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The UA on Wednesday announced that Becky Burke has been named the ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥â€™ next coach, succeeding fan favorite Adia Barnes, who took the SMU job last weekend after nine seasons at her alma mater.

“Our model centers around identifying head coaches who prioritize success in coaching, recruiting and the development of high-character student-athletes,â€� ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥ athletic director Desireé Reed-Francois said in a news release.

“Coach Burke is a proven program builder and rising star in collegiate women’s basketball with a track record of transformational success. She is familiar with the ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥ and the tight-knit community we have in Tucson.

“Our search committee did a wonderful job of selecting the right leader as we are proud to welcome Coach Burke, Savannah and Banks to the University of ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥.â€�

Burke spent the past three seasons at Buffalo, where she led the Bulls to the WNIT championship earlier this month. Buffalo improved each season under Burke, going from 12-16 to 19-14 to 30-7. The 30 wins were a program record.

Burke, 35, spent the previous two seasons at USC Upstate in Valley Falls, South Carolina. The Spartans improved from 8-15 to 22-8 under her leadership, and Burke was named Big South Coach of the Year in 2022.

Before that, Burke coached at Division II Charleston, where she posted a 48-14 record over two seasons.

“I would like to thank President (Suresh) Garimella and Desireé for this wonderful opportunity to lead ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥ women’s basketball, a program with such rich tradition,â€� Burke said in the release. “ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥ fans fully understand the role that elite culture plays in building a program that wins championships. Our staff will be ready to make that a reality as we call Tucson home.â€�

Burke is from Northern Pennsylvania and played at Louisville from 2008-12. But she does have some ties to the West Coast.

Burke served as the director of basketball operations at Cal State Fullerton in 2013-14.

After working as an assistant coach at Saint Joseph’s in Collegeville, Indiana, Burke launched the women’s basketball program at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in Prescott. Burke led the Eagles, playing on the NAIA level, to a 35-18 record over two seasons.

Burke takes over a UA program that achieved unprecedented success under Barnes before plateauing over the past few seasons. ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥ won the WNIT championship in 2019 and was the national runner-up in ‘21, losing to Stanford by one point in the title game.

The ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥ made the NCAA Tournament each of the next three seasons but couldn’t escape the second round. They played in the WBIT in March but lost in the first round at home to NAU.

ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥ has only one scholarship player, forward Montaya Dew, whose future is uncertain after she reinjured her surgically repaired knee late in the season. The rest of the roster either exhausted its eligibility or entered the transfer portal. Three players and two signees followed Barnes to SMU.

Louisville made the NCAA Tournament three times during Burke’s four-year playing career, including an appearance in the national championship game. She averaged 9.3 points and shot 36.5% from 3-point range.