Burtnyk returns to Merrimack for his first year on the men's
basketball coaching staff following an illustrious career under
Coach Hammel (2004-08) in which he guided the Warriors to 54 total
wins and an NCAA Tournament berth in his final year. Over the
course of three seasons at Merrimack, Burtnyk tallied 830
points.
Coaching Merrimack to over 400 wins, Hammel introduced Burtnyk as
the ninth assistant coach in the Bert Hammel era on Thursday,
September 10. Following former assistant Joe Gallo as the
second consecutive former Warrior point guard, Burtnyk feels
fortunate to have the opportunity to work with the 29th year
coach.
“It’s great to be back at Merrimack and be part of
such a rich basketball tradition,” Burtnyk said. “I
feel lucky to have the opportunity to work with Coach Hammel and
some of the guys I played with as a senior.”
With the departure of Gallo, Hammel is a believer that Burtnyk
will follow in his footsteps as a great asset to the program.
“Micky is what Merrimack basketball is all about,”
Hammel said. “His strong work ethic and commitment to getting
our program to the next level is what will make him so valuable. I
think it will be a smooth transition because [the players he played
alongside] respected him on the court, and that will translate into
respect for him as a coach.”
