NDSU

VIDEO: NDSU All Access with assistant coach Kenni Burns

Kenni Burns begins his fourth season as wide receivers coach and second as recruiting coordinator at North Dakota State University.

North Dakota State won the program’s second straight NCAA Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) national championship on Jan. 5, 2013, with a 39-13 win over Sam Houston State. The Bison completed the season with a 14-1 record including a 7-1 ledger in winning the Missouri Valley Football Conference title.

Burns has worked several all-Missouri Valley Football Conference performers at NDSU including Ryan Smith, who earned second team all-conference honors at both wide receiver and return specialist in 2012.

The Bison offense featured a 1,000-yard receiver during the 2011 season, Warren Holloway, for the third time in school history. The wide receivers were a key part in blocking for a pair of 1,000-yard running backs -- a first in the program’s storied history.

Burns spent the previous two seasons as the tight ends coach at Southern Illinois. SIU went 15-1 in MVFC play during his tenure, won a pair of conference championships and made two NCAA Division I FCS playoff appearances.

A major portion of the Saluki offense evolved around the tight ends, and Burns helped to develop a two-time all-conference selection at that position. In 2009 the Salukis ranked 5th in the nation by averaging 221.1 yards on the ground.

A native of Springfield, Ill., Burns also played a major role in SIU’s recruiting efforts. Prior to going to Southern Illinois, he was the running backs coach at NCAA Division II Millersville (Pa.) University in 2007.

Burns played running back for four years at Indiana University (2003-06), where he lettered three times for the Hooisers. In 2004, Burns received the IU Iron Man award that is given to the player with the most snaps taken during the spring.

While attending Indiana, Burns was a member of the Indiana Student Government as the Athletic Project manager, which was the bridge between the student government and the athletic department. He helped create more student seating at football and basketball games, and helped reduce ticket prices for students.

Before arriving at Indiana, Burns attended Sacred Heart Griffin (Ill.) High School. He was a three-time all-state player and was the first ever sophomore to receive all-state honors. He also received several All-American honors his senior year. He graduated in December 2006 from Indiana University with a bachelor’s degree in general studies.