Continuing success main focus of Burdette-Good, gymnasts in 2010

In order to become the head coach in any sport at the Division I level, it usually takes countless year to move up through the ranks.

For West Virginia head gymnastics coach Linda Burdette-Good, it was a matter of being at the right place at the right time.

In the mid-1970s, Burdette-Good had just finished the graduate teaching program at WVU. In her time as a graduate student, she was part of the club gymnastics team as a competitor as well as a coach.

After graduation, she began what she thought would be a career in teaching when she accepted a professor position at Fairmont State.

"(WVU) had originally hired someone to coach gymnastics right after I began at Fairmont State," Burdette-Good said, "However, she quit just a few weeks before the season."

In August of 1975, she would receive the phone call that would change her life when she was asked to become the head coach of the WVU gymnastics team.

"It was originally just a one-year appointment, but as you can see, I'm still here today," she said laughing. "I tease (Athletic Director) Ed Pastilong that they're still trying to get rid of me."

Entering her 36th year in the head coaching position, Burdette-Good has a long list of accolades to accompany her prestigious coaching record.

She has produced 31 regional tournament appearances, 10 conference champions and four trips to nationals.

All that added to a 612-244-4 coaching record makes her one of the most respected coaches in the business.

"It really is an honor to perform under her," said senior Chelsi Tabor. "She's been a second mom to me, and it so great to have her here."

Fellow senior Shelly Purkat agrees.

"There are so many similarities between her and my mom," the Edina, Minn., native said. "As a freshman, she really made the college transition easier for me."

After nearly four decades of coaching experience, Burdette-Good says she must adapt her coaching philosophy to each new team.

"The mentality changes all the time," she said. "It is really why we have been successful. When you keep things the same, it gets boring, and you never get better."

However, one thing remains the same year-in and year-out with Burdette-Good.

"It's about treating each girl as fairly as I can and to bring out the best in each girl," Burdette-Good said. "Those points may be different in every athlete, and you can't treat everyone exactly the same, but you try to treat them equally as you can."

The upcoming 2010 season presents new and exciting challenges for Burdette-Good and her squad.

Ranked 21st in the Gyminfo Preseason Poll, the Mountaineers have expectations to live up to, despite losing seniors Meghan Morris and Erica Watson to graduation last season.

"We're fairly high every year," Purkat said. "But this year is important because we want to be even better."

Both Watson and Morris finished their careers earning over 1,000 points with Morris being voted the 2009 East Atlantic Gymnasts League Most Outstanding Senior.

A new crop of leaders must step up from the bunch. Tabor, Purkat and junior Amy Bieski are expected to be the top three performers this year for Burdette-Good.

Establishing depth will be key in the Mountaineers' success this season, however.

"It may not just take one or two girls to replace (Watson and Morris)," Burdette-Good said. "I'm hoping the underclassmen will catch on and learn quickly to gain that intensity that those seniors left behind."

Tabor and the other 17 girls are hoping to add another successful year to Burdette-Good's collection.

"We need to start strong and stay consistent, myself included," she said. "By starting to hit early on and throughout the year will make it that much better."

The Mountaineers will have their preseason Jan. 2 in the annual Gold and Blue Meet before kicking off the regular season Jan. 8 at Michigan State with Penn State and Western Michigan.