Janel Burgess

Last College: Iowa State ('98) Position: Head Coach Experience: 5th Year

Janel Burgess enters her fifth season as the women's basketball coach at Grand Valley State. Burgess is 74-40 in her four-year GVSU career. During her first two seasons, she totaled a combined 36 victories, which is the most for any Laker coach in their first two years in program history. Her .649 winning percentage is fourth-highest in GVSU program history.

In 2010-11, GVSU posted a 20-8 overall record and 13-6 mark in the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC). The 20 wins marked the fifth time in the last six years the Lakers had at least 20 victories. The team advanced to the conference tournament for the seventh straight year, while also earning an NCAA Midwest Regional Tournament berth.

The Lakers finished the year leading the GLIAC in rebounding margin with a +8.9 spread, while also ranking first in offensive rebounds, averaging 14 per game. Grand Valley was second in the GLIAC in scoring margin (+8.7) and rebounding defense (864) and ranked third in five different categories.

Sophomores Alex Stelfox and Briauna Taylor were named to the GLIAC North Division All-Conference First Team while senior guard Elizabeth VanTiflin was named to the GLIAC North Division All-Defensive Team

During the 2009-10 season, GVSU totaled an 18-10 overall record, finishing 15-7 in the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) and in third place in the league's North Division. The Lakers advanced to the GLIAC Tournament for the sixth straight season.

After the season ended, Grand Valley State claimed the GLIAC Freshman of the Year award for the second consecutive year. Rookie center Alex Stelfox was tabbed as the conference's top newcomer, as well as being named to the North Division All-Defensive Team during her strong freshman season. Guard Emma Veach was selected to the All-GLIAC North Division First Team.

Grand Valley State was the second-best rebounding team in the conference with a +5.3 margin and allowed its opponents to tally a league-low 32.1 rebounds per game. The Lakers also were stingy defensively behind the three-point line, as opponents shot a league-worst .306 from beyond the arc. GVSU finished second in the conference in field goal percentage (.448), offensive rebounds (369), and steals (271), and third in scoring (68.9) and scoring margin (+7.2).

In 2008-09, Burgess guided the Lakers to a 20-10 record, which included a 15-7 mark in the GLIAC. Grand Valley State advanced to the NCAA Tournament and recorded at least 20 victories for the fourth time in the last five years.

GVSU set a pair of single-season records in 2008-09, including free throw percentage and three-pointers made. The Lakers shattered the 2006-07 school record of a .733 percentage at the charity stripe by shooting .778 last year. Moreover, GVSU made more free throws (397) than its opponents attempted (392) in 2008-09. In addition, the Lakers' 218 made three-pointers broke the 2005-06 mark of 200 triples.

During the year, Grand Valley State ran off a 12-game win streak, which tied for the fifth-longest in team history. Among those dozen victories, GVSU knocked off three consecutive undefeated opponents, including a 71-69 upset win over #6 Hillsdale in GVSU Fieldhouse Arena.

The Lakers advanced to the GLIAC Final Four after an opening-round tournament victory over Ashland. Grand Valley State advanced to the NCAA Tournament as the region's eighth seed and faced Northern Kentucky, the #1 team in the country and the defending national champions, on the Norse's home floor. GVSU played well, but Northern Kentucky pulled away late with a 66-57 win.

After the season, the Lakers had three players represented on the All-GLIAC Teams. Senior forward Kim Wyngaard was named to the All-GLIAC North Division First Team, while freshman guard Emma Veach earned All-GLIAC North Division Second Team honors. Veach was aso tabbed the GLIAC Freshman of the Year. Sophomore guard/forward Elizabeth Van Tiflin was named to the All-GLIAC North Division Defensive Team. In 2007-08, Burgess led the Lakers to a 16-12 record in her first campaign, including an 11-7 league record and a berth in the GLIAC Tournament. Defensively, Grand Valley State was one of the top teams in the conference, allowing a league-low 58.7 points per game. The Lakers were fourth in the GLIAC in defensive field goal percentage (.408) in 2007-08.

Perhaps the biggest win of the 2007-08 season for Grand Valley State was its 66-55 home victory over eventual Division II national champion, Northern Kentucky, on Dec. 29. Trailing by eight points (30-22) at intermission, the Lakers outscored NKU, 44-25, in the second half for a huge comeback victory. GVSU was one of just seven teams to defeat the Norse in 2007-08.

Burgess came to Grand Valley State after spending the previous three years at Missouri State as an assistant coach and recruiting coordinator and was named the Associate Head Coach for the 2006-07 season.

She played an integral role in helping guide Missouri State to the team's first national title with the 2005 Women's National Invitation Tournament (WNIT) Championship. The Lady Bears also compiled 25 wins in 2004-05 and won their ninth Missouri Valley Conference title during the 2005-06 season. In addition to her on court responsibilities and recruiting, Burgess was also in charge of overseeing the compliance of the Missouri State women's basketball program and scouting opponents.

Burgess arrived at Missouri State after a four-year stint at Michigan State where she was the Associate Head Coach under Joanne P. McCallie. She helped lead the Spartans to back-to-back NCAA appearances and two fourth-place finishes in the Big Ten Conference. Michigan State went 22-9 in 2003-04 and advanced to the second round of the NCAA Tournament where the Spartans eventually lost to Texas.

The Millersburg, Iowa native worked with the Spartan post players, as well as serving as recruiting coordinator and director of Michigan State girls' basketball camps. She was instrumental in developing and implementing game strategies and held various responsibilities within the program, such as directing pre- and postseason conditioning, developing the game schedule, supervising student-athlete academic progress and coordinating team travel.

Burgess spent one season at the University of Maine (1999-00) under McCallie and helped lead the Black Bears to the NCAA Tournament with a 20-11 record. Beginning her coaching career at Northern Illinois, Burgess spent a brief stint as the director of basketball operations for the Huskies.

A four-year starter at Iowa State, Burgess was a two-time All-Big 12 selection and led the Cyclones to two NCAA Tournament appearances. She finished her collegiate career ranked third in career rebounds (813), third in career points (1,449), fourth in field goal percentage (.531), and second in games played (115). As a team co-captain in 1998, she led ISU to a 25-8 record. Burgess graduated from Iowa State with a bachelor's degree in elementary education with a coaching endorsement.

Janel and her husband, Tim, have two children, Eddie (8), and Sydnee (2).