Jean Marie Burr, the head women’s basketball coach at Brown for the last 26 years, has announced her retirement as coach of the Bears. Burr is the winningest women’s basketball coach in Brown history with over 300 career wins.
"Although I am retiring from Brown Basketball, the student-athletes that I have coached will always be a part of my family," said Coach Burr. "I’ve been very fortunate to have had the opportunity to work with quality people in every area of Brown University and have made great friends in the Rhode Island community. I am excited for my next leadership challenge. I realize this move will allow new energy into our basketball program to work with a first class team building toward Brown’s seventh championship."
Burr posted a 26-year career record of 324-379, compiling 12 winning seasons. Her Brown teams captured four Ivy League Championships, earning league titles in 1992, 1993, 1994 and 2006.
"We recognize all that Jeanie Burr has done for the Brown basketball program and its student-athletes over the last 26 years," said Brown Director of Athletics Jack Hayes. "I appreciate the opportunity that I have had to work with Coach Burr and I thank her for her dedication and many contributions to the program."
Burr’s 1994 squad was the first team in the Ivy League to appear in the NCAA Women’s Basketball Tournament, facing UConn in the first round in Storrs, Conn.
One of Burr’s greatest achievements was to help establish the Liz Turner ’98 Coaching Chair in the name of two-time team captain, Liz Turner. The endowment was created by Elizabeth ’59 and Malcolm Chace.
She led Brown to eleven top-three finishes in the league and recorded her 300th career victory during the 2011-2012 season. Burr is a four-time Rhode Island Division I Women’s Basketball Coach of the Year Award winner. She also coached two Ivy League Players of the Year – Martina Jerant in 1993 and Sarah Hayes in 2006, six Ivy League Rookies of the Year, along with coaching eight out of Brown’s 13 individual First Team All-Ivy players and 15 of Brown’s Second Team All-Ivy players.
Her teams also had tremendous academic success. Burr’s 2013 team finished first in the league and 9th in the nation as a WBCA Top 25 Academic Team.
This past season, Burr’s squad posted a 10-18 record, including a 4-10 Ivy mark.
A national search for a new coach will begin immediately.
