Keaton Burke enters his third season on Salisbury’s coaching staff in 2025-26, having been hired as the program’s first full-time assistant coach. Since joining the staff, he has contributed to the rise of both the men’s and women’s programs at the New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) and NCAA levels.
The 2024-25 season marked a historic year as Burke helped guide the women to their first-ever NJAC Championship and led the men to their highest finish in program history. That same year, Sydney McCallie became the first NCAA All-American in Salisbury women’s swimming history. Burke also mentored Sadie Hebert, Maddie Powell, Christopher Knorr, and Mason Potts, who each earned NCAA B-Cut qualifications. Under his guidance, the men’s team also posted its first-ever NCAA Relay B-Cuts in the 200 Free, 200 Medley, 400 Medley, and 400 Free relays. For these accomplishments, Burke was part of the NJAC Women’s Swimming & Diving Coaching Staff of the Year.
In 2023-24, Burke helped lead the Sea Gull women to a runner-up finish and the men to fourth place at the NJAC Championships—both program-best finishes at the time. The men had six All-NJAC honorees, while the women earned eight All-NJAC awards for their performances.
Since Burke joined the staff, the teams have combined to break 159 program records and 66 Maggs Pool records. Nationally, the men’s team has been ranked as high as No. 19, and the women’s team reached No. 24 in the CSCAA Top 25 Poll.
Coaching Career Prior to Salisbury
Burke spent the 2022-23 season at Fairfield University in Connecticut, where he helped the Stags women’s team capture the 2023 MAAC Championship. He helped coach Erini Pappas, who won three events and set three program records on her way to earning the meet’s Most Outstanding Swimmer award.
In 2021-22, Burke was at the University of Notre Dame, assisting with coaching multiple ACC podium finishes and individual NCAA qualifiers.
He has also coached with USA Swimming clubs, including Irish Aquatics and Barracuda Swim Team, and has served as a camp counselor at the Longhorn Swim Camp at the University of Texas since 2021.
Burke is a 2019 graduate of Salisbury University, where he earned a B.A. in Communications and competed on the swim team for four years.
