March 24, 2006

LAURINBURG, NC—Elizabeth Burris will be the new head coach for the Knights softball program, announced Howard Reichner, St. Andrews Presbyterian College athletic director. Burris will take over the duties following this season.

Interim Head Softball Coach Stevan Hernandez will continue his role with the team while Burris will serve as an associate head coach for the remainder of the 2006 season. At the conclusion of the season, Burris will take over as full-time head coach.

“St. Andrews Presbyterian College Department of Athletics welcomes the addition of head softball coach Elizabeth Burris,” said Reichner. “Coach Burris brings seven years of experience in multi-cultural environments including high school, summer softball, international and college athletics.”

“I am really excited,” expressed Burris. “It’s a great campus and college and there is a lot of potential here.”

“Everybody has been extremely helpful we have the resources here to make the program very successful,” said Burris. “They are a great bunch of student-athletes. They are eager to learn and there is no doubt in my mind we will be successful next year.”

Burris comes to SAPC after serving as the head coach of the BCS Dornbirn Sharx in Dornbirn, Austria. While coaching the Sharx, Burris compiled a perfect 25-0 record in the Austrian Softball League en route to the regular-season and tournament championships.

Prior to her international experience, Burris gained valuable experience as an assistant coach for NCAA Division II Florida Gulf Coast University (FGCU) for three years. Burris’ work with the young FGCU program included developing and managing the educational program of the softball team, assisting with recruiting, serving as the catcher and outfield coach, and conducting first-base coaching duties.

Burris started her graduate coaching career as the head softball coach of the Central Cabarrus High School (Harrisburg, NC) softball junior-varsity team and assistant coach of the varsity team. Burris coached a perfect 14-0 season at Cabarrus before heading to Florida.

Burris graduated from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte in 2001 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology. The 3.7 GPA, Cum Laude graduate was a four-year letter winner with the 49ers softball team. Burris was a Scholar Athlete for the National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) and a Conference USA Scholar Athlete at her alma mater.

While coaching with the Lady Eagles, Burris earned a Masters of Education in School Counseling at Florida Gulf Coast in 2005.

“I am most pleased to welcome Coach Burris to the St. Andrews/Laurinburg community. Her academic field, an MA in Counseling, provides us valuable experience including advising and counseling to student-athletes,” continued Reichner.

The NFCA and American School Counseling Association member has also garnered experience in administrative and counseling roles.

“Coach Burris has hit the ground running and is already adding her talents to the St. Andrews softball program,” concluded Reichner.

Back