Kenni Burns

Kenni Burns

Current position
Title	Head coach
Team	Kent State
Conference	MAC
Record	1–23
Biographical details
Born	(1983-11-24) November 24, 1983 (age 41) Springfield, Illinois, U.S.
Alma mater	Indiana
Playing career
2003–2006	Indiana
Position(s)	Running back
Coaching career (HC unless noted)
2007	Millersville (RB)
2008–2009	Southern Illinois (TE)
2010–2013	North Dakota State (WR)
2014	Wyoming (WR)
2016	Western Michigan (RB)
2017–2018	Minnesota (RB)
2019–2022	Minnesota (AHC/RB)
2023–present	Kent State
Head coaching record
Overall	1–23

Kenni Burns (born November 24, 1983) is an American college football coach and former player. He is the head football coach for Kent State University, a position he has held since 2023. He is the former running backs coach and assistant head coach for Minnesota Golden Gophers football.[1]

Playing career

Burns was a three-year letter winner at Indiana. As a student he played running back from 2003 to 2006.

Coaching career

Minnesota

Burns followed P. J. Fleck from Western Michigan to Minnesota 2017, as the running back coach.[2] In 2019, he was granted the additional title as assistant head coach. During his tenure, Burns coached Rodney Smith and all-American back Mohamed Ibrahim.[3]

Kent State

On December 14, 2022, Burns was named the head coach for the Kent State Golden Flashes.[4] His head coaching debut against UCF in the 2023 season is considered one of the worst in NCAA Division I FBS history, leading the Golden Flashes to a 56–6 defeat. In his first season as head coach, he led Kent State to a 1–11 record, marking them as one of the worst teams in NCAA Division I FBS in the 2023 season. The only win of the season was a victory over the NCAA Division I FCS Central Connecticut. In his second season, he led Kent State to a winless 0-12 record. The Golden Flashes once again finished as the worst team in the 2024 season and became the first winless team in a full season since 2019. Burns holds a 1-23 record as a head coach, which includes an upset loss against NCAA Division I FCS Saint Francis and 22 consecutive losses to FBS teams. Burns is currently on a multi-year 3+ million dollar coaching contract with Kent State athletics which goes through the 2028 college football season.

Personal life

Burns is from Springfield, Illinois. He graduated from Sacred Heart-Griffin High School in 2003 and attended Indiana University Bloomington where he graduated with a degree in general studies in 2006.

Burns and his wife, Ciara, have two children.

Head coaching record

Year	Team	Overall	Conference	Standing	Bowl/playoffs
Kent State Golden Flashes (Mid-American Conference) (2023–present)
2023	Kent State	1–11	0–8	6th (East)
2024	Kent State	0–12	0–8	12th
Kent State:		1–23	0–16
Total:		1–23

References

1. "Kenni Burns - Football Coach". University of Minnesota Athletics. Retrieved December 14, 2022.
2. "Kenni Burns - Football Coach". Western Michigan University Athletics. Retrieved December 14, 2022.
3. "Kenni Burns, Running Backs Coach (FB), Minnesota Golden Gophers". 247Sports. Retrieved December 14, 2022.
4. "Kent State Names Kenni Burns as 23rd Head Football Coach in Program History". Kent State Golden Flashes. Retrieved December 15, 2022.

External links

• Kent State profile