Kent State Softball Camps - Kent State University

Kent State Softball Camps

Golden Flashes Coaching Staff

Kim Burke
Assistant Coach

Kim Burke begins her second season at Kent State after helping the Golden Flashes to the Mid-American Conference regular season title in 2007. She previously served as an assistant at the University of Massachusetts and her alma mater, Central Michigan University for the previous five seasons.

"Kim did a great job working with our outfielders and hitters last season," Head Coach Karen Linder said. "She brings a wealth of knowledge and experience from other Division I programs and I think she really had a positive influence on both our outfield play and our offensive production."

In 2007, the Kent State offense belted 43 home runs and 75 doubles. Both were the second most in school history, while the squad’s 192 RBI rank fourth among all KSU teams.

During Burke’s tenure at CMU from 2004-06, the Chippewas went 29-16 with four All-Mid-American Conference selections and one All-Great Lakes Region selection. She also served as a tri-captain for CMU as a senior.

While at UMass, the Minutewomen went 92-29 (.760), won two Atlantic 10 regular season and Tournament Championships, had 10 All-Atlantic 10 Conference selections, eight All-Northeast Region selections and two All-Americans. She was also a member of the coaching staff that was named the Northeast Region Coaching Staff of the Year in 2003. The 2002 team also set the school record for victories with 53.

She has worked extensively as a staff member for various softball camps in Michigan and Massachusetts. In addition, Burke has served as the National Supervisor for Perfect Game Softball in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.

A 2001 graduate of CMU, Burke starred for the Chippewas from 1998-2001. A four-time All MAC selection, she also earned All-Great Lakes Regional honors once. Central Michigan won the MAC Tournament each of her final three years.

She is working towards a master’s degree in sports administration at Kent State.

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Amy Densevich
Assistant Coach

Former Golden Flash hurler Amy (Cheney) Densevich returned to her alma mater in January of 2008 as Kent State’s pitching coach. A 1999, KSU graduate, Densevich served as the head softball coach at Hudson High School for seven years, where she guided the Explorers to a 2007 Division I state title.

During her tenure at Hudson, Densevich earned co-Western Reserve Conference Coach of the Year honors three times and claimed both Plain Dealer Coach of the Year and Ohio High School Fastpitch Softball Coaches Association Northeast District Coach of the Year accolades in 2007. The Explorers won three straight co-conference titles and six of her former players moved on to play collegiate softball, including three at the Division I level.

A four-year letterwinner at Kent State, Densevich played on a pair of 30-win teams during her career, including the first 30-win squad for current head coach Karen Linder in 1998, which finished second at the Mid-American Conference Tournament. Densevich still ranks in KSU’s top 10 with 383.1 career innings pitched. She earned 24 victories with an ERA of 2.56 and 171 strikeouts from 1995-98. Also a standout student, Densevich earned National Fastpitch Coaches Association Scholar-Athlete honors in 1998.

"I am really excited to have Amy on our staff," Linder said. "As an alumnus she is familiar with Kent State and the Mid-American Conference. Her experiences as both a successful high school and summer ball coach will have a positive impact on our recruiting in Ohio. Amy brings both enthusiasm and loyalty to our program as she has had a part in building our winning tradition. She is looking forward to the excitement and challenge of coaching at the collegiate level and I am looking forward to working with her as a part of our staff."

During her summers, Densevich serves as Director of the Akron Sapphire Softball Organization, which she started in 2001. Three different girls teams from that organization (16u, 14u, 12u) have placed in the top four at the National Softball Association’s national tournament. She has also served as a pitching instructor at numerous camps throughout Northeast Ohio.

A native of Suffield, Ohio, Densevich is a graduate of Field High School, where she set a state record with 90 career victories and earned All-Ohio honors in three straight seasons. She earned a degree in special education at Kent State and has taught at the elementary and middle school levels since 2000.

Married to John Densevich, a former All-American shot put thrower at Kent State, the couple resides in Stow with their one-year old daughter, Cameran.