Former Purdue Athletic Director Morgan Burke Sr. Has Passed Away

This morning Indiana Sports Coverage-Purdue learned of the passing of former Purdue Athletic Director Morgan Burke Sr. Burke served as Purdue’s Athletic Director for 23 years from 1993 to 2016 and oversaw Purdue win 2 NCAA National Championships, 20 regular season championships, 13 tournament championships and make 12 bowl games. Additionally Burke was responsible for the following facility improvements during his tenure:

  • Mackey Complex Project
  • Morgan Burke Aquatic Center
  • Alexander Field
  • Bittinger Stadium
  • Folk Field
  • Ross-Ade Pressbox
  • Kozuch Football Performance Complex
  • Holloway Gymnasium Renovation
  • Schwartz Tennis Center
  • Brees Student-Athlete Academic Learning Center
No photo description available.
Photo from Blumling Design & Graphics

Frankly there aren’t many athletic venues that weren’t improved during Burke’s tenure as athletic director. After the announcement of Morgan Burke’s retirement in 2016, Coach Painter said the following, “Morgan has a fervent passion for this place and approached every day with the mindset to make it better. He has represented all of us with class and dignity and is very well respected nationally.”

Many student-athletes have been on record talking about Burke’s care and compassion for them on a personal level. Former Purdue football player Bilal Marshall said, “He is so relationship-oriented that he makes you feel important regardless of who you are. He knows every athlete by name, and that is something about him that is special. He bleeds old gold and black, and we all know it. He will always be in our corner wherever he is, and I thank him for that.”

Morgan Burke Sr.’s impact on the Purdue Athletic Department will continue for decades to come.

Burke was a 1973 graduate from the Purdue Industrial Engineering Program and member of the Purdue Swimming Team. He is survived by his wife Kate, three children: Joyce, Morgan Jr. and Patrick, and three grandchildren.

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