Athletic Director Barbara Burke announced that she would resign from Eastern to accept the position of Deputy Director of Athletics/Chief Operating Officer at Tulane University.

Burke will see out her term at Eastern through the Spring Fling on April 12, before beginning her term at Tulane on April 28.

She spent six years as Eastern’s athletic director.

At Tulane, Burke will oversee day-to-day operations the Green Wave’s athletic program.

Burke spent 10 years as a senior administrator at University of Wyoming before taking the job at Eastern in June 2008.

She said her experience at a secondary position at Wyoming, combined with the lead position at Eastern would allow her to be even more successful in Tulane’s athletic department.

“I’ve been a No. 2 before,” Burke said. “Now having sat in the chair, I’ll be a better deputy director the second time around because I understand more why the decisions are made.”

Burke also said her experience of dealing with coaches and making difficult decisions on a day-to-day basis at Eastern will assist her in providing leadership and the opportunity to mentor coaches.

With the Tulane hire, Burke will be making the jump back up to the FBS level, only this time at a private institution.

“To have the opportunity to go to a private FBS program, that interested me,” she said.

Burke’s experience is what set her apart from the other candidates, said Rich Schmidt, the Chair of the Intercollegiate Athletic Committee for the Board of Tulane University.

“She has run a broad based athletic program and is familiar with high academic standards with limited resources,” Schmidt said in a press release. “She knows how to get things done without having unlimited resources. Her overall maturity made her the perfect person to fill the role.”

Burke’s position at Tulane is one that was added this year to expand its athletic staff, as the search for this position began in January, according to The Advocate in Baton Rouge, La.

Tulane will enter the American Athletic Conference this summer and will be opening a new football stadium this fall, causing the athletic department to expand.

“The athletics department is continuing to enhance its capabilities by addition positions that are comparable with AAC schools,” Tulane Athletic Director Rick Dickson said in The Advocate. “This is just another step in an improvement process that began a few years ago.”

In addition to her role as athletic director at Eastern, Burke also serves as the Chair of the NCAA Women’s Basketball Rules committee and on the NCAA Championships cabinet.

During her tenure, Eastern has won three of the last four Ohio Valley Conference Commissioners’ Cups while finishing second in the standings the two other years.

The Panthers currently lead the OVC standings following completion of the winter championship sports season.

“Just look at the background, and that gives her opportunities,” Eastern President Bill Perry said. “That’s what happens when you have good people. Her athletic director experience made her very attractive to Tulane.”

Tulane contacted Burke a few months ago to inform her that she was a candidate for the position, she said.

As the months progressed, so did the search progress, and Tulane became increasingly more interested in Burke.

Perry said he was aware that Tulane approached Burke, but did not know much more than that.

However, it did not get serious until about three weeks ago, when Burke said she decided she was going to accept the position after conducting her own research of the program.

As for Eastern, Burke met with Perry and Dan Nadler, vice president of student affairs, Thursday morning to discuss the program’s future and her possible replacement.

“I want to see it be successful — continue the success it’s had,” Burke said. “I have a vested interest in them moving forward, but it’s not my decision.”

Burke said she named a few candidates to Perry and Nadler for her replacement, but elected to not say whom she recommended.

“It’s our loss and their gain,” Perry said.

Anthony Catezone can be reached at 581-2812 or ajcatezone@eiu.edu.