WASHINGTON, D.C.  – The Catholic men's and women's swimming and diving programs will welcome Keaton Burke as its next head coach effective June 29. Burke inherits a program that has been among the best in the Landmark over the past decade. 

Burke takes over the program after spending the previous three seasons as the assistant coach at Salisbury during an extremely strong run for the program. Most recently in the 2025-26 season, he helped guide the Seagulls to the second NJAC championship in program history on the women's side, while the men's team reached as high as number 17 in the national poll and produced the first ever NJAC individual champion in program history. Across the men's and women's programs, Burke assisted in mentoring 18 athletes who qualfied for the NCAA Championships during the 2025-26 season which was a program record. The Seagulls women's team also won a conference championship in the 2024-25 season and Burke and the rest of the staff were recognized as the NJAC Coaching Staff of the Year.

"I couldn't be more excited to become the new head coach of the swimming and diving program at Catholic University," said Burke. "I want to thank Meghan McDonogh, Kevin Robinson, and the rest of the search committee for the opportunity to take this next step in my career and lead this program."

Before his time at Salisbury, Burke spent a season as an assistant coach at Fairfield University where the Stags women's team won the MAAC Championship and had seven individual conference champions including the conference swimmer of the year. The program had 23 student-athletes qualify for the CSCAA National Invitational and had two program record setters at the event. He also spent the 2021-22 season as an assistant coach at Notre Dame where the team had nine athletes break school records and sent eight athletes to the NCAA Championships. 

"Throughout the interview process, Keaton consistently demonstrated the vision, leadership, and preparation we were seeking in our next head coach," said Meghan McDonogh, Senior Associate Athletic Director. "His thoughtful approach, diverse coaching experiences, positive energy, and genuine enthusiasm for the opportunity here only further reinforced our belief that he is ready to lead his own program and is an outstanding fit for both our swimming and diving team and the Catholic University athletics department. We are excited to welcome him to Catholic University!"

As a student-athlete, Burke was a four-year member of the men's swimming program at Salisbury. He was a recipient of the Jean Freeman Scholarship which is given to six student-athletes annually for individuals whose contributions have brought recognition to their institution through exhibiting leadership, integrity, honesty, competitive attitude and personal graciousness. 

"Keaton brought an energy and professionalism during the interview process that made it clear he would be a perfect fit for our program at Catholic University," said Kevin Robinson, Vice President for Athletics and Recreation. "We are so excited for him to come in and continue to build on the legacy that our swim programs have built in the Landmark and push our athletes to reach new heights and goals."