SPARTANBURG, SC – Spartanburg Methodist College announced that Rob Burke would become the new head coach for the Pioneer Men’s Basketball team.

Burke comes to SMC from Cambpell University, where he was an assistant men’s basketball coach. He has also served as head junior varsity basketball coach, assistant basketball coach and coached men’s and women’s cross country at Limestone College.

Prior to that, Burke played overseas for the County Clair Jets, a professional basketball team in Ireland. He also briefly coached the Jets.

For Burke, basketball is a family tradition. His father, Bob Burke, coached 22 years at Chowan College and is currently assistant basketball coach at the University of Hawaii.

Burke counted it a privilege to play under his father for four years while both were at Chowan.

Burke is confident about the transition he will make coaching the Pioneers, having known outgoing coach Dale Kuhl from a time when he was an assistant at Limestone and Kuhl was an assistant at USCS.

The new coach is a native of Murfreesboro and a graduate of Chowan College, where he received a Bachelor of Science degree in Sports Management. He is currently working on a master of education degree from Campbell University.

SMC has 13 intercollegiate athletic teams and has had athletic representation at National Championships, Regional and divisional Championships and World Series appearances.

Now in its 93rd year of providing a quality education to students in a Christian environment, SMC is the only private two-year residential college in South Carolina.