It has been five years since Becky Burke was roaming the sidelines for the University of ÂÒÂ×ÄÚÉä women's basketball team.
Burke served as the Golden Eagles coach for two seasons, from 2018-20.
She made her mark, despite her short stint, as UC went 48-14 under her direction (77.4% winning percentage).
Burke is now looking to mark her mark at her new stop at Arizona, where she is the Wildcats' 10th coach.
She had previous Division I stops at USC Upstate and Buffalo before getting the Arizona job.
"It's been a quick rise, but also been really fulfilling and rewarding in terms of what we've been able to do at every stop and do it so quickly," Burke said. "I think the reason we're here at Arizona, just a few short years after entering the Division I world, is because of the turnarounds. It's been a testament to our culture and the way we do things, along with the standards and expectations.
"It's been fun and exciting. It was never my goal to reach the Power Four level in a certain amount of time. That's never where my mentality ever was. It was just, do the best wherever I'm at and at a high level."
Burke was introduced as the new coach of the Wildcats on April 9, replacing Adia Barnes.
Barnes spent nine seasons with Arizona before departing for SMU.
"Our model centers around identifying head coaches who prioritize success in coaching, recruiting and the development of high-character student-athletes,†Arizona athletic director Desireé Reed-Francois said in a statement. “Coach Burke is a proven program builder and rising star in collegiate women’s basketball with a track record of transformational success. She is familiar with the Wildcats and the tight-knit community we have in Tucson."
Burke spent the last three seasons coaching Buffalo.
In her last season with the Bulls, they won 30 games and claimed the WNIT.
Burke went 61-37 (62% winning percentage) with Buffalo from 2022-25. The Bulls made the WNIT during Burke's last two seasons.
"We had a really special run," Burke said. "When you get to the Power Four level, there's a select few coaches at the mid-major level that are winning at the level we need to. Luckily, that was us this year. I was pursued [by Arizona] and felt good. It felt like I was wanted as much as I wanted to be here. They wanted me to be their head coach, and you always want to feel that as somebody that's potentially going to take the job."
Arizona made the NCAA tournament in four of its final five seasons under Barnes.
The Wildcats have appeared in 11 NCAA tournaments in 44 seasons.
"[What stood out was] the history and brand of Arizona basketball," Burke said. "It was also the location, academic excellence and facilities. We have the administration and resources to help. The support we have here is great. Everything is in place here to recruit the best players in the country. When I did my research, what this university, city and community had to offer, it was a no-brainer for me."
Burke got her start as a coach at Saint Joseph's College in Indiana from 2014-15.
She got the call for her first head coaching gig at Embry-Riddle (Florida) between 2016-18 before moving on to ÂÒÂ×ÄÚÉä.
Burke said that if she was able to go back in time and talk to a version of herself, then her message would be short and sweet.
"I would say to trust your gut and instincts for everything that feels right," Burke said. "I would just to tell myself to continue to follow that feeling. I've done that everywhere in my career. So many people overthink things."
Burke has had to adapt to the ever-changing world of collegiate athletics, but that hasn't swayed her competitive mindset.
"A lot of people are trying to resist it and complain about it, but it's here," Burke said. "We have no control over it. So, it's adapt and find a way to figure it out. We can sit around and complain about it, or we can try to get on the forefront of all these changes. We've always taken the approach of, we may not like it, but we are going to figure out a way."
