From Washington University Athletics
Washington University in St. Louis Director of Athletics Josh Whitman announced the expansion of the athletic department’s senior leadership team with the hiring of Associate Director of Athletics for Varsity Programs and Senior Woman Administrator Sara Burton.
In addition, Whitman announced that Nancy Fahey will assume the role of Senior Assistant to the Director of Athletics while continuing to serve as the head coach of the Washington U. women’s basketball program.
Burton will lead departmental efforts to host and promote varsity regular- and post-season home contests, along with coordinating the student-athlete wellness efforts of Washington University Athletics. She will also serve as the direct supervisor for select members of the coaching and support staff.
“I am honored to join this prestigious university and partner in supporting our student-athletes within and beyond their sport experience,” said Burton, who begins work at Washington U. on Jan. 12. “I would like to thank Director of Athletics Josh Whitman; Deputy Director of Athletics Chris Peacock; and Senior Assistant to the Director of Athletics Nancy Fahey for this exceptional opportunity to collaborate with our consummate athletics staff, accomplished student-athletes, and esteemed members of our campus.”
Burton arrives on the Danforth Campus after spending the past 22 years at the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse. Burton is in her second year as UW-L’s Student-Athlete Success Coordinator after spending 20 years on the sidelines as the head women’s soccer coach.
In her role as Student-Athlete Success Coordinator, Burton was responsible for providing academic counseling and support services to student-athletes, along with coordinating the athletic program's wellness efforts and community service initiatives.
“We are pleased to welcome Sara Burton to our senior leadership team as our new Associate Director of Athletics and Senior Woman Administrator. Sara brings a wealth of experience in both coaching and administration to the position,” said Whitman, who worked alongside Burton at UW-L from 2009-13. “During Sara’s time on our campus, our staff and student-athletes learned what I did working alongside Sara for four years at UW-La Crosse: her positive outlook, willingness to listen, and strong leadership skills make her well prepared for this new challenge in her career.”
As the second head coach in the history of the UW-L women’s soccer program, she led the Eagles to a 173-149-31 (.534) record in her 20 seasons, which included 13 winning seasons. Burton’s 173 wins ranks first in school history and third in the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC), and a total of 32 players earned All-WIAC honors under Burton's tutelage. Among other previous coaching stops, Burton spent two years as an assistant coach at the University of Chicago.
Burton earned her bachelor's degree in sociology/anthropology from Knox College in 1991, and was a four-time letterwinner and two-time team captain on the women’s soccer team. She also lettered four seasons in soccer and basketball during a stellar prep career at Edison High School in Tulsa, Okla. Burton earned her master's degree in sports administration from UW-L in 1996.
Fahey, meanwhile, will assume new administrative responsibility as Senior Assistant to the Director of Athletics. She will work on a number of special projects and initiatives, including staff development, the end-of-the-year sports banquet, and the Sports Hall of Fame.
Fahey, who is in her 29th season on the sidelines, has led Washington U. to a 670-121 (.847) overall record and an NCAA Division III record five national championships. She has also guided the Bears to 10 Final Four appearances and 20 University Athletic Association (UAA) titles.
“We are excited to add Nancy Fahey to our senior leadership team as the new Senior Assistant to the Director of Athletics. Nancy’s long and illustrious career as our head women’s basketball coach is well documented, but it is her leadership skills and administrative acumen that have prepared her well for this additional responsibility,” added Whitman. “Nancy brings tremendous judgment and strong institutional knowledge to the department’s leadership table, and we are excited to add her voice to our discussions.”