After a playing career in which Burke prepped at Calvert Hall College High School, and moving on to play college lacrosse for Hall of Fame Coach Don Zimmerman at the University of Maryland at Baltimore County, Burke returned to his high school alma mater to begin his coaching career as an offensive assistant coach for the Cardinals from 1997-2002.

In 2003, Burke was named Head Men's Lacrosse Coach at Howard Community College in Columbia, Md where he finished with a record of 42 wins and 15 losses in four years . During his tenure at Howard, Burke was named the NJCAA Region XX Coach of the Year in 2005, 2006 and 2007. He helped produce the program's first 10 NJCAA All-Americans, as well as a total of 33 NJCAA All-Region XX student-athletes. Burke also helped guide the Dragons to their first ever Maryland JUCO title in 2006, as well as their first ever appearance in the NJCAA National Final Four, finishing with a No. 3 national ranking in Lacrosse Magazine and Inside Lacrosse. During the 2007 season, the Dragons offense averaged a hefty 18.4 goals per game, produced three NJCAA All-Americans on the offensive end, as well as the NJCAA Region XX Offensive Player of the Year(Peet Poillon) for the second year in a row.

Burke was named the Head Men's Lacrosse Coach at CCBC Essex in 2010. He led the Knights to six consecutive NJCAA Region XX Titles (2010-2015), as well as three appearances in the NJCAA National Championship game in 2010, 2011 and 2015(including 7 straight NJCAA Final Four appearances)and an overall record of 95 wins and 35 losses. Burke, named Region XX Coach of the Year in 2010 and 2011 and Maryland JUCO Coach of the Year 7 times while at Essex(2010-2016) produced 36 NJCAA All-Americans and 50 NJCAA All-Region XX players while at Essex.

In 2017, Burke served as the defensive coordinator at CM Wright High School in Bel Air, Md. , helping the Mustangs lead the county in goals against average at 5.54 per game, and helping to lead the Mustangs to a 13-4 record and a regional finals appearance.

Burke was named the Head Boys' Lacrosse Coach at Towson High School in 2018, and in two years at the school amassed a 28-9 overall record and led the Generals to back-to-back MPSSAA 3A North Region Titles.