Last season, Burke helped the Big Red to a 15-13 record (6-8 Ivy), the program's first winning season since the 2007-08 campaign. With its 9-5 non-conference record, Cornell earned a winning non-conference record for the third straight season, a feat that has never been accomplished in Cornell women's basketball history. At one point, the Big Red had a six-game winning streak from Dec. 30, 2014 to Jan. 30, 2015, the longest since setting the school record with eight consecutive victories during the 2007-08 season.
 
Burke came to Cornell from Boston University, and helps with on and off campus recruiting, player development, alumni development and day-to-day office tasks. 
 
Burke served as the director of women's basketball operations for the Terriers for two seasons. In that role, Burke coordinated team travel while assisting with the program's day-to-day duties.
 
Prior to his position with the BU women's basketball staff, Burke worked for two years in the Terriers' Athletic Department as an administrative assistant where his main responsibilities included providing administrative support for six athletic teams, as well as for Student Athlete Support Services (SASS).
 
A native of Pittsfield, Mass., Burke earned a bachelor's degree in sport management from Endicott College in 2009 and held two prior internship positions in recreation and operations at Ball State and Boston University, respectively.