May 1, 2007
Duquesne University head women's basketball coach Suzie McConnell-Serio has named Washington, Pa. native Dan Burt assistant coach.
Burt, who has nine years of Division I coaching experience, comes to Duquesne from Bucknell where he was an assistant for the past three seasons. He is the first hire for McConnell-Serio who accepted the DU head coaching position on April 13.
"Dan fills the number one need we had and that's in the area of recruiting," said McConnell-Serio. "He has a great deal of experience in addition to plenty of local ties. Dan is personable, has a great work ethic and is someone you can trust. I expect him to hit the ground running."
Burt was an assistant for three seasons at both West Virginia (1998-2001) and UNC Wilmington (2001-04) prior to Bucknell.
"Suzie McConnell-Serio is someone who is well known not just in Pennsylvania, but across the nation," said Burt. "Players in western Pennsylvania can now stay home, play in front of friends and family, and get world-class coaching. I'm really looking forward to being part of her staff."
At Bucknell, Burt helped recruit a Bison team that won the 2006-07 Patriot League regular-season title and earned an appearance in the WNIT. The `07 Bison finished 20-11 marking just the third time a BU women's team won 20 games in a season.
In three seasons at UNC Wilmington, Burt spearheaded the development and coordination of an innovative national and international recruiting campaign that resulted in the signing of four Adidas Top-10 Camp participants, one junior college All-American and a four-time Cyprus National High School Player of the Year. His efforts helped lead the Seahawks to a three-year record of 53-33, the best in school history.
Prior to UNC Wilmington, Burt was an assistant coach at West Virginia for three seasons. While in Morgantown, he recruited 2004 WNBA draft pick Kate Bulger out of Pittsburgh's Oakland Catholic. Burt also coached the 2000 Big East Scholar Athlete of the Year and mentored two Big East All-Conference performers. He was also chosen to represent the Big East as an assistant coach on its foreign tour during the summer of 2000, during which the team posted a 6-1 record.
While at West Virginia, Burt began facilitating roundtable discussions at the WBCA National Coaches Convention. He was one of 15 assistant coaches selected from around the country to lead the discussions in 1999, 2002, 2003, 2004 and most recently in 2006. Burt also coordinated a roundtable meeting for the entire athletic department at UNC Wilmington during 2003-04 that focused on recruiting for all sports at the school.
Burt graduated from Trinity High School in Washington, Pa. prior to earning a bachelor's degree in physical education from West Liberty State College in 1993. While a Hilltopper, Burt was a scholar-athlete award winner as a member of the men's basketball team.
Following graduation, Burt worked as an admissions counselor at Shepherd College in Shepherdstown, W.Va. for five years. He was an assistant coach with the men's team during the 1994-95 campaign and was also a women's college basketball referee in Pennsylvania, West Virginia and Maryland.
Burt's wife, Kata Katanich-Burt, played professional basketball in Hungary and is a graduate of the Women's Basketball Coaches Association Betty F. Jaynes internship program. The couple has a son, Soma, born Dec. 3, 2004.
THE Dan Burt FILE
PERSONAL
Birthdate: August 12, 1970Birthplace: Washington, Pa.Age: 36College: West Liberty State `93Degree: Physical EducationHigh School: Trinity High School, Washington, Pa.Wife: Kata Katanich-BurtSon: Soma
COACHING EXPERIENCENine seasons as a Division I assistant
YEAR SCHOOL TITLE1998-99 West Virginia Asst. Coach1999-00 West Virginia Asst. Coach2000-01 West Virginia Asst. Coach2001-02 UNC Wilmington Asst. Coach2002-03 UNC Wilmington Asst. Coach2003-04 UNC Wilmington Asst. Coach2004-05 Bucknell Asst. Coach2005-06 Bucknell Asst. Coach2006-07 Bucknell Asst. Coach
NOTES: Recruited 2004 WNBA draft pick - and Pittsburgh native -Kate Bulger while at WVU... also coached the Big East Scholar-Athleteof the Year and two Big East all-conference performers... signed one junior college All-American and thefour-time Cyprus National High School Player of the Yearwhile at UNCW ... Bucknell produced three differentPatriot League Rookies of the Week a league-high totalof five times in 2005-06 and two First Team All-Patriot Leagueplayers, including the Player of the Year and Defensive Playerof the Year, in 2006-07.
