McNeese State University Men's Golf

Burk has led the program to their first-ever NCAA Division I Regional Tournament, coached a player who earned GCAA All-America Scholar honors (Martin Eriksson) - the first in program history, had the team ranked in the national polls for the first time ever including a No. 2 ranking by Golfweek early in the 2015 fall season, five All-Southland Conference selections including back-to-back Southland Conference Freshmen of the Year selections, and three All-Louisiana selections with back-to-back Freshmen of the Year honorees. To say Burk has the Cowboys on the national scene in such a short time is quite an understatment. McNeese finished second at the SLC Championships in 2015 for its highest finish since the 1989 season. The Cowboys held the lead for most of the tourney before Sam Houston State rallied in the final nine holes to win by two strokes. But the season wasn't over for the Cowboys as they were awarded an at-large bid into the NCAA North Carolina Regional where they finished seventh out of 13 teams and less than 10 strokes from advancing to the NCAA Championships.   Now in his fourth season, Burk not only has his eyes focused on a Southland Conference championship, which will be the first for the program since 1979, but a national title isn't out of the realm. Lake Charles has some of the best golf courses in the south," said Burk.  "And McNeese has strong support from alumni and former lettermen.  I have no doubt that our goals of championships, post-season play and academic success will all be reached. With strong recruting ties overseas in Europe, Burk has been able to piece together championship caliber teams since his arrival. Those teams have produced back-to-back Southland Conference and Louisiana Freshmen of the Year (Hampus Bergman, Bob MacIntyre). Bergman became first player in school history to be named the league's Freshman of the Year and just the third to garner the Louisiana (LSWA) freshman honors after he posted a 71.9 per round average for the season.  In addition, he earned all-SLC second team honors while Eriksson picked up third team accolades. Burk was instrumental in cutting the team's national ranking from 265 to 70 with two recruiting classes. That ranking rose to as high as No. 2 by Golfweek after the Cowboys won the Sam Hall Intercollegiate to start the 2015 fall season. Since then, the Cowboys have maintained a top 75 ranking in large part to their success while playing against tough competition. Burk has also gotten the job done in the fundraising department as he's raised over $300,000 for the program in his three years which has been pivotal in helping him run a competitive program. As an assistant coach at Baylor and Rice prior to his arrival at McNeese in the summer of 2012, Burk helped his teams advance to the NCAA regionals, twice as the assistant coach at Baylor (2011-12 season and 2010-11 season) and once as an assistant coach at Rice (2009-10 season).  He also served as an assistant coach at Baylor in 2006-07 when the team advanced to the regional tournament. At Baylor, Burk compiled two tournament wins and six top-5 finishes in 2010-11 and had one tournament win and eigth top-5 finishes in 2011-12. He also coached Baylor to its 15th consecutive postseason appearance.  He signed Kyle Jones, the No. 24 ranked college player in the country while his freshman class in 2011-12 led the nation in scoring average. Four players were named Academic All-Big 12 in 2011-12 and he coached Joakim Mikkelson who won the 2012 Big 12 Championship.   Burk is the 12th head coach in McNeese golf history.   In 2012, Baylor finished fifth in the Big 12 championship tournament with standout Joakim Mikkelsen winning the individual title.   In his three year stint at Rice, Burk helped the Owls win their first team championship since 1998 and make their first NCAA post season appearance in 13 years.  They also tied for second in the C-USA tournament.  Additionally during his final season at Rice, the Owls had all 10 golfers named to the C-USA Commissioners honor roll.   Burk was a member of the golf team at Baylor during his collegiate career, playing on the Bears 2001 Big 12 championship team.  He won the Texas Collegaite Amateur title the same year.  Following graduation he competed on the Tight Lies and the Grey Goose professional tours.   In 2003 he served as the boys and girls golf coach at Preparatory School in Waco in 2003, leading the boys team into the state tournament.   A fifth generation Baylor graduate and a member of the Golf Coaches Association of America (GCAA), Burk is married to the former Amber Alcala and the couple has two daughters - Caroline and Camille.   What others are saying about Austin Burk:   He (Austin) was a tremendous asset to our program at Rice for three seasons and really enabled us to reach some incredible goals, with his attention to detail with recruiting, course management, tournament operations and especially fund raising.  The Cowboy golf program is in excellent hands with Austin Burk!       Austin is a hard worker and is an asset and perfect fit for this program.       Austin is going to make a tremendous impact on the golf program at McNeese State. He has been a great Assistant Coach at Rice University and Baylor University. Austin is a great recruiter and very well connected among coaches."       Austin is a rising star in the business and will undoubtedly bring much success to McNeese State. I am very excited for him with this opportunity ahead of him.   Austin Burk Head Coach In just three seasons at the helm of the McNeese Cowboy golf team, head coach Austin Burk has led the program to their first-ever NCAA Division I Regional Tournament, coached a player who earned GCAA All-America Scholar honors (Martin Eriksson) - the first in program history, had the team ranked in the national polls for the first time ever including a No. 2 ranking by Golfweek early in the 2015 fall season, five All-Southland Conference selections including back-to-back Southland Conference Freshmen of the Year selections, and three All-Louisiana selections with back-to-back Freshmen of the Year honorees. To say Burk has the Cowboys on the national scene in such a short time is quite an understatment. McNeese finished second at the SLC Championships in 2015 for its highest finish since the 1989 season. The Cowboys held the lead for most of the tourney before Sam Houston State rallied in the final nine holes to win by two strokes. But the season wasn't over for the Cowboys as they were awarded an at-large bid into the NCAA North Carolina Regional where they finished seventh out of 13 teams and less than 10 strokes from advancing to the NCAA Championships.   Now in his fourth season, Burk not only has his eyes focused on a Southland Conference championship, which will be the first for the program since 1979, but a national title isn't out of the realm. Lake Charles has some of the best golf courses in the south," said Burk.  "And McNeese has strong support from alumni and former lettermen.  I have no doubt that our goals of championships, post-season play and academic success will all be reached. With strong recruting ties overseas in Europe, Burk has been able to piece together championship caliber teams since his arrival. Those teams have produced back-to-back Southland Conference and Louisiana Freshmen of the Year (Hampus Bergman, Bob MacIntyre). Bergman became first player in school history to be named the league's Freshman of the Year and just the third to garner the Louisiana (LSWA) freshman honors after he posted a 71.9 per round average for the season.  In addition, he earned all-SLC second team honors while Eriksson picked up third team accolades. Burk was instrumental in cutting the team's national ranking from 265 to 70 with two recruiting classes. That ranking rose to as high as No. 2 by Golfweek after the Cowboys won the Sam Hall Intercollegiate to start the 2015 fall season. Since then, the Cowboys have maintained a top 75 ranking in large part to their success while playing against tough competition. Burk has also gotten the job done in the fundraising department as he's raised over $300,000 for the program in his three years which has been pivotal in helping him run a competitive program. As an assistant coach at Baylor and Rice prior to his arrival at McNeese in the summer of 2012, Burk helped his teams advance to the NCAA regionals, twice as the assistant coach at Baylor (2011-12 season and 2010-11 season) and once as an assistant coach at Rice (2009-10 season).  He also served as an assistant coach at Baylor in 2006-07 when the team advanced to the regional tournament. At Baylor, Burk compiled two tournament wins and six top-5 finishes in 2010-11 and had one tournament win and eigth top-5 finishes in 2011-12. He also coached Baylor to its 15th consecutive postseason appearance.  He signed Kyle Jones, the No. 24 ranked college player in the country while his freshman class in 2011-12 led the nation in scoring average. Four players were named Academic All-Big 12 in 2011-12 and he coached Joakim Mikkelson who won the 2012 Big 12 Championship.   Burk is the 12th head coach in McNeese golf history.   In 2012, Baylor finished fifth in the Big 12 championship tournament with standout Joakim Mikkelsen winning the individual title.   In his three year stint at Rice, Burk helped the Owls win their first team championship since 1998 and make their first NCAA post season appearance in 13 years.  They also tied for second in the C-USA tournament.  Additionally during his final season at Rice, the Owls had all 10 golfers named to the C-USA Commissioners honor roll.   Burk was a member of the golf team at Baylor during his collegiate career, playing on the Bears 2001 Big 12 championship team.  He won the Texas Collegaite Amateur title the same year.  Following graduation he competed on the Tight Lies and the Grey Goose professional tours.   In 2003 he served as the boys and girls golf coach at Preparatory School in Waco in 2003, leading the boys team into the state tournament.   A fifth generation Baylor graduate and a member of the Golf Coaches Association of America (GCAA), Burk is married to the former Amber Alcala and the couple has two daughters - Caroline and Camille.   What others are saying about Austin Burk:   He (Austin) was a tremendous asset to our program at Rice for three seasons and really enabled us to reach some incredible goals, with his attention to detail with recruiting, course management, tournament operations and especially fund raising.  The Cowboy golf program is in excellent hands with Austin Burk!       Austin is a hard worker and is an asset and perfect fit for this program.       Austin is going to make a tremendous impact on the golf program at McNeese State. He has been a great Assistant Coach at Rice University and Baylor University. Austin is a great recruiter and very well connected among coaches."       Austin is a rising star in the business and will undoubtedly bring much success to McNeese State. I am very excited for him with this opportunity ahead of him.