Former Aberdeen Central standout player Paiton Burckhard is rejoining the Golden Eagles program, this time as the head coach of the girls’ basketball team.

Burckhard helped lead Central to Class AA State Championships in 2016 and 2018, before going on to have a standout career at South Dakota State University, helping to lead the Jackrabbits to the 2022 WNIT Championship.

Burckhard should be a natural fit for the Golden Eagles, knowing nearly everybody involved in the program. Her former coach Dawn Seiler is the athletic director at Central.

“I know the personnel from administration to coaches to the players,” Burckhard said. “I know them very well.”

She knows one individual better than the others as Burckhard will get an opportunity to coach her sister, Lauryn.

“My sister and I, we have been super close our entire lives. She was first person I mentioned it to and brought it up to her. We were really honest with each other,” Burckhard said. “That sister dynamic is different in itself, just in life. Sisters get after each other, but we were really honest about it. We both knew that it was really great opportunity for both of us.”

Burckhard is not the first Golden Eagle from those championship squads to get into coaching. Her former teammate Brianna Kusler is the head boys’ basketball coach at Pierre.

Burckhard recalled how the Central players used to half-jokingly say that they should all get into coaching someday.

“When this opportunity presented itself and I figured out how to make it work with my schooling and stuff, it was a no brainer for me to at least try and apply for it,” Burckhard said.

Burckhard is currently finishing up her Masters Degree in Speech Pathology at the University of South Dakota.

Burckhard said she is excited to be able to give back to the program and community that helped her become the person that she is today.

She inherits a program with multiple accomplished players with more on the way.

“Lots of talent, lots of upcoming talent,” Burckhard said. “It’s just super exciting to be able to hop into a program like this where there’s so much potential.”