Union women's golf coach, former women's basketball coach Burt announces retirement

Coach speaks with two players — Union College women's golf coach Mary Ellen Burt talks to two of her golfers. (Union Athletics photo)

SCHENECTADY — Union College women’s golf head coach Mary Ellen Burt announced her retirement Thursday, effective at the end of school year.

Burt is in her 11th season as the women’s golf head coach. She has been with Union for 28 years. She has the second-longest tenure ever for a varsity head coach at Union. Burt started her time at Union as the head women’s basketball coach in 1995 and led the Dutchwomen for 26 years before stepping down in 2021 with 344 wins, making her the winningest coach ever at Union in a single sport.

Burt was named the school’s first women’s golf head coach in 2011, and the program started in the 2012-13 season.

“Starting the golf program at Union College was truly a personal journey for me,” Burt said in a press release. “I wanted to share my love and passion for the sport of golf with female student-athletes at Union. It was wonderful to have the Mohawk Golf Club as our home course and the state-of-the-art golf simulator installed on campus was perfect for the weather in upstate New York. I don’t know what we would have done without the golf simulator!

“I wanted to integrate the word ‘Arete’ with the golf team, as it was the foundation of my coaching philosophy with the basketball team as well. Arete simply means to be the best that you can be in whatever you are doing — whether in the classroom, on the course or in a social setting. The first few years of the program were a bit rough, but we were finding our way. The players improved each year and really enjoyed the journey of building a team culture.”

Union athletic director Jim McLaughlin praised Burt.

“On behalf of the entire department, I want to thank Mary Ellen for her many years of service to Union College and its student-athletes,” McLaughlin said in the press release. “Her impact on hundreds of Union student-athletes as both basketball and golf coach are immeasurable and the legacy that she leaves behind is undeniable. Her work in building and sustaining our women’s golf program have left the team in a great position for future success. We congratulate Mary Ellen on her upcoming retirement and wish her happiness as she begins her exciting next chapter.”