Robert F. Burkley

Induction Year: 2018

Category: Track & Field

Location: Middle Country

Bob Burkley was the varsity track and field coach at Newfield High School from 1964-1970 and at Centereach High School from 1971-1998.

He won 28 league championships, and 10 county championships. Following his time in Middle Country, he was an assistant at Bayport-Blue Point High from 1999-2004, at Center Moriches High from 2005-2009 and has been at Northport High since 2010.

Burkley has coached 60 student-athletes who went on to have their own track and field coaching careers.

He also coached five national champions, two national record holders, and five New York State record holders.

Here’s a data point for you: Burkley’s teams went 26 years and 158 meets without losing a dual meet! He was also a lifeguard captain at Jones Beach for 42 years and was named New York State Lifeguard of the Year in 2010.