Purdue News

December 12, 1997

Burke to stay on as Purdue's athletic director

"This is wonderful news, not only for varsity athletics, but for everyone at Purdue," Beering said. "Morgan's energetic leadership of our sports programs has been complemented by a strong vision and an understanding of the relationship of athletics to the entire institution. His decision to stay will allow us to continue uninterrupted the tremendous progress we have made since he joined the Purdue team."

Burke announced Oct. 1 that he had accepted the position of vice president for human resources at Inland Steel Industries. That is the parent company of Inland Steel Co., where he was a vice president before coming to Purdue in 1993.

"My decision to continue at Purdue," Burke said, "came after I viewed my situation here and my future opportunities from a new perspective. Sometimes, when you look at things from the outside, as I have done in recent weeks, you see them more clearly. What I have seen is a tremendous enthusiasm about what is happening in the athletic program, a high level of confidence in the leadership and an excitement about what can be accomplished in the years ahead. I decided that I had to be a part of all that.

"The opportunity with Inland Steel was an excellent one, and it would have been very rewarding at many levels, but it simply could not offer the same excitement and sense of accomplishment that I have here at Purdue.

"An additional factor for my family is the quality of life we have built in West Lafayette. Kate and I are devoted to the many friends we have here, and our children are very happy in their school situations. All of us love this university. You cannot put a price on those things.

"I am grateful to Bob Darnall (chairman, president and chief executive officer of Inland Steel Industries) for the grace with which he has accepted my decision, and to Steve Beering for his support and guidance throughout this difficult process. I know some people have been inconvenienced by my change of heart, and I apologize to them. However, sometimes the best decision you can make is to admit you were wrong. Purdue is the right place for me right now and I'm very eager to get on with the work."

Burke said he first discussed the possibility of reversing his decision with Beering and Darnall about a week ago. He made the decision Wednesday night (12/10) while on a site visit to San Antonio where the Boilermaker football team will play Oklahoma State in the Alamo Bowl on Dec. 30.

After assuming his responsibilities as Purdue's athletic director in 1993, Burke quickly established himself as an energetic leader with high performance standards. He stressed both academic excellence and competitive success in all sports and has been a regular spectator at the practices, as well as the events of all 17 Purdue varsity programs.

Burke's leadership has been a key factor in the upgrading of the university's Birck Boilermaker Golf Complex, including the redesign of one of the courses by renowned designer Pete Dye.

A new Jumbotron video screen was added to Ross-Ade Stadium this fall, and Burke has launched a campaign to raise funds for a new aquatics center and improvements to the university's Recreational Gymnasium. This year, the basketball floor in Mackey Arena was replaced, and the volleyball floor in the Intercollegiate Athletic Facility was renovated.

Burke also led the effort to launch the Purdue Athletic Hall of Fame, which inducted its fourth class in September.

A native of Indianapolis, Burke captained the swim team at Purdue and is still a daily swimmer. He earned a bachelor's degree in management in 1973 and a master's in 1975, both from Purdue. In 1980, he graduated from Chicago's John Marshall Law School.

Before his appointment as athletic director, Burke spent 17 years with Inland Steel Co.'s Indiana Harbor Works, where he became vice president for operating and administrative services. He is a member of the American Bar Association and the Indiana Bar Association.

Burke's wife, Kate, is a pharmacist who received her degree from Purdue in 1974. They have three children. A daughter, Joyce, is a sophomore at Purdue; a son, Morgan, plans to enroll next fall; and a son, Patrick, is a fifth-grader at Burtsfield Elementary School in West Lafayette.

Source: Morgan J Burke, (765) 494-3189
Writer: Joseph L. Bennett, (765) 494-2082; e-mail, joe_bennett@purdue.edu
Purdue News Service: (765) 494-2096; e-mail, purduenews@purdue.edu

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