BOSTON, Mass. (September 29, 2026) – Emerson College has named Matthew Burke as interim head coach of its softball program ahead of the 2027 season. Burke joins Emerson after serving as an assistant coach at Boston College.
"I am happy to welcome Matthew Burke as the interim head coach of our softball program," said Steph Smyrl, Associate Dean for Campus Life and Director of Athletics at Emerson. "Matthew has built a solid foundation to his coaching resume over the last five years and shown a passion for the sport of softball through his roles at the Division I level. I believe the student-athletes here at Emerson will continue to develop under his leadership and experience."
Burke served as an assistant coach at Boston College for the 2026 season to first year head coach Beth Krysiak. He contributed to the daily program operations and supported all aspects of the Eagles program alongside the head coach, recruiting and evaluating prospective student-athletes across multiple competition levels. He worked with the Eagles outfielders and assisted with the offense, practice planning, game preparation, travel and scheduling.
Burke joins Emerson after serving as assistant coach at Boston College in 2025-26, bringing four years of Division I experience to the Lions. (PHOTO COURTESY Boston College Athletics) |
"I am incredibly excited and grateful for the opportunity to lead Emerson College Softball," said Burke. "I am thrilled to begin my head coaching journey at Emerson and to have the opportunity to build something special with our student-athletes. I am committed to developing them both on and off the field while creating a culture they can be proud to be a part of. I am eager to get to work, connect with the team and Emerson community, and build a program that Emerson and our student-athletes can be proud of for years to come."
Prior to joining Boston College, Burke served as Director of Player Development and Operations at the University of Pittsburgh for the 2024-25 academic year with the Panthers reaching the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) Tournament for the first time in eight years. He was graduate assistant at the University of Mississippi in 2023-24 when the team earned their eighth-straight bid to the NCAA Softball Regionals, and Operations Coordinator at Harvard University in 2022-23, winning the Ivy League Championship and earning an NCAA Tournament bid.
Burke is a 2021 graduate of the University of Alabama where he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree. He earned a Master of Business Administration from St. Thomas University in 2022.
Emerson finished its 2026 season with seven wins, including an extra innings triumph over an MIT team that was receiving votes nationally at the time to open the New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) schedule. Eight Lions earned spots on the NEWMAC Academic All-Conference Team, with senior Kayla Nuehlen being named to the Conference's Spring Sportsmanship Team.
About Emerson College Athletics
Based in the world-class city of Boston, Massachusetts, Emerson College fields 14 varsity athletic programs at the NCAA Division III level that compete as members of the New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference (NEWMAC). For the latest on Emerson Athletics, follow the Lions on Instagram and at emersonlions.com.
