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Derek Burton became the fifth head coach in women's soccer program history prior to the 2008 season. In his first season, Burton quickly displayed that his teams would be aggressive and disciplined. In the team's first game under Burton, the Cougars were 3-0 winners over Indiana State on the road. The Cougars continue to progress on their NCAA Division I journey. SIUE will be a part of the Ohio Valley Conference schedule in the 2011 season. Burton came to SIUE with established links to St. Louis and the Ohio Valley Conference. Burton helped Vianney High School to a state championship in 1991 and helped his team to a No. 1 boy's soccer national ranking by USA Today. As a player, Burton was a four-year starter at Arkansas-Little Rock. He quickly turned to the coaching ranks and developed an impressive resume beginning with one season as an assistant at Arkansas-Little Rock and two seasons at Morehead State as an assistant coach. It was the first two years of the OVC women's soccer program for Morehead State, helping develop the foundation for a Division I program. Burton earned a bachelor's in health education at Arkansas-Little Rock in 1997 and a master's in sports administration at Morehead State in 1999. Burton had previous head coaching experience, leading Mount Senario College during the 2000-2001 season and Missouri Valley College from 2001 to 2006. He coached four All-American players and 14 All-America Scholar-Athlete players in five seasons at Missouri Valley. He was named the Heart of America Athletic Conference Coach of the Year in 2002. Burton averaged better than 10 victories in his five seasons at Missouri Valley, posting a 54-28-7 record overall. He returned to NCAA Division I soccer in 2006 as an assistant at Iowa State University. He was involved in leading training sessions, scheduling and was the co-Director of the Iowa State Soccer Camps. Burton also was a staff member of the Region II Olympic Development Program (ODP).