Burton Burns

Burton Burns is in his second season with the Crimson Tide football program as associate head coach and running backs coach.

In his first year at Alabama, Burns helped first-year tailback Terry Grant set school records for rushing yards (891) and touchdowns (8) in a season. Grant was a three-time SEC Freshman of the Week honoree, and was named to the SEC All-Freshman team as well as the Sporting News Freshman All-American team (honorable mention).

An assistant coach at Clemson University for eight seasons before coming to Alabama, Burns was a major factor in producing six of the top 10 offenses in Clemson history as running backs coach for the Tigers. Burns tutored star runners such as 2005 ACC Rookie of the Year James Davis, 2006 freshman record-setter C.J. Spiller, Reggie Merriweather, Travis Zachery and Duane Coleman at Clemson and former New York Jet Jerald Sowell at Tulane. In 2006, Davis led the Tigers with 1,187 rushing yards on 203 carries and scored 17 touchdowns, while Spiller had 938 rushing yards and 10 touchdowns. The Tigers averaged 5.7 yards per carry during the ’06 regular season.

A native of New Orleans, La., Burns spent eight seasons with head coach Tommy Bowden at Clemson after a four-year stint at Tulane that concluded with a 12-0 season in 1998. Over 14 seasons as a college assistant coach, Burns has regularly produced versatile running backs that have been effective in every phase of the game. His players have proven to be equally effective as pass catchers, as well as in the running game.

Burns, 55, spent nine seasons as assistant head coach and offensive coordinator at Saint Augustine High School in New Orleans, La., before joining Bowden’s staff at Tulane. Burns helped lead Saint Augustine to district titles in 1987, 1992 and 1993, his second stint at the school. Burns’ first experience as a coach also was at Saint Augustine, where he served as an assistant from 1977-79 and helped the school win three more district championships on the way to consecutive state titles in 1978-79. Burns also coached at New Orleans’ Booker T. Washington High School in 1980 before a five-year stint as an assistant coach at Southern University in Baton Rouge from 1981-85.

As a player, Burns played fullback (1971-75) at the University of Nebraska under head coach Tom Osborne. A member of three Cornhuskers teams that won at least nine games, Burns participated in the Orange Bowl, Cotton Bowl and Sugar Bowl as a player. He earned a bachelor’s degree in education from Nebraska in 1976. Burns is married to the former Connie Winder. The couple has three daughters (Amber, Christy, Erin) and a son (Damon).

Burton Burns Curt Cignetti Bo Davis Joe Pendry Kirby Smart Kevin Steele Lance Thompson Jim McElwain Bobby Williams
	Burton Burns is in his second season with the Crimson Tide football program as associate head coach and running backs coach. In his first year at Alabama, Burns helped first-year tailback Terry Grant set school records for rushing yards (891) and touchdowns (8) in a season. Grant was a three-time SEC Freshman of the Week honoree, and was named to the SEC All-Freshman team as well as the Sporting News Freshman All-American team (honorable mention). An assistant coach at Clemson University for eight seasons before coming to Alabama, Burns was a major factor in producing six of the top 10 offenses in Clemson history as running backs coach for the Tigers. Burns tutored star runners such as 2005 ACC Rookie of the Year James Davis, 2006 freshman record-setter C.J. Spiller, Reggie Merriweather, Travis Zachery and Duane Coleman at Clemson and former New York Jet Jerald Sowell at Tulane. In 2006, Davis led the Tigers with 1,187 rushing yards on 203 carries and scored 17 touchdowns, while Spiller had 938 rushing yards and 10 touchdowns. The Tigers averaged 5.7 yards per carry during the ’06 regular season. A native of New Orleans, La., Burns spent eight seasons with head coach Tommy Bowden at Clemson after a four-year stint at Tulane that concluded with a 12-0 season in 1998. Over 14 seasons as a college assistant coach, Burns has regularly produced versatile running backs that have been effective in every phase of the game. His players have proven to be equally effective as pass catchers, as well as in the running game. Burns, 55, spent nine seasons as assistant head coach and offensive coordinator at Saint Augustine High School in New Orleans, La., before joining Bowden’s staff at Tulane. Burns helped lead Saint Augustine to district titles in 1987, 1992 and 1993, his second stint at the school. Burns’ first experience as a coach also was at Saint Augustine, where he served as an assistant from 1977-79 and helped the school win three more district championships on the way to consecutive state titles in 1978-79. Burns also coached at New Orleans’ Booker T. Washington High School in 1980 before a five-year stint as an assistant coach at Southern University in Baton Rouge from 1981-85. As a player, Burns played fullback (1971-75) at the University of Nebraska under head coach Tom Osborne. A member of three Cornhuskers teams that won at least nine games, Burns participated in the Orange Bowl, Cotton Bowl and Sugar Bowl as a player. He earned a bachelor’s degree in education from Nebraska in 1976. Burns is married to the former Connie Winder. The couple has three daughters (Amber, Christy, Erin) and a son (Damon).