From Staff Reports
St. Laurence has chosen Byron Burt to oversee the next chapter of its boys basketball program.
Burt, 25, was selected from a pool of 85 applicants, and St. Laurence officials believe he is one of the most exciting young coaches in the Chicago area.
“I am extremely excited to introduce Coach Burt as the leader of our basketball program,” said St. Laurence Athletic Director Tim Chandler. “He is a rising star, and we are excited to see him continue the growth of our program.
“Byron’s energy and passion for basketball and for developing young men was very apparent throughout the process. He embodies the core values of the athletic department, and I am confident he will make an instant connection with our student-athletes and serve as an exemplary role model for them.”
Burt comes to the Burbank from Mather, his alma mater and where he was head coach for the past two seasons, leading the Rangers to a nine-win improvement from 2018-19 (7-21) to 2019-20 (13-15).
“It is an unbelievable opportunity to lead a program with the history and tradition of St. Laurence basketball,” Burt said. “This is a school that not only embraces athletics, but also truly cares about the growth of their students and school community. It’s a perfect fit and a professional dream for me. I can’t wait to be a part of this culture.”
Burt played at Loyola in 2015-16 under Ramblers head coach Porter Moser.
Moser called Burt a “high-energy, high-character young man.”
“He is always trying to learn and he always finds a way to succeed,” Moser said. “There is no doubt Byron is a great hire for St. Laurence.”
Heis the founder and owner of the Chicago Hoops AAU Basketball organization, which has produced 13 collegiate players over the past three seasons.
He served as the dean of students at Mather, where he implemented successful student behavior management strategies. He prides himself on the discipline of his program, along with his ability to surround his student-athletes with knowledgeable, high-character coaches who embody his program’s core values of integrity, passion and humility.