Jonna Burke enters her first season as the Head Women's Basketball Coach at Bethany College in 2026.
Burke brings more than 35 years of coaching experience and a record of sustained success at the high school level throughout Western Pa. Over her distinguished career, she has amassed more than 500 victories as a head coach while developing championship-caliber programs and student-athletes.
Most recently, Burke served as head girls basketball coach at Shady Side Academy, where she led the Bulldogs for five seasons. During her tenure, Shady Side captured two Pa. Interscholastic Athletic Association (PIAA) District VII Class 3A championships, finished as the 2025 PIAA Class 3A state runner-up, and advanced to the state semifinals in 2026.
Prior to her time at Shady Side Academy, Burke spent 18 years at her alma mater, Bethel Park High School. There, she guided the program to its only District VII Class 4A championship in 2013 and led the team to three additional district title game appearances. Burke began her coaching career at Butler High School, where she spent eight seasons, won a sectional championship, and advanced to the state quarterfinals four times.
At Shady Side Academy, Burke was named Trib High School Sports Network Class 3A Coach of the Year in four consecutive seasons. She also earned Class 6A Coach of the Year honors in 2020 while leading Bethel Park, adding to an extensive list of coaching accolades throughout her career.
In addition to her coaching accomplishments, Burke enjoyed an outstanding playing career at the University of Pittsburgh from 1990-94. A three-time All-Big East selection and the 1991 Big East Rookie of the Year, Burke concluded her collegiate career with 1,807 points and 954 rebounds. She currently ranks seventh in program history in both scoring and rebounding and is fourth all-time in steals with 224.
Her achievements have earned numerous honors, including induction into the University of Pittsburgh Walk of Fame and selection to the Atlantic Coast Conference Legends Class of 2016. Burke was also inducted into the Bethel Park High School Hall of Fame in 1995 and the Western Pa. Interscholastic Athletic League Hall of Fame in 2016.
Burke earned a Bachelor of Arts in English writing from the University of Pittsburgh in 1994 and a Master of Education from Pittsburgh in 1995.
