MILWAUKEE -- Heather Burtman has announced her resignation as Head Softball Coach at Alverno College after seven seasons leading the program.
“Heather has been an invaluable member of our athletics staff for 7 years and will certainly be missed on a day to day basis,” said Alverno Director of Athletics Brad Duckworth.
Burtman, who has compiled a 69-159 record at Alverno, will be moving out of the Milwaukee area in support of her husband’s career.
“I’m so thankful to have been a part of it for as long as I’ve been able to,” said Burtman. “It’s amazing when I look back to see the growth of the program, not just in softball but across the board.”
Coach Burtman has been instrumental in building the softball program, which began intercollegiate competition in 2002, taking over in the second season. Inheriting a 3-18 program Burtman tripled the team’s victories in her first season with a 9-13 record.
In 2004 Burtman’s team racked up a school record 16 victories and was just one game shy of .500 with a 16-17 overall mark. The wins are the most in any sport at Alverno, and the .485 winning percentage is also tops.
“I’ve been very blessed to work with some very talented student-athletes that believed in our program,” Burtman said. “I have to give a lot of credit to the players. For it being a startup program they bought in right away and we got right on track from the beginning.”
In Burtman’s third season the team took third-place at the 2005 Lake Michigan Conference Softball Tournament, the first season Alverno joined the league. The Inferno finished 14-24 overall and 5-9 in the LMC.
In 2007 the team began competing in the newly formed Northern Athletics Conference where it has compiled a 17-53 record in the NAC the past three seasons.
“We anticipate the program will continue to move forward,” Duckworth said. “Heather’s put us in a position where the future is certainly bright. We wish her the best of luck and we look forward to the future of Alverno softball.”
A search for a new head coach is already underway for the team, which finished 7-23 and 5-19 in the NAC this season.
Burtman has also been a part of the foundation of the athletics program serving in multiple roles in the department in addition to her softball coaching duties. She has been an assistant coach on the basketball team, the sports information director, and recently the compliance coordinator.
“It’s hard to walk away, but I know my time here was well spent,” said Burtman. “Good things have come from my time here and will continue down the road.”
