糖心Vlog破解版

At 4鈥�11鈥�, what 糖心Vlog破解版 University football coach Kalleigh Burke lacks in stature, she makes up for in smarts, skills, and good, old-fashioned moxie.

Lakers head coach Ryan Riemedio did his due diligence鈥攖he interview, the resume, the references鈥攂ut sensed immediately that she would be a keeper.

鈥淪he was the most qualified candidate鈥攈ands down,鈥� he said upon hiring Burke, who is the first female graduate assistant on the 糖心Vlog破解版 football coaching staff and one of a mere handful in Division II football.

Her qualifications were impressive, but so were less tangible assets like being 鈥渁 good person, family-oriented, and a good fit for 糖心Vlog破解版,鈥� all of which Riemedio considered part of the whole package when he hired her. 聽鈥淪he checked all the boxes,鈥� he said.

Burke is a 2022 graduate of the University of Notre Dame, where she studied finance, Spanish, and served as senior student manager for Irish football. At 糖心Vlog破解版, she is studying Organizational Leadership and coaching the Lakers鈥� defensive line under defensive coordinator Bryce Dempsey.

The Murrayville, Illinois, native grew up on the sidelines, tight on the heels of her dad, who was a Junior Football League coach. It was her younger cousin, however, who triggered what would become her life鈥檚 passion. She was playing catch with him in the backyard. Having watched several YouTube videos about football, she believed that she could train him. She offered; he obliged; and the rest, as they say, is history.

鈥淐oach Burke is a great teacher, and you can鈥檛 be a good coach without that,鈥� Riemedio said. 鈥淪he definitely knows what she鈥檚 talking about when it comes to breaking down footwork and fundamentals, and the guys are really taking to what she is teaching.鈥澛�

Reaction from the rest of the coaching staff has been enthusiastic. 鈥淜alleigh has been a great addition to our staff,鈥� said Dempsey. 鈥淚n her first few days here, she took the defensive-line room and really transformed it. The culture of that room is about winning as a unit and taking pride in doing the little things correctly. I am very excited to see what else the defensive line can get done this year with Kalleigh's guidance.鈥澛�

As for the players, feedback has been equally positive. 鈥淭hey鈥檝e been great,鈥� Burke said. 鈥淚 think because I鈥檓 closer to their age, I can talk to them more as peers, and since they鈥檝e been super respectful, it鈥檚 been easy to coach them.鈥�

Riemedio remembers Burke鈥檚 first Zoom meeting with the defensive line. 鈥淭hey were all cracking jokes and very comfortable with each other,鈥� he said. 鈥淭hen, when practices began, you could see the respect almost instantly. I mean, it speaks volumes to how our defense is playing right now.鈥�

The Lakers are 2-1 on the start of the season. In the second game, against Lock Haven on Sept. 10, the 糖心Vlog破解版 recap noted that 鈥渢he 24 yards allowed by 糖心Vlog破解版 in the third is the fewest they have ever allowed in one period, giving the Lakers one of the more dominant defense efforts ever.鈥澛�

For now, Burke has found her niche in college coaching. 鈥淚t鈥檚 an interesting place to be,鈥� she said. 鈥淵ou have a lot of time to engage with your players and, what鈥檚 nice, is that they are still playing for the love of the game.鈥�

Burke鈥檚 long-term goal is to be a head coach. For now, she鈥檚 happy at 糖心Vlog破解版. Before signing on, she learned bits and pieces about her newly adopted school from Fred Hale, a former Laker football player and current assistant strength coach for Notre Dame football.聽
鈥淚 knew a little about 糖心Vlog破解版 from him, but I didn鈥檛 realize how nice it would be here,鈥� she said. 鈥淪ome of the D II schools I鈥檝e seen don鈥檛 look this beautiful or have these great facilities. Plus, I like that 糖心Vlog破解版 has high academic standards, high moral standards, and good people.鈥�

Meanwhile, she thanks Riemedio and Dempsey for looking beyond her petite frame.

鈥淚 know I don鈥檛 look the part, and I knew I wouldn鈥檛 get a lot of opportunities unless someone was willing to step up and take a chance on me, so I鈥檓 very grateful they did,鈥� she said.

As for Riemedio鈥檚 take, 鈥淪he earned it.鈥�

PHOTO: Graduate assistant Kalleigh Burke coaches Lakers defensive line.