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Drew Burwash
Drew Burwash enters his 21st season as the Head Coach of the Lindsey Wilson College women’s soccer program. Entering the 2023 campaign, Burwash has led the Blue Raiders to a record of 340-70-31 (0.806), which actively stands as the NAIA’s second-highest career winning percentage and fifth-best career win total.
During his 20 years at the reigns, Burwash has coached 44 NAIA All-Americans, including two NAIA National Players of the Year. He has also mentored 64 NAIA Scholar-Athletes, 96 All-Mid-South Conference honorees, 12 Mid-South Players of the Year, six Mid-South Freshmen of the Year, and has been named the NAIA’s National Coach of the Year three times and the Mid-South’s Coach of the Year nine times.
On the pitch, Lindsey Wilson has captured four NAIA national championships in six finals appearances, 16 Mid-South Conference regular season crowns, and 16 Mid-South Conference tournament titles under Burwash’s leadership. The Blue Raiders have also been ranked in 53 consecutive NAIA Top 25 coaches’ polls dating back to November 7, 2017, the eighth-longest active streak in the country, and 256 of the last 257 polls.
It did not take long for Burwash to become a household name when he took over in 2003. His first season at the helm saw Lindsey Wilson score an NAIA-record 162 goals en route to the program’s first-ever appearance in the national championship game. The Blue Raiders finished the year with a 25-2-0 overall record, including a program-best 20-match win streak from September 16 to November 24.
The following year, Lindsey Wilson posted the program’s only unbeaten season at 19-0-6, culminating with the program’s first NAIA national championship in Santa Barbara, California on November 23. Then, following a first-round exit from the national tournament in 2005, Burwash led the Blue Raiders to their second national championship in 2006 behind an overall record of 24-2-0.
Over Burwash’s first four seasons, he produced nine NAIA All-Americans, 21 All-Mid-South Conference selections, and was voted the NAIA’s National Coach of the Year twice.
Lindsey Wilson would not return to the national championship game again until 2012, but between 2007 and 2011, the Blue Raiders secured five Mid-South Conference regular season and tournament titles, as well as 92 total wins and a stretch of 34-straight weeks ranked inside the top five of the NAIA coaches poll.
From 2012 through 2015, Burwash guided Lindsey Wilson back to the top of women’s soccer in the NAIA. With a four-year record of 79-13-6, the Blue Raiders continued their tear across the Mid-South Conference and went on to make three appearances in the national championship game, winning in 2012 and 2014 before falling just shy with a runner-up finish in 2015.
Since then, Burwash has comprised an 85-32-11 overall mark, clinching league tournament crowns in 2016, 2017, 2018, and 2019, and earning the Mid-South Coach of the Year accolade in 2016 and 2019.
Historically, Burwash won his 100th career match on November 15, 2007, his 200th on September 13, 2013, and his 300th on October 5, 2019.
Prior to taking over the women’s soccer program, Burwash acted as an assistant coach during the 2002 season. Before that, he served on the men’s soccer staff from 1998 to 2001.
Burwash is a 1994 graduate of Lindsey Wilson College. He played soccer for the Blue Raiders and was a standout goalkeeper and a two-time NAIA All-American.
He was also a member of the United States Men’s Soccer U-16 National Team during the 1987 FIFA World Championships.
In 2000, Burwash was selected for the NAIA Hall of Fame. Four years later, he was named to the Lindsey Wilson College Athletic Hall of Fame.
Burwash and his wife Laura have three sons, Eli, Ty, and Trey, and one daughter, Elle.
Collegiate Coaching Career
Lindsey Wilson College: Men’s Assistant Coach (1998-2001)
Lindsey Wilson College: Women’s Assistant Coach (2002)
Lindsey Wilson College: Head Coach (2003-present)
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