A native of Alexandria, Virginia, Burke was a 1964 graduate of W.T. Woodson High in Fairfax. He attended and wrestled at Elon College in Alamance County, North Carolina, graduating with a B.A. in English and Physical Education. Burke started his coaching career in 1971 at Southern Alamance High School, where he was an assistant football coach and head wrestling coach. He coached 2014 NWHOF NC Chapter inductee Bobby Lloyd to the 172 lb. Individual State Championship in 1974 and led Southern Alamance to the state tournament championship in 1975.

In 1979, Burke moved to High Point Andrews High School, where he taught English and coached wrestling and football until 1992. Burke’s Red Raider teams were dominant in North Carolina, winning state tournament championships in 1981, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1990, and 1991, and state dual championships in 1990, 1991, and 1992. In total, Burke coached ten state championship wrestling teams (seven tournament and three dual-team) and was also the Defensive Coordinator for the 1991 state champion football team at Andrews.

In 22 seasons as a wrestling coach, Burke coached over 30 individual state wrestling champions, more than 20 High School All-Americans, and led Andrews to a school record of 67 consecutive dual wins. Burke was named NCHSAA Wrestling Coach of the Year six times, NC Mat News Wrestling Coach of the Year eight times, and was the 1992 High Point City Coach of the Year. In addition to being inducted into the 1997 charter class of the North Carolina Chapter of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame, Burke was inducted into the High Point Andrews Hall of Fame in 2017.