March 3, 2021
Coach Mel Burke
Cleveland Heights, Ohio -- Lutheran High School East is pleased to announce its next head girls’ basketball coach, Mr. Melvin Burke.
Coach Burke comes to Lutheran East to fill the head coach position after the departure of Coach Eugene White (Head Coach 2019-2021). Lutheran East is grateful to Coach White for his time and dedication to the program.
Coach Burke is no stranger to Lutheran East, having coached the girls’ team from 2007-2010. After his time at Lutheran East, he coached at Beachwood High School, Cleveland Central Catholic, and East Technical High School (Cleveland Municipal School District).
In his coaching career, Mel Burke has amassed 338 career wins and has been named Coach of the Year four times.
He has coached a number of players who have gone on to play for high-profile collegiate and/or professional teams, including Jantell Lavender (The Ohio State University / L.A. Sparks - WNBA),
Barbara Turner (UConn / Seattle Storm and Connecticut Sun - WNBA), Special Jennings (Xavier University / 4 year professional player overseas), and Simone Jelks (USC / recently became the NBA's 7th full-time female referee).
Lutheran East Athletic Director Anthony Jones states, “Lutheran East is humbled and thrilled to have Coach Burke back at the helm for our Lady Falcons. His basketball expertise and coaching abilities speak for themselves, but Coach Burke is so much more -- he is a role model and Christian leader for the young women he coaches, and he cares genuinely for their success on and off the basketball court. We are so excited to see where Coach Burke takes this program in the coming years.”
When asked his sentiments on returning to coach the Falcons, Mel Burke said, “I couldn’t be more excited -- I love the game of basketball and I am grateful that I have the opportunity to share that love and the lessons it can teach with these young ladies. I’ve always had so much love and admiration for Lutheran East and I believe strongly in the mission and values of the school, its leadership, and its athletic programs. After having worked previously with Mr. Chris Steinmann, now Superintendent, and after having known Mr. Anthony Jones, Athletic Director, for many years, it was an easy decision to come back to Lutheran East. Go Falcons!”
Coach Burke is a lifelong resident of Northeast Ohio.
The Lutheran East Falcons girls’ varsity basketball 2021-2022 season schedule will be announced this fall.
Contact with inquiries:
Mr. Anthony Jones, Athletic Director
Lutheran High School East
[email protected]
www.LutheranEast.org/Athletics