Bryan Burk enters his 12th season as head coach of the Spring Arbor University women’s cross country program and his seventh season leading the men’s program in 2026. He also serves as an assistant coach for the men’s and women’s track & field teams.
A former Cougar student-athlete, Burk guided the men’s cross country team to the 2024 Crossroads League championship, the program’s first conference title since 2004. Spring Arbor finished ahead of nationally ranked Indiana Wesleyan and Taylor, and Burk earned Crossroads League Coach of the Year honors.
The Cougars have made four team appearances at the NAIA Men’s Cross Country National Championship during Burk’s first six seasons leading the program. SAU placed 17th nationally in 2024 and returned in 2025, when Camden Khon finished 29th to become the program’s first NAIA cross country All-American since 2013. Khon also captured the 2025 Crossroads League individual championship.
Spring Arbor reached No. 6 in the NAIA men’s cross country ratings in October 2024 and again in the 2025 preseason ratings, matching the highest ranking in program history.
Burk competed for Spring Arbor’s cross country and track & field teams from 2009-13. A three-time all-conference performer in cross country, he helped the Cougars earn two conference runner-up finishes and one third-place finish.
On the track, Burk was a three-time NAIA national qualifier in the marathon. He placed 11th at the 2011 national championship with a time of 2:33:19.96, which remains third on Spring Arbor’s all-time list. He also won the conference championship in the 10,000 meters in 2012.
During his collegiate career, the men’s cross country team received the NAIA Buffalo Funds Five Star Champions of Character Team Award, recognizing its commitment to integrity, respect, responsibility, sportsmanship and servant leadership.
Burk earned his bachelor’s degree in health and exercise science from Spring Arbor in 2013. He holds USATF Level 1 coaching certification and is a certified personal trainer through the American College of Sports Medicine.
He and his wife, Chelsae, reside in Spring Arbor, Michigan.
