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Navy assistant coach Eugene Burroughs was one of the
premiere players in Richmond basketball history. He
was a noted scorer, playmaker and defensive stopper.
Now in his second season at Navy, head coach Billy
Lange is relying upon Burroughs' experience as a
player to help teach the Midshipmen the same skill
and technique he coined successful at Richmond.
Burroughs was instrumental in Corey Johnson's
development as a playmaker. A member of the Patriot
League's All-Rookie Team, Johnson was one of the top
assist-givers (3.1 apg) in the league and was No. 1
among all rookies within the conference.
Last winter, Navy turned in a 9-19 record, producing
four more wins than the previous season. In
addition, the Mids' five conference wins were the
most since the 2001-02 team owned a 5-9 league
record.
Navy finished 2004-05 ranked among the country's top
50 in two statistical categories -- rebound margin
and steals. The Mids' +5.1 rebound margin was the
32nd best among 326 Div. I schools in the nation.
Meanwhile, Navy finished No. 34 in steals per game,
grabbing 8.9 per contest.
The Mids finished the 2004-05 campaign ranked No. 1
in the Patriot League in four statistical categories
(overall games), including scoring offense. Navy
averaged 69.7 points per game, 2.5 points more than
second-place Lafayette (67.2 ppg). The Mids
displayed a +13.5 scoring gain over the previous
season, while averaging just under six rebounds a
game more than the 2003-04 campaign.
Navy also led the league in rebounding offense
(41.1), offensive rebounds (16.11) and rebounding
margin (+5.1). In Patriot League competition, Navy
paced the conference in rebounding offense (42.4)
and offensive rebounds (17.14).
Navy finished the season by setting three school
records for Patriot League action -- three-point
field goals made (99), three-point field goals
attempted (297) and rebounds (593).
Lange helped mold Corey Johnson and Greg Sprink into
Patriot League All-Rookie Team members. The duo made
Academy history as Johnson and Sprink became the
first tandem to score 200 points each in their plebe
season.
Prior to his arrival in Annapolis last spring,
Burroughs spent four seasons as an assistant coach
at Marist College in Poughkeepsie, N.Y. As a member
of the Red Foxes program, he played a role in nearly
every aspect of the day-to-day operation of the
team, including conditioning and working with the
backcourt players.
Before joining the Marist staff in the summer of
2000, he spent three seasons as an assistant coach
at Hofstra University. While at Hofstra, Burroughs
coordinated the individual instruction program for
each player, as well has handling team travel and
game day operations. During the 1999-2000 season,
Burroughs helped lead the Flying Dutchmen to a 24-7
overall mark and a 16-2 mark in the America East
Conference. That season, Hofstra captured the
America East Tournament title and advanced to the
NCAA Tournament.
Burroughs had a short stint at American University
(1996-97) in Washington, D.C. as an assistant coach,
where he was responsible for scouting, individual
instruction, preseason conditioning and the film
exchange program.
A 1994 graduate of the University of Richmond with a
degree in speech communication, Burroughs garnered
Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) All-Defensive
honors as a junior and was named to the CAA
All-Rookie Team in 1991. As a co-captain during the
1993-94 campaign, he started in 25 games, leading
the Spiders in minutes played (31.1) and assists
(4.0), while averaging 8.4 points per game. He
dished out 105 assists as a senior, which stands
10th on Richmond's single-season assists leader
board. In addition, Burroughs ranks sixth all-time
in steals (127) and assists (316) in Spider history.
Burroughs and his wife, Trish, were married in
Jamaica in August and reside in Annapolis. |
