Reuben Burk named head men’s soccer coach
Reuben Burk, who has served as an assistant coach for the Connecticut College men’s soccer team since February of 2018, has been promoted to head coach.
“We are pleased to name Reuben our head coach and seamlessly leverage the strong team dynamic and success that exists on our current team,” said Fran Shields, the Katherine Wenk Christoffers '45 Director of Athletics. “He brings an incredible work ethic, organizational skills, a variety of coaching experiences, and a deep knowledge of the recruitment landscape of Division III.”
Burk made an immediate impact on the sidelines as the team's top assistant. He helped head coach Kenny Murphy, who announced his retirement earlier this month, lead the 2018 Camels to a 13-3-2 record overall, including a 7-1-2 mark in conference play, and an appearance in the NCAA Tournament. The team secured its first NCAA postseason victory with a 4-0 win over Thomas College at home in the first round. The successful campaign produced one United Soccer Coaches All-American, two United Soccer Coaches All-New England Region selections, the NESCAC Player of the Year, and four All-NESCAC First Team selections.
“Reuben did a great job for me as an assistant,” said Murphy, who is retiring after 10 seasons as head coach. “His attention to detail and his commitment to recruiting were beyond impressive. I am excited and confident he will do a fine job leading the men's soccer program forward.”
Burk came to Connecticut College after spending one year at Newberry College, two years at the College of the Holy Cross, and two years at Alfred University. As a player, Burk was a four-year student-athlete at Hobart College, where he helped the team win the 2009 Liberty League conference championship.
“I fully understand how fortunate I am to be able to take on this new role and serve these student-athletes,” said Burk. “[They] are the reason why I love working here, and they have a very bright future ahead of them both on and off the field. I believe it is my duty to help provide a rewarding and educational four-year experience for these student-athletes, and I am extremely excited about the opportunity to do this for them.”
A native of Westford, Massachusetts, Burk graduated from Hobart in 2013 with a bachelor's degree in anthropology/sociology and religious studies. He earned a master's in business administration from Alfred University in 2015 and holds a USSF C License and a NSCAA Advanced National Diploma. He will officially begin his duties as head coach on July 1.
