Biographical details | |
---|---|
Born | Springfield, Illinois, U.S. | November 24, 1983
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) |
2014-2015 | Wyoming (WR) |
2016 | Western Michigan (RB) |
2017–2018 | Minnesota (RB) |
2019–2022 | Minnesota (AHC/RB) |
2023–2024 | Kent State |
Head coaching record | |
Overall | 1–23 |
Kenni Burns (born November 24, 1983) is an American college football coach and former player. He was most recently the head football coach for Kent State University, serving for two seasons from 2023 to 2024. He is the former running backs coach and assistant head coach for Minnesota Golden Gophers football. [1]
Burns was a three-year letter winner at Indiana. As a student there he played running back from 2003 to 2006.
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]
On December 14, 2022, Burns was named the head coach for the Kent State Golden Flashes. [4] His initial contract was for five years, starting at $525,000/year with minor increases in 2025 and 2027, amounting to $2.7 million in total. [5] Kent State extended Burns through 2028 following the 2023 season. [6]
Kent State placed Burns on administrative leave on March 27, 2025. At the time, his overall record was 1–23. Offensive coordinator Mark Carney took over day-to-day operations. [7] Kent State fired Burns on April 11 and confirmed Carney as the interim head coach. [8]
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. [9]
Year | Team | Overall | Conference | Standing | Bowl/playoffs | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Kent State Golden Flashes (Mid-American Conference)(2023–2024) | |||||||||
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 |