By Justin Sokeland
WBIW.com
BEDFORD – The toughest coaching job in sports is following a legend, taking over a program that has achieved greatness over an extended period and demands the continuation of that excellence. Greg Burton is accepting that daunting challenge with a smile.
Bedford North Lawrence girls basketball, unparalleled in its tradition and success, entered a new era on Thursday night when Burton, a former assistant with the BNL boys program, was named the new head coach. He succeeds Jeff Allen, who guided the Stars for 10 seasons and won the Class 4A state championship in 2023, as the 12th coach in the school’s 50-year history.
Burton, approved by a 7-0 vote during the North Lawrence Community Schools Board of Trustees meeting, takes control of one of the state’s premier powerhouses, slipping into big shoes that left huge footprints. BNL has won five state championships (the most among 4A teams), produced three Miss Basketball (including current honoree Chloe Spreen) and has won 13 consecutive sectional titles. Two of its previous coaches (Pete Pritchett and Damon Bailey) are inducted in the Indiana Basketball Hall of Fame, and Allen could be on his way. That’s pressure. Burton is embracing it.
“The tradition and history speaks for itself,” Burton said. “It’s huge. When I moved here eight years ago, I fell in love with the school and the town, with the tradition and the history. It’s become my home. It’s the place I want to be.”
Burton started his BNL love affair when he served for two seasons under Matt Seifers with the BNL boys. Then he took off to start his own coaching journey, guiding the Eastern Greene girls for four years before taking over at Eminence the last two seasons. His overall record is 77-60, and he won back-to-back Class A sectional crowns with the Eels. Now he’s making the jump to the top level.
“It’s almost a different game,” Burton said. “I know what it’s like, I understand 4A basketball, high-level basketball. A big part of being at Eastern and Eminence was changing the culture, and that’s already established here. So it’s just maintaining that and coaching basketball.
“I’ve learned a lot, taken pieces from everybody. I had a lot of stuff I wanted to try when I became a head coach, and I’ve learned a lot from each place. It’s paid off for me.”
Burton doesn’t anticipate wholesale changes, and the coaching staff he plans to assemble will have familiar faces. His system and philosophy will have an identical look.
“I’m still old school, a lot of stuff will look very similar,” he said. “But there will be a new twist. I like to run a little more, do stuff in transition. I like the pieces we have, as a guard-oriented team. We’ll be a man-to-man team. My first job will be building a rapport with the team, getting to know them on the court and having them get to know me, get comfortable with me. It will be a learning curve, but I’m excited about it.”
BNL went 20-5 last season, and lost seniors starters Spreen (20.9 points. 6.9 rebounds, and she finished as the second-leading career scorer in program history) and Madisyn Bailey (11.5 points, 4.2 assists). The Stars will return freshman Miley Sherrill (9.0 points, 4.8 rebounds), junior Tori Nikirk (4.1 points), sophomore Trinidy Bailey (3.2) and junior reserve Katie Godlevske next season as a nucleus.
“We all know it’s a big job, big shoes to fill,” BNL athletic director Jeff Callahan said. “It’s a tough job, with the success we’ve had. It’s like following (football coach) Nick Saban at Alabama. Greg will work for his team to be successful.
“We’re excited about Greg as our next coach. He will come in with a lot of energy and experience, and he will step in there to prepare the team to be successful. He’s very dedicated to coaching, very dedicated to kids. We’re excited about the future of BNL girls basketball.”
GREG BURTON RESUME
Year Team Record
2018-19 Eastern Greene 9-16
2019-20 Eastern Greene 8-17
2020-21 Eastern Greene 7-6
2021-22 Eastern Greene 17-6
2022-23 Eminence 17-7 (sectional title)
2023-24 Eminence 19-8 (sectional title)
Totals 77-60
BNL COACHING HISTORY
Coach Years Record
Carol Burk 1974-80 81-20
Gary Boyd 1980-82 32-11
Pete Pritchett 1982-1994 271-25
Rick Spires 1994-95 14-8
Jo Underwood 1995-98 44-20
Jay Ritter 1998-2000 31-12
Frank Decker 2000-04 40-45
Greg Elkins 2004-06 14-28
Kurt Godlevske 2006-13 120-41
Damon Bailey 2013-14 27-1
Jeff Allen 2014-24 226-45
Totals 900-256
