University of Scranton Women's Cross Country

Former Royal standout runner Bill Burke returned to his alma mater in 2005 as head men's cross-country coach, after a highly successful career at nearby Scranton Preparatory School. He served as head boys' track and field coach there from 1990-2005 and as boys' and girls' cross-country coach from 1989-2004. In 2007, he was named head coach of the Royals' women's cross country program. His success at the Scranton Preparatory School, where he currently serves as a faculty member in the history department, has carried over to the collegiate level, leading the Royal men's program to six top-20 finishes in the NCAA Mideast regional and a third-place showing at the 2011 & 2016 Landmark Conference championships, Scranton's top finish at a conference meet since 1951. He has coached two NCAA Division III championship qualifiers — John Mercuri (2005) and Chris Wasnetsky (2008, 2009, 2011) — and 10 other runners who have gone on to earn all-conference honors. The women's team has also thrived under his direction, winning two Landmark Conference Championships (2009, 2022) and posting two-runner up finishes (2010, 2013). The Royals have also recorded nine top-20 NCAA Mideast regional finishes, including a program-best third place finish in 2022. He earned Landmark Coach of the Year honors in 2022 and is widely regarded by coaches and runners for his extensive knowledge of long-distance training techniques, nutrition, and up-to-date practices of strength and conditioning.