Ryan Burke joined the Dons' coaching staff in August 2018 serving as the Volunteer Assistant Coach. Prior to this, Burke served as the Assistant Coach/Recruiting Coordinator at College of Marin in 2018, and had the same role at Mendocino College in 2017.
Working with hitters and infielders at College of Marin, Burke helped lead the Mariners to their second consecutive Bay Valley Conference Championship in 2018, finishing the regular season 27-12 and 16-5 in conference play. Burke ran the Marin offense, which led the conference in runs, scoring almost seven a game. Burke also helped coach his younger brother, Dominic Burke, who played third base for the Mariners to win the Rawlings Pacific Association Gold Glove. Dominic Burke made zero errors in the 2018 season.
At Mendocino College in 2017, Burke helped first year Head Coach Conor Bird have one of the most successful seasons at Mendocino in recent memory. Inheriting a team that won seven games in 2016, Burke led a Mendocino offense that helped the team win 18 games. The 2017 Mendocino College Eagles scored 102 more runs, went from two to 15 HRs, and went from a .252 to .275 team batting average with Burke on staff compared to 2016.
Prior to beginning his coaching career in 2017, Burke played at San Francisco State University in the 2015 and 2016Â seasons and at College of Marin in the 2013 and 2014 seasons. Burke was a four-year starter at both schools playing 1B and DH. In 2013 at College of Marin, Burke led the College of Marin offense hitting .343 with a .437 OBP. In his senior year at San Francisco State, Burke led the Gators' offense hitting .339 with two HRs and 26 RBIs.
Burke graduated in 2016 from San Francisco State University with a degree Liberal Studies. Totaling a 3.9 GPA, Burke also graduated with honors.
Burke is a 2012 graduate of San Marin High School in Novato, Calif., which is 45 minutes north of San Francisco. Burke was the Marin County Athletic League MVP in 2011, in which his team won a North Coast Section Division III Championship. Burke also played basketball in high school, winning both a MCAL and NCS title in 2011, and also falling one game short of a State Championship appearance.
