Princeton University Athletics
David Burke Promoted to Men's Lightweight Rowing Associate Head Coach
December 23, 2025 | Men's Rowing - Lightweight
PRINCETON, N.J. – David Burke has been promoted to Associate Head Coach of the Princeton University men's lightweight rowing team, as announced by Head Coach Matt Smith Tuesday.
"I am thrilled to see Dave promoted to Associate Head Coach of the Men's Lightweight Rowing team," said Smith. "He has been an invaluable asset not only to the Princeton Lightweight family, but to the entire Princeton Rowing community. Dave has played a significant role in the success of the P150 program, and his daily commitment to the growth and development of every athlete has been evident since his arrival at Princeton. He brings an unmatched level of passion and care to our team and is widely recognized as one of the top recruiters in the sport, consistently attracting the best and brightest rowers to Princeton. I am excited to continue working alongside Dave and look forward to coaching with him each day."
Burke started at Princeton as an assistant coach in 2022. In 2023, just his second season, he was part of a staff that led the Tigers to the Intercollegiate Rowing Association (IRA) National Championship along with the IRQA President's Cup, an Ivy League Championship and a championship at Eastern Sprints. The Tigers' 1V and 2V were victorious in their Grand Finals at IRAs and Eastern Sprints, as Princeton finished with season with an 11-1 overall record and a 5-1 record in Ivy competition.
"I'm incredibly grateful for the opportunity to step into the role of Associate Head Coach of Lightweight Rowing," said Burke. I'd like to thank John and Kim for their support in this process, Matt for being instrumental in making this possible, and Marty for starting the conversation last year. The Princeton Boathouse is like no other, and I feel fortunate to be a small part of it. I look forward to continuing to help build on the success of the Tiger Lights and very much so appreciate the opportunity to support the P150 student-athletes on and off the water. Go Tigers!"
Princeton finished fourth at IRAs in 2025, with the 1V and 2V both making it to Grand Finals. At Eastern Sprints, Burke helped lead the Tigers to a second-place finish with the 3V winning silver and the 1V bronze. Princeton retained the Murtaugh Cup over Navy, the Wood-Hammond Cup, the Campbell Cup over Columbia and the Diamond Challenge Trophy over Dartmouth.
2024 was another strong season for the Tigers with Burke on staff. Princeton finished third at IRAs, with the 1V winning silver. At Eastern Sprints, Princeton's 1V and 2V won bronze as the Tigers finished fourth in the team standings.
The Tigers had four All-Americans in 2022, Burke's first season, as they retained the Fosburgh Cup at Georgetown and the Campbell Cup at Columbia along with victories over Mercyhurst, MIT, Delaware and Dartmouth. The varsity eight was also fourth at Easterns and sixth at IRA National Championships.
"I am thrilled to see Dave promoted to Associate Head Coach of the Men's Lightweight Rowing team," said Smith. "He has been an invaluable asset not only to the Princeton Lightweight family, but to the entire Princeton Rowing community. Dave has played a significant role in the success of the P150 program, and his daily commitment to the growth and development of every athlete has been evident since his arrival at Princeton. He brings an unmatched level of passion and care to our team and is widely recognized as one of the top recruiters in the sport, consistently attracting the best and brightest rowers to Princeton. I am excited to continue working alongside Dave and look forward to coaching with him each day."
Burke started at Princeton as an assistant coach in 2022. In 2023, just his second season, he was part of a staff that led the Tigers to the Intercollegiate Rowing Association (IRA) National Championship along with the IRQA President's Cup, an Ivy League Championship and a championship at Eastern Sprints. The Tigers' 1V and 2V were victorious in their Grand Finals at IRAs and Eastern Sprints, as Princeton finished with season with an 11-1 overall record and a 5-1 record in Ivy competition.
"I'm incredibly grateful for the opportunity to step into the role of Associate Head Coach of Lightweight Rowing," said Burke. I'd like to thank John and Kim for their support in this process, Matt for being instrumental in making this possible, and Marty for starting the conversation last year. The Princeton Boathouse is like no other, and I feel fortunate to be a small part of it. I look forward to continuing to help build on the success of the Tiger Lights and very much so appreciate the opportunity to support the P150 student-athletes on and off the water. Go Tigers!"
Princeton finished fourth at IRAs in 2025, with the 1V and 2V both making it to Grand Finals. At Eastern Sprints, Burke helped lead the Tigers to a second-place finish with the 3V winning silver and the 1V bronze. Princeton retained the Murtaugh Cup over Navy, the Wood-Hammond Cup, the Campbell Cup over Columbia and the Diamond Challenge Trophy over Dartmouth.
2024 was another strong season for the Tigers with Burke on staff. Princeton finished third at IRAs, with the 1V winning silver. At Eastern Sprints, Princeton's 1V and 2V won bronze as the Tigers finished fourth in the team standings.
The Tigers had four All-Americans in 2022, Burke's first season, as they retained the Fosburgh Cup at Georgetown and the Campbell Cup at Columbia along with victories over Mercyhurst, MIT, Delaware and Dartmouth. The varsity eight was also fourth at Easterns and sixth at IRA National Championships.
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