Cougar Basketball Head Coach/Director of Athletics
Bob Burchard
Since his arrival at Columbia College, Bob Burchard has turned the Cougar basketball program into a perennial powerhouse in the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA). Burchard has compiled a 531-193 (.733) record in 21 seasons at the helm, giving him the most in wins in program history. The Cougars have averaged over 25 victories per season under his guidance. This transition took many by surprise because the 14 seasons prior to Burchard's arrival, the Cougars recorded a 98-224 (.304) record.
Burchard hasn't just engineered the turnaround of Cougar basketball but continues to build the program on two premises. First, he will only recruit student-athletes who can benefit from the academic programs offered at Columbia College. And, second, he uses intercollegiate basketball as a tool to enhance those educational experiences. In addition, Burchard is always looking for an athlete who has proved himself on the court and has a successful basketball background. The formula works. There have been 68 student-athletes that have earned academic all-conference honors since Burchard's first season and 16 that have received All-American athletic honors.
The Cougars have advanced to the NAIA Men¹s National Basketball Championship 14 times in his tenure, including 13 of the past 15 seasons. Burchard has been named conference coach of the year six times, most recently in 2001 when the Cougars closed American Midwest Conference play with a perfect 11-0 record. Among all active coaches in the NAIA, Burchard stands at 15th in most wins with 531 and third with highest winning percentage at 73 percent.
Last season, after defeating rival McKendree University in the AMC Tournament championship, the Cougars earned an automatic bid to the NAIA National Tournament. Columbia advanced deeper into the tournament then they ever had before, making it all the way to the championship game. The Cougars ended their season with a 30-8 record, marking the fourth 30-win season under Burchard's direction.
In 2003-04, the Cougars set a number of records, including most wins in a season. Columbia posted 32 wins, eclipsing the previous mark of 30, which was set in 1989-90 and again in 1990-01. The Cougars also won more consecutive games than any squad in history, ripping off 17 straight wins during the regular season.
In 2000, Burchard was a "court coach" for the USA Basketball squad in Colorado, serving as the NAIA representative of the coaching staff that was led by Syracuse men's basketball coach Jim Boeheim. Burchard helped guide a squad which consisted of collegiate All-Americans, including Zach Randolph, Carlos Boozer, Nick Collison, Kirk Hinrich, Jason Ricardson and Tayshaun Prince. In 2005, Burchard was appointed the NAIA representative for USA Basketball's Collegiate Committee. (see photos) The Committee is responsible for recommendations to the Board concerning USA Basketball’s men’s collegiate events, including the selection of players and coaches. He served the NAIA as a "court coach" in the summer of 2008 when he travelled to Washington, D.C. for the USA Basketball Men's U18 National Team Trials. Burchard served on the Collegiate Committee, which was responsible for making recommendations to the board concerning the 12 roster spots on the U18 National Team.
Also in the summer of 2008 Burchard was selected as one of the inductees into the Missouri Basketball Coaches Association (MBCA) Hall of Fame. The induction, held in connection with the 2008 Missouri All-Star Games, took place at the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame in Springfield, Mo.
"Bob Burchard gets it. He is a teacher, mentor, coach and AD. In each of those roles he is student focused,” states Columbia College President Dr. Gerald Brouder. “He wins with humility and loses with dignity. Bob is a polished ambassador of Columbia College.”
Burchard came to Columbia College after spending seven seasons (1981-88) at Missouri Western State College as an assistant coach. He spent the first season under Gary Filbert, former executive director of the Show-Me State Games, and the remainder of his tenure with the Griffons under Skip Shear. Burchard was responsible for the majority of Missouri Western¹s recruiting. Two teams advanced to the NAIA Basketball National Championship while he was with the Griffons. Burchard got his introduction to coaching basketball in 1980, when he coached the boys and girls teams at Jameson (Mo.) High School (19-8). After receiving his undergraduate degree from Catawba College in 1979, Burchard earned a master's degree in education from East Carolina University in 1980. A native of McLean, Va., Burchard graduated from McLean High in 1975.
Burchard also serves as Columbia College's athletic director. He oversees the management of the school's five sports programs. He was one of the key figures in bringing the NAIA Women's National Fastpitch Softball Championship to Columbia, where it was held four times, and the NAIA Women's National Volleyball Tournament, held in 2006 and 2007.
In May 1996, Burchard earned the Columbia Kiwanis Club's Don Faurot Sportsperson of the Year Award. The award was named after former University of Missouri football coach, athletic director and longtime Columbia resident Don Faurot. In addition, February 2004, he was recognized as a recipient of the Kent Heitholt Memorial Award which is presented to an individual who is committed to the advancement of women in athletics. Burchard sees himself as a shepard who develops direction for the athletic department at Columbia College, keeping the staff focused on their target and always keeps in mind that he is a teacher, not just a coach.
Bob resides in Columbia with his wife Faye, the Dean of Campus Life at Columbia College. They have two children, Jennifer and Bret.