SMCC Athletics Thanks AJ Burton for a Decade of Service

SOUTH PORTLAND, Maine – Southern Maine Community College Athletics announces that Associate Head Men's Basketball Coach and Pathway Advisor AJ Burton will be departing the college to continue his professional career at the University of Alaska Anchorage.

Since arriving at SMCC in 2016, Burton has become one of the most recognizable and influential figures within the Seawolves community, serving students in a variety of roles that extended far beyond the basketball court.

Originally joining the college as a live-in staff member and assistant coach with the men's basketball program, Burton's responsibilities quickly expanded to include game management, teaching First Year Experience and Sport Management courses, academic advising, and student-athlete support. Throughout his time at SMCC, he built a reputation for being a trusted mentor, educator, and advocate for student success.

In athletics, Burton helped guide the men's basketball team through a very successful stretch of program history. During his tenure, the Seawolves captured four Yankee Small College Conference championships, made seven United States Collegiate Athletic Association (USCAA) National Tournament appearances, and won the 2022 USCAA Division II National Championship. Following two seasons as an assistant coach, Burton was elevated to Associate Head Coach in 2018 and remained a key member of the program's leadership staff.

Beyond basketball, Burton also served as head coach of the SMCC golf program from 2021-2023, leading the Seawolves to back-to-back YSCC Championships and earning both YSCC and USCAA Coach of the Year honors in 2022. While those accomplishments added to an impressive coaching résumé, Burton's impact was felt most strongly through his daily interactions with students.

In 2022, Burton joined SMCC's advising team and became an important part of the college's pathway advising model. As the advisor for Business Administration, Sport Management, Culinary Arts, and Hospitality students, he worked closely with hundreds of students to help them navigate their academic careers. He also served as an invaluable resource for all student-athletes, helping incoming and current students build academic pathways and establish a foundation for success both in the classroom and in competition.

His commitment to students and the college community earned him numerous recognitions throughout his tenure, including the John Dakin Award for Outstanding Contribution and the Light on the Point Staff Person of the Year Award, presented to an employee who consistently exceeds expectations while advancing the college's mission both inside and outside the classroom.

“AJ Burton's impact on SMCC over the past decade has been extraordinary,” said Associate Dean of Athletics & Engagement Ethan Wells. “As a coach, advisor, and professor, he has left a lasting mark on our athletic department, campus community, and, most importantly, our students. I'm grateful for our professional relationship, turned friendship, and I'm proud to say that the College is a better place for AJ’s leadership and service. We’ll miss him greatly, but it's only fitting that his next stop will be for another group of Seawolves, those at the University of Alaska Anchorage. We thank AJ for all he has given to SMCC and wish him nothing but success in the years ahead."

“These last ten years have been incredibly special, and words can't describe how thankful I am that SMCC allowed me to grow here in so many ways,” said Burton. “Being a mentor for young men and women across our student body and athletics was what drove me every day to be my best. Watching our student-athletes succeed both on and off the playing surface, and later in life, has been one of the most rewarding experiences of my career. I will always value the relationships I have built across SMCC's campus and look forward to watching the college and its athletic programs continue their cherished legacy. These last ten years have gone by quickly, but I'm forever grateful and will always be a Seawolf for life.”

SMCC Athletics thanks AJ Burton for his years of service, leadership, and dedication to the Seawolves community. We wish him continued success in all future endeavors.