Head Coach Derek Burton

Derek Burton returns for his 17th season as head coach of the SIUE women’s soccer program, kicking off the season with an overall record of 125-118-42 as the Cougars’ head coach.

The Cougars have recorded five NCAA Tournament appearances under Burton, including three straight from 2020 to 2022. SIUE first made the NCAA Division I Championships in 2014 under Burton. His 2016 team shocked the women's soccer world as the Cougars advanced over No. 11-ranked Notre Dame via penalty kicks in the first round of the NCAA Championships.

SIUE became just the second OVC team to make it out of the first round of the NCAA Division I Championships.

Burton's Cougars have been successful on the playing field and in the classroom under Burton's direction. The Cougars consistently have been among SIUE's top teams in grade point average. Last year's Ohio Valley Conference Defender of the Year Matea Diekema closed out her collegiate career being named Scholar All-America and earning the OVC's top honor as an Scholar-Athlete.

From 2020 to 2022, SIUE won back-to-back-to-back OVC Tournament titles. SIUE is now 5-0-1 in OVC Tournament title games under Burton.

The 2020 season, played in Spring 2021, was one of Burton's best at the helm of the Cougar women's soccer program. A shutout semifinal victory helped the Cougars advance to their second OVC title match in as many seasons; however, Burton and his squad were determined to make sure history would not repeat itself, as a penalty goal in extra time secured the program's third appearance in the NCAA Division I Women's Soccer Championship, in which Burton's team was the only team in the tournament to score against national semifinalist Virginia.

The 2019 season was a successful one for the Cougars, earning double-digit wins for the first time since 2016 and advancing to the program's third OVC Tournament Championship Game.

The Cougars took on a new identity during the 2016 season, one of an offensive power. SIUE led the OVC in total points (100), goals (33), assists (34) and assists per game (1.48).

Burton has developed SIUE on both sides of the ball with team's that have been dominating on offense and/or defense.

Individually, MacKenzie was named the OVC Forward of the Year in 2020 and 2021. Andrea Frerker was tabbed the OVC Midfielder of the Year in 2022. Diekema was a two-time OVC Defender of the Year.

Burton also oversaw the development of the program's first All-Region, Scholar All-American, and first team All-OVC performer, defender Sam Jones.

In total under Burton, SIUE has had 12 first team All-OVC selections, 19 second team All-OVC and 15 members of the All-Newcomer teams.

Burton became the fifth head coach in women's soccer program history prior to the 2008 season. In his first season, Burton quickly displayed that his teams would be aggressive and disciplined. In the team's first game under Burton, the Cougars were 3-0 winners over Indiana State on the road.

He came to SIUE with established links to St. Louis and the OVC. While playing at Vianney High School, he helped the team to a state championship in 1991 and a No. 1 national ranking by USA Today.

A four-year starter at Arkansas-Little Rock, Burton turned to coaching and developed an impressive resume beginning with one season as an assistant at UALR and two seasons as an assistant at Morehead State. He was on staff for the first two years of the OVC women’s soccer program at Morehead State.

His first head coaching assignments followed. He led Mount Senario College during the 2000-01 season and Missouri Valley College 2001-2006. Burton coached four All-American players and 14 All-America Scholar-Athlete players in five seasons at Missouri Valley. He was named the Heart of America Athletic Conference Coach of the Year in 2002. He averaged better than 10 victories in five seasons at Missouri Valley, posting a 54-28-7 record overall. He returned to NCAA Division I soccer in 2006 as an assistant at Iowa State University.

Burton earned a Bachelor's in health education at Little Rock in 1997 and a master's in sports administration at Morehead State in 1999. Burton also holds a USSF 'B' Coaching License.

Derek and his wife Jacqueline have a daughter, Fiona and a son, Keane. The family resides in Edwardsville.