Jon Burke has been coaching water polo throughout Northern California for the past 25 years and in that time has established himself as one of the most experienced and decorated coaches in the sport.

 

The 2017 California High School Girls Water Polo Coach of the Year, Burke’s teams have won 11 CIF titles and 12 league championships, and he’s part of an elite group of high school coaches to have captured CIF titles while coaching at two different schools (Sacred Heart Prep & Stevenson School). Burke’s 11 CIF titles in girls water polo, places him at the top of all girls high school water polo coaches in the state.

 

Burke is currently the director of girls water polo at Stevenson School in Pebble Beach, California, where he led the program to the schools first section title in water polo in 2022 and a runner-up finish in Northern California. This was the first CCS water polo championship ever won by a Monterey County team, boys or girls. 

 

As head coach at Sacred Heart Prep (Atherton) from 2006 - 2018, Burke built the Gators into a national powerhouse, reaching the CIF finals 12 consecutive years, and winning 10 consecutive section water polo championships, a CIF record. During his tenure at SHP, Burke’s teams compiled a 279 - 70 (.800) overall record and went an impressive 54 - 8 (.871) in post-season play. The Gators were also recognized as the CCS Fall Scholastic Championship team in 2016 & 2017.

 

As a high school head coach, Burke has developed 16 All-Americans, 8 section MVPs, dozens of all-section and all-league recipients, and helped more than 50 girls achieve their goal of playing NCAA college water polo. In addition to being recognized as the 2017 California High School Girls Water Polo Coach of the Year, Burke was the 2016 Northern California Girls Water Polo Coach of the Year, and the 2015 CCS Girls Water Polo Honor Coach.

 

Burke is a familiar face throughout USA Water Polo and the USA Olympic Development Program as well. From 2016 - 2021, Burke was a member of the USA National Goalkeeper staff and from 2014 - 2015 he served as the head coach of the Pacific Zone girls cadet team, which captured gold at the 2015 ODP National Championships. He has coached dozens of national team players and two Olympic gold medalists (KK Clark and Melissa Seidemann). In addition, from 2004 - 2006, Burke served as the head coach of the Central Zone boys cadet and development teams and was recognized by USA Water Polo as the Central Zone Development Coach of the Year in 2006. Burke has coached in Argentina, Canada, Hungary, and Spain and led the USA Men’s Maccabi team to the gold medal at the 2006 Pan American Maccabi Games. 

 

Burke served as an assistant coach for the UC Davis Men’s & Women’s water polo teams from 2002 - 2006, where he was a student-athlete and team captain, scoring 17 goals in his senior campaign. As the women’s assistant coach, Burke helped the team capture the Western Water Polo Association championship in 2006, earning an automatic bid to NCAAs, where the team finished 5th nationally. 

 

Burke resides in Monterey, California, with his wife Debra, daughter, Noa, and sons, Kai and Michael.