Burgess concludes her career as head women’s basketball coach with a 137-84 mark, including a 20-8 mark during the 2014-15 campaign. The Lakers finished with a 16-6 mark in GLIAC action during her final season with an appearance in the GLIAC Tournament semifinals. GVSU was 104-62 in GLIAC play under Burgess.
“I want to thank President Haas and Tim Selgo for the opportunity to be the head women’s basketball coach at Grand Valley State University for the last eight years,” said Burgess. “I am extremely pleased that I am leaving a strong culture with amazing young women ready to succeed in every avenue of life. I hate to leave our current players and recruits, but my number one priority is my amazing husband and two children. As I step away from coaching I am eager to be a wife and mom, while watching the Laker women’s basketball program reach tremendous success.”
Janel guided the Lakers to a pair of NCAA DII National Tournament appearances (2008-09, 2010-11) and advanced to the GLIAC tournament six times, with berths in the GLIAC tourney semifinals in 2008-09 and 2014-15. Eleven different Lakers have garnered All-GLIAC honors under Burgess and off those 11 players, eight were named All-GLIAC North First Team and five were All-GLIAC North Defense honorees. During her first two seasons Burgess tallied 36 victories, the most for any Laker coach in their inaugural two years at GVSU and her .620 winning percentage ranks fourth in program history.
In 2010-11, GVSU posted a 20-8 overall record and 13-6 mark in the GLIAC. The Lakers advanced to the conference tournament for the seventh straight year, while also earning an NCAA Midwest Regional Tournament bid. In 2008-09, Burgess guided the Lakers to a 20-10 record, which included a 15-7 mark in the GLIAC. Grand Valley State earned a No. 8 seed in the NCAA Midwest Regional Tournament, where it fell to defending national champion Northern Kentucky. GVSU set a pair of single-season records in 2008-09, including free throw percentage and three-pointers made. The Lakers shattered the 2006-07 school record of a .733 percentage at the charity stripe by shooting .778. In addition, the Lakers’ 218 made three-pointers broke the 2005-06 mark of 200 triples.
Prior to arriving at Grand Valley State, Burgess spent three years at Missouri State as an assistant coach and recruiting coordinator. Burgess and her husband, Tim, are the proud parents of Eddie (11) and Sydnee (5).
