Space Coast Sports Hall of Fame Coach Dan Burke Will Lead Satellite High Football Program

Satellite High struggled in the 2024 season, finishing with a 1-9 record

BREVARD COUNTY, FLORIDA – Space Coast Sports Hall of Famer and former Palm Bay High School football head coach Dan Burke is returning to the sidelines as Satellite High School’s new head coach.

The announcement was made on Friday, marking a fresh start for the Scorpions under one of Brevard County’s most iconic and accomplished football coaches.

Burke, who led Palm Bay from 1996 to 2018 and returned for the 2023 season, boasts an impressive 250 career victories.

Under his leadership, the Pirates secured back-to-back state championships in 2000 and 2001, 14 district titles, and 10 regional final appearances.

His coaching career has also included stints at Trinity Prep and Winter Park.

In recognition of his success, Burke was inducted into the Space Coast Sports Hall of Fame in 2014 and the Florida Athletic Coaches Association Hall of Fame following his retirement in 2019.

Over his decades-long career, he has guided teams to the playoffs 22 times.

Satellite High struggled in the 2024 season, finishing with a 1-9 record—their lone victory against Burke’s former team, Palm Bay. With Burke at the helm, the program looks to rebuild and compete at a higher level in the seasons ahead.

ABOVE VIDEO: Dan Burke was inducted into the Space Coast Sports Hall of Fame in 2014 and inspires players to strive well beyond the field. 

DAN BURKE – 2014 SPACE COAST SPORTS HALL OF FAME INDUCTEE

BREVARD COUNTY, FLORIDA (May 7, 2014) – A great football coach does more than teach a game. He inspires players to strive well beyond the field.  

Such a coach is Dan Burke, who heads the football program at Palm Bay High School. Under Burke’s leadership, Palm Bay football has made 18 consecutive appearances in the FHSAA state playoffs.

His Pirates have captured two state titles, six Final Four appearances, 10 Elite Eight appearances, and 13 district titles.

Burke’s Pirates hate losing because the team has lost only five district games in the last 18 years.

In 2000, USA Today ranked the Pirates among the top 12 high school football teams in the nation. In 2002, the Pirates were Number One in all power ratings for all classes in Florida.

They opened in 2003 with a Number Two national ranking, behind only the legendary Concord De LaSalle of California.

Football has been a strong part of the fabric of Burke’s life since his flag football days.

“I fell in love with the game,” he said. “I really wasn’t a great player, but I played all the time.”

He played for Eau Gallie High School and he played for the University of Central Florida Knights during a period that proved pivotal for both the man and the team.

Burke became a Knight in 1979, the team’s first year and he was part of the team for three more years, starting in all four.

“UCF timed it just right,” said Burke. “Just after I graduated from Eau Gallie, UCF was starting the football program. I was able to grow along with the program, so I really improved.”

His talent didn’t go unnoticed. He earned All American Honors and was named Offensive Player of the Year by the Orlando Touchdown Club in 1981. In 2013, the Knights inducted him into their Hall of Fame.

Burke joined the New Jersey Generals of the USFL in 1984 and the Baltimore Stars in 1985 before heading south again to play arena football in 1991 with the Orlando Predators.

Trading his player’s uniform for a coach’s, Burke began his long coaching career at Trinity Prep in Winter Park.

“I started as assistance coach, but not long after I became head coach,” he explained.

“Your time as an assistant coach is when you learn, but I was thrown into the fire pretty much right away.”

From the Orlando area, Burke eventually shifted back to his home turf in Brevard, where he led Southwest Junior High in back-to-back undefeated seasons before he took over the Palm Bay Pirate program in 1996.

“They were 3 and 7, but we were able to turn it to 6 and 5 the first year and we’ve been solid ever since,” said Burke.

NIKE COACH OF THE YEAR

Among his many accolades as Pirates coach, Burke was named NIKE Coach of the Year in 2002 and was honored as a guest coach at the First Annual Under Armour All-Star Game at Disney’s Wide World of Sports in 2007.

American Football Monthly featured Burke on its pages, and ESPN Radio 1060 named Burke’s Pirates Team of the Year.

Burke insists that his players and staff should receive credit, but the truth is that the man inspires his team to greatness.

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