Setting a precedent for the NAIA, Steve Burke became an icon for men's soccer in the 2008 season. Last year, the Judson program took over the top spot with the most program wins (566) and Burke became the all-time wins leader for the NAIA (446). Now, in his 26th season, he will continue to push for another CCAC championship and look for his first NAIA national championship.

Along with setting the NAIA records for men's soccer, Burke continued to redefine the CCAC records by winning his fifth straight CCAC tournament championship. With the tournament win over Illinois Tech, Judson went to their fifth straight NAIA national tournament. In his career at Judson, he has now won a combined 12 CCAC championships, 19 overall conference championships, and went to six NAIA national tournaments while claiming five NCCAA National Championships. He has also coached 54 all-Americans, 98 all-conference players, and had 12 conference players of the year.

October 4, 2008, was the special day for Burke as he set the NAIA record for career wins against one of his former players, Patrick Gilliam. Judson took a 1-0 decision against Trinity International in Deerfield, Illinois. With 15 victories in 2008, Judson then became the all-time wins leader for the NAIA at 566, just two wins ahead of Westmont College (CA).

From 2004 to 2007, Judson hit a program high winning four straight CCAC regular season championships and NAIA Region VII championships. In those four years, he had three CCAC players of the Year (Doco Wesseh-2004, Jesus Saiz-2006, Steve Moldenhauer-2007), one NCCAA National Player of the Year (Steve Moldenhauer-2008), one undefeated regular season (2004 - 19-0), and won his 400th career game. The 2004 and 2005 seasons brought two perfect seasons in the CCAC which continued into a 22-match CCAC win streak that started in the 2003 season and came to an end in 2006.

Under Burke, Judson has become the most prolific team in the history of the National Christian College Athletic Association (NCCAA) soccer tournament. Since taking the reins of Judson's men's soccer program in 1984, Burke has led the Eagles to five NCCAA National Championships (1991, 1992, 1995, 1997 and 2002) and 11 NCCAA District/Regional Championships. Judson is the only team to win the NCCAA tournament five times. The Eagles have appeared in the NCCAA National Tournament 12 times in Burke's 25-year stint, including nine straight appearances from 1991-1999.

Not only have his players received honors, Burke has collected his share of accolades along the way. He has been named NCCAA National Coach of the Year four times, in 1987, 1992, 2003 and 2004. He has received NCCAA District/Regional Coach of the Year honorsnine times, NAIA District Coach of the Year in 1990 and 1992, NAIA Area Coach of the Year in 1990 and has been tabbed Conference Coach of the Year five times.

Born in Plattsburgh, New York, to Douglas and Esther Burke, he picked up his passion for soccer from his father. Burke's father, former head soccer coach at Houghton College won three NCCAA National Championships in his tenure and is the 10th all-time in the NAIA for wins. They are also the only father-son combination to win NCCAA National Championships.

Before becoming a coach, Burke first distinguished himself as a player. He spent his first two years at Wheaton College where he was his team's Most Valuable Player as a freshman. He then transferred to Houghton College, graduating in 1980 with a degree in education. At Houghton, his team compiled a 34-4-1 record in those two years as he was named the team's Most Valuable Player both years and became the school's first athlete to be named to the NAIA All-American first team. His squad won the NCCAA National Championship in 1979 and Burke was the tournament's Most Valuable Player. He is now a member of Houghton's Hall of Honor.

Burke taught high school for two years before finishing his master's degree at the Ohio State University in 1984. He was an assistant coach for one season at Ohio State before coming to Judson University.

Burke and his wife Sharon reside in West Chicago and have three children, Bryan, Corey, and Lindsey. Bryan is a senior at Biola University while Corey will be a sophomore at Judson and play for his father. Lindsey is a junior and attends Wheaton Academy.