University of Minnesota Athletics
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Photo by: Brad Rempel
Burns Named Head Coach at Kent State
12/15/2022 10:55:00 AM | Football
Minnesota assistant head coach and running backs coach has mentored some of the best ever to wear the Maroon and Gold
University of Minnesota Assistant Head Coach and Running Backs Coach Kenni Burns was named the head football coach at Kent State University. Burns has been at Minnesota since 2017 and this is his first head coaching opportunity.Â
Burns will depart Minnesota after coaching some of the best running backs to ever wear the Maroon and Gold. He mentored three of Minnesota's top 13 rushers ever in Mohamed Ibrahim (second in school history), Rodney Smith (third in school history) and Shannon Brooks (13th in school history).
"Kenni is an elite coach and person, and I am thrilled for him and for Kent State," said Minnesota head coach P.J. Fleck. "This is a tremendous hire and the Golden Flashes are getting an amazing man who excels at connecting with his players and getting the most out of them on the field, in the classroom and in the community. Kenni will do a fantastic job, and he will do it his way. I am excited to follow his journey."Â
Burns is in his 15th year of coaching, as he also spent time at Western Michigan, Wyoming, North Dakota State, Southern Illinois and Millersville (Pa.). The Springfield, Ill., native played college football at Indiana where he was a running back from 2003-06. He graduated in 2006 with a degree in general studies.Â
Ibrahim is his prized-pupil, as the Baltimore, Md., native is a two-time All-American who has set numerous Minnesota rushing records in his career. Ibrahim is closing in on two more records, as the Gophers will compete in the upcoming Bad Boy Mowers Pinstripe Bowl at Yankee Stadium in New York City on Dec. 29.Â
Ibrahim has rushed for 1,594 yards this year and for 4,597 in his career. He needs 58 yards to break Darrell Thompson's all-time rushing record of 4,654 yards set from 1986-89 and he needs 33 yards to break David Cobb's single-season rushing record of 1,626 yards set in 2014. Thompson set the career rushing record playing in 45 games, while Cobb set the single-season rushing record playing in 13 games. The bowl game will be Ibrahim's 41st career game and 12th game this season.Â
Burns will be introduced at Kent State on Friday, Dec. 16.Â
Burns will depart Minnesota after coaching some of the best running backs to ever wear the Maroon and Gold. He mentored three of Minnesota's top 13 rushers ever in Mohamed Ibrahim (second in school history), Rodney Smith (third in school history) and Shannon Brooks (13th in school history).
"Kenni is an elite coach and person, and I am thrilled for him and for Kent State," said Minnesota head coach P.J. Fleck. "This is a tremendous hire and the Golden Flashes are getting an amazing man who excels at connecting with his players and getting the most out of them on the field, in the classroom and in the community. Kenni will do a fantastic job, and he will do it his way. I am excited to follow his journey."Â
Burns is in his 15th year of coaching, as he also spent time at Western Michigan, Wyoming, North Dakota State, Southern Illinois and Millersville (Pa.). The Springfield, Ill., native played college football at Indiana where he was a running back from 2003-06. He graduated in 2006 with a degree in general studies.Â
Ibrahim is his prized-pupil, as the Baltimore, Md., native is a two-time All-American who has set numerous Minnesota rushing records in his career. Ibrahim is closing in on two more records, as the Gophers will compete in the upcoming Bad Boy Mowers Pinstripe Bowl at Yankee Stadium in New York City on Dec. 29.Â
Ibrahim has rushed for 1,594 yards this year and for 4,597 in his career. He needs 58 yards to break Darrell Thompson's all-time rushing record of 4,654 yards set from 1986-89 and he needs 33 yards to break David Cobb's single-season rushing record of 1,626 yards set in 2014. Thompson set the career rushing record playing in 45 games, while Cobb set the single-season rushing record playing in 13 games. The bowl game will be Ibrahim's 41st career game and 12th game this season.Â
Burns will be introduced at Kent State on Friday, Dec. 16.Â
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