Burke, a 1994 graduate of Dominican, enters his eighth year as the team's head coach. Burke was an associate head coach with the program for two years and also served as Steve Baxter's assistant coach for three years, prior to taking over before the 2001-02 season.
In his seven years Coach Burke has amassed an overall record of 121-83 and led the team to six CACC Tournament Appearances, one CACC Championship Appearance, two ECAC Tournament Appearances, one ECAC Championship and the program's first berth in the NCAA Tournament in 2008. Coach Burke earned his 100th career win on November 16, 2007 as the Lady Chargers opened up the 2007-08 season by defeating then #7 Bentley College, 55-40 at the Fairfield Inn Classic.
Coach Burke was named All-Met Division II Women's Basketball Coach of the Year in April of 2008 after leading the team to a 22-9 overall record and a 14-3 CACC record to win the North Division of the CACC. The Lady Chargers made it to the CACC Tournament Championship before falling to Holy Family University and went on to their first ever appearance in the NCAA Tournament before losing to Franklin Pierce University, who later went on to the Elite Eight.
In addition to coaching experience at Dominican, Burke coached the A.A.U. Bronx Lady Hawks and also coached at St. Thomas Aquinas Elementary School in the Bronx.
Burke currently serves as an Associate Athletic Director at Dominican and is the department's Compliance Officer. He is also the adviser for the Student Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC). He was recently honored by Rockland Business World as one of Rockland's 40 Under 40.
Coach Burke and his wife, Tara, currently
reside in Nyack, NY.
Assistant Coach: Bill Diener
Coach Diener enters his third year on the Lady Charger Staff.
Diener comes to Dominican College from Albertus Magnus High School where he was the head coach for the girls' varsity team for the last ten years. He compiled a 163-62 record, won five league championships and one Section 1 championship. He guided his teams to six Section 1 Final Four appearances, two Section 1 Finals and one NYS Regional Finals appearance. He was named the league 3-c Coach of the Year four times and was a named Rockland County Journal News Coach of the Year twice.
Before taking over the girls' program at Albertus Magnus, he served as an assistant coach for the boys' team for five years where the team won two Section 1 Championships, 1 Regional Championship and one State Final Appearance. Diener also served as the head coach for the St. Anthony's CYO sixth grade girls' team for four years.
Diener is currently employed as a field account manager for George Weston Bakeries, Inc. He resides in Nanuet, NY with his wife Doreen and his children, Tara, Lindsey and Tyler.
Assistant Coach: Nicole Nuta
Coach Nuta, also in her third year on staff, returns after being a four-year member of the team from 2000-2004.
A tri-captain in her senior year, Nuta amassed 679 points, 387 rebounds and 100 assists in her four years. She was named Most Valuable Player at the 3rd Annual Sue Heller Game after posting a career high 25 points versus Goldey-Beacom College. She is 20th on the All-Time Lady Charger Rebounds list.
A 2004 graduate of Dominican College, Nuta earned a degree in Education. She is currently employed as a fourth grade teacher at Hillcrest Elementary School in East Ramapo, NY.
Coach Nuta resides in Nyack, NY.
Assistant Coach: Jennifer Ritz
Coach Ritz enters her first year on the Lady Charger Staff.
Ritz, a native of Shrub Oak, NY, was a four year player at Division I Iona College. In her time at Iona, the team had two seasons with 20+ wins, back to back MAAC Tournament Championship Appearances and two consecutive Women's National Invitation Tournament (WNIT) berths in 2007 and 2008. Ritz was a three time Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) All-Academic Selection and was a Dean's List student.
Ritz spent her high school years at Lakeland High School where she remains the school's All-Time Leading Scorer (for both boys and girls) with 1,297 points and is the Career Three Point Leader with 216 three-point field goals. She was nominated to the 2004 McDonald's High School All-American team, was an All-Section Player for four consecutive years and was an All-State Selection in her senior season. Ritz was the first Division I basketball player from Lakeland High School.
A 2008 graduate of Iona College, Ritz received her Bachelor of Arts Degree in both English and Communication Arts. She currently resides in Yorktown Heights, NY.
Manager: Megan Bryant
Bryant enters her third year as manager of the Lady Chargers.
