University of Minnesota Athletics
Football
Burns, Kenni
Kenni Burns
- Title:
- Assistant Head Coach / Running Backs
NOTABLE:
Kenni Burns was named running backs coach at the University of Minnesota in January 2017. In March 2019, he added the title Assistant Head Coach to his resume.
Burns has coached some of the best to ever wear the Maroon and Gold in Rodney Smith and Mohamed Ibrahim. Smith is the program's all-time leader in all-purpose yards and ranks second in career rushing yards, while Ibrahim was named 2020 Big Ten Running Back of the Year and was an AP Third-Team All-American.
In 2021, Burns turned in one of the best coaching jobs in the nation, as he guided Minnesota's dynamic rushing attack and saw his unit overcome tremendous adversity in leading the Gophers to nine wins. At one point in the season, Minnesota was missing four running backs to season-ending injuries and also saw one back enter the transfer portal, but Burns and his unit kept producing. Minnesota was the only team in the nation to have five different running backs top 100 yards in a game, as Ibrahim, Trey Potts, Bryce Williams, Mar'Keise Irving and Ky Thomas all eclipsed the century mark at least once. Minnesota ended the season with 2,575 rushing yards and 27 rushing touchdowns, as it averaged 198 rushing yards per game.
Returning All-American Ibrahim gashed Ohio State for 163 yards in three quarters to open the season before he suffered a season-ending injury. He was replaced by Potts, who churned out 552 yards and six touchdowns in five games, before being injured at Purdue. Williams was called upon to replace Potts and rushed for 117 yards against Nebraska but was then injured at Northwestern.
Freshmen Irving and Thomas carried the load to end the season for the Gophers and each went over 100 yards against West Virginia in the Guaranteed Rate Bow. Burns even mentored converted linebacker to running back Derik LeCaptain and the former walk-on ended the season with three carries for 31 yards and one touchdown as Minnesota's ground game would not be denied.
In 2020, Ibrahim set school records in season rushing yards per game (153.7), consecutive 100-yard rushing games (8) and touchdowns in consecutive games (8). He tied school records in most rushing touchdowns in a game (4), most rushing touchdowns in a first half (4), most rushing touchdowns in one half (4) and consecutive 200-yard rushing games (2).
Ibrahim rushed 201 times (25th most in school single-season history) for 1,076 yards (23rd most in school single season-history) and 15 touchdowns (most ever for a junior at Minnesota and ranks fourth in school-single season history) in the COVID-19 shortened season. He led Big Ten in the following categories: rushing attempts (201), rushing yards (1,076), rushing yards per game (153.7), rushing touchdowns (15), scoring (90), points per game (12.9) and all-purpose yards per game (168.4).
In 2019, Minnesota rushed for a combined for 2,323 yards and 25 touchdowns, which is only the tenth time since 1955 that the Gophers reached those numbers in a season. The Gophers also had three running backs - Smith, Ibrahim and Shannon Brooks - rush for more than 400 yards. The last time three Gophers rushed for more than 400 yards was 2007 (quarterback Adam Weber, Amir Pinnix and Duane Bennett) and the last time it was done by three running backs was 2005 (Laurence Maroney, Gary Russell and Amir Pinnix).
Smith carried the ball 228 times for 1,163 yards and eight touchdowns on his way to being named All-Big Ten Second Team. One of those touchdowns was a 1-yard burst against Maryland and made him Minnesota's all-time record holder in all-purpose yards. Smith ended his career ranked first in school history in all-purpose yards (5,411) and second in rushing yards (4,122).
The hard-to-tackle Ibrahim rushed 114 times for 604 yards and seven touchdowns in nine games. He had only one negative rush all season and was once again at his best in Minnesota's final game of the season. Ibrahim, who set a freshman game rushing record with 224 yards in 2018 against Georgia Tech in the Quick Lane Bowl, picked up 140 yards on 20 carries and scored one touchdown in an Outback Bowl win against Auburn.
Brooks, who missed 12 games in 2018 with an injury, returned to form and rushed 73 times for 408 yards and one touchdown in nine games. His 5.6 yards per carry average led the team.
In 2018, Burns mentored two freshmen running backs in Ibrahim and Bryce Williams to exceptional seasons, as upperclassmen Brooks and Smith were injured. Ibrahim rushed for 1,160 yards, which was the second most ever for a Gopher freshman, and nine touchdowns while Williams churned out 502 yards and four touchdowns as a true freshman.
Ibrahim rushed for more than 100 yards in five games to become the first Gopher freshman to do so since Laurence Maroney (five 100-yard games) in 2003 and he set a freshman single-game record with 224 yards against Georgia Tech (most by a Gopher in a single game since Maroney ran for 258 yards against Wisconsin in 2005) in the 2018 Quick Lane Bowl (named bowl game MVP) and produced the 12th-best rushing game in school history.
In 2017, Smith, Brooks, Kobe McCrary and Jonathan Femi-Cole rushed 411 times for 1,884 yards and 16 touchdowns under Burns. The quartet rarely lost yardage as they totaled only 67 negative rushing yards during the season. Smith, Brooks and McCrary also caught passes out of the backfield and combined to catch 24 balls (21 percent of team total) for 193 yards (12 percent of team total).
Burns came to Minnesota after one season at Western Michigan coaching the running backs.
In 2016, Burns coached two running backs who each amassed more than 900 yards in Jarvion Franklin and Jamauri Bogan. Franklin rushed 248 times for 1,353 yards and 12 touchdowns, while Bogan gained 923 yards on 179 carries and scored eight times. Franklin ranked third in the MAC in rushing and 26th in the nation, while Bogan finished sixth in the conference in rushing. Franklin was named All-MAC Second Team and set a Bronco single-game record with 281 rushing yards against Akron.
Prior to his year at Western Michigan, Burns coached at Wyoming, North Dakota State and Southern Illinois and was a three-year letter winner at Indiana.
Burns was Wyoming’s receivers coach and passing game coordinator in 2014. Wyoming totaled 2,733 receiving yards in that season and four different players caught more than 20 passes. He also had seven receivers average over 13.0 yards per catch.
Burns coached receivers at North Dakota State from 2010-13 and was also the Bison recruiting coordinator for his final two seasons. He helped lead North Dakota State to three consecutive FCS National Championships in 2011, 2012 and 2013. In 2013, the Bison offense ranked No. 10 in the nation in scoring offense (38.7 points per game) and No. 14 in total offense (457.5 yards per game).
From 2011 through 2013, Burns helped the Bison to a 43-2 (.956) overall record and a 22-2 (.917) Missouri Valley Football Conference mark on way to its three consecutive national titles. The 2013 squad became the first undefeated (15-0) FCS National Champion since Marshall went 15-0 in 1996.
In 2013, Burns coached junior wide receiver Zach Vraa, who made 67 catches for 1,191 and 15 touchdowns. Vraa earned First Team All-Missouri Valley Conference honors as a junior. Burns coached former Bison receiver Warren Holloway in 2011, who had 77 receptions for 1,003 yards and eight touchdowns. Burns also coached Ryan Smith, who earned Second Team All-MVFC honors at both wide receiver and return specialist in 2012.
In 2011, 2012 and 2013, the North Dakota State offense featured a pair of 1,000-yard rushers. Burns receiving corps played a key role in blocking for the successful running game. Two of those years also saw a Bison receiver record a 1,000-yard season. The 2011 season was the first time in school history that the Bison featured a 1,000-yard receiver and two 1,000-yard rushers. Wide receiver Holloway had 1,003 receiving yards, while Sam Ojuri rushed for 1,105 yards, and DJ McNorton ran for 1,020. In 2012, Ojuri (1,047 yards) and John Crockett (1,038) each rushed for 1,000 yards.
Prior to joining the NDSU coaching staff in 2010, Burns spent two seasons as the tight ends coach at Southern Illinois where he part of two league titles and two FCS playoff appearances. Southern Illinois played in the First Round of the 2008 FCS Playoffs and advanced to the Quarterfinals of the 2009 Playoffs. The Salukis had a combined overall record of 20-5 in 2008 and 2009 and a combined conference record of 15-1. Southern Illinois tied for the conference title in 2008, with a 7-1 conference mark, and won the league outright in 2009, with a perfect 8-0 record.
The tight ends played a key role in the Southern Illinois offense. The Southern Illinois offense ranked No. 5 in the nation in rushing offense in 2009, averaging 221.1 yards per game.
Burns began his coaching career at Millersville (Pa.) University in 2007, where he coached the running backs.
He played running back at Indiana from 2003-06 and was a three-year letterwinner for the Hoosiers. At Indiana, he served as a liaison between student government and the athletic department.
Burns completed his bachelor's degree in general studies at Indiana in December 2006.
Burns and his wife, Ciara, have one daughter (Raziah) and one son (Kohen).
BURNS AT A GLANCE
Coaching Experience
2019-present: Minnesota - Running Backs / Assistant Head Coach
2017-18: Minnesota - Running Backs
2016: Western Michigan - Running Backs
2014: Wyoming - Receivers
2010-13: North Dakota State - Receivers
2008-09: Southern Illinois - Tight Ends
2007: Millersville (Pa.) - Running Backs
Bowls Coached
2021 Guaranteed Rate Bowl (Minnesota)
2020 Outback Bowl (Minnesota)
2018 Quick Lane Bowl (Minnesota)
2017 Cotton Bowl (Western Michigan)
Playing Experience: Indiana (running back), 2003-06
Birthday: November 24, 1983
Hometown: Springfield, IL
High School: Sacred Heart Griffin, 2003
Alma Mater: Indiana University, 2006 (general studies)
Wife: Ciara
Daughter: Raziah
Son: Kohen
- Sixth year at Minnesota as running backs coach (15th year overall in coaching)
- Coached Rodney Smith, the program's all-time leader in all-purpose yards and ranks second in career rushing yards
- Mohamed Ibrahim was named 2020 Big Ten Running Back of the Year, an AP Third Team All-American and First-Team All-Big Ten
- In 2020, Ibrahim set school records in season rushing yards per game (153.7), consecutive 100-yard rushing games (8) and touchdowns in consecutive games (8)
Kenni Burns was named running backs coach at the University of Minnesota in January 2017. In March 2019, he added the title Assistant Head Coach to his resume.
Burns has coached some of the best to ever wear the Maroon and Gold in Rodney Smith and Mohamed Ibrahim. Smith is the program's all-time leader in all-purpose yards and ranks second in career rushing yards, while Ibrahim was named 2020 Big Ten Running Back of the Year and was an AP Third-Team All-American.
In 2021, Burns turned in one of the best coaching jobs in the nation, as he guided Minnesota's dynamic rushing attack and saw his unit overcome tremendous adversity in leading the Gophers to nine wins. At one point in the season, Minnesota was missing four running backs to season-ending injuries and also saw one back enter the transfer portal, but Burns and his unit kept producing. Minnesota was the only team in the nation to have five different running backs top 100 yards in a game, as Ibrahim, Trey Potts, Bryce Williams, Mar'Keise Irving and Ky Thomas all eclipsed the century mark at least once. Minnesota ended the season with 2,575 rushing yards and 27 rushing touchdowns, as it averaged 198 rushing yards per game.
Returning All-American Ibrahim gashed Ohio State for 163 yards in three quarters to open the season before he suffered a season-ending injury. He was replaced by Potts, who churned out 552 yards and six touchdowns in five games, before being injured at Purdue. Williams was called upon to replace Potts and rushed for 117 yards against Nebraska but was then injured at Northwestern.
Freshmen Irving and Thomas carried the load to end the season for the Gophers and each went over 100 yards against West Virginia in the Guaranteed Rate Bow. Burns even mentored converted linebacker to running back Derik LeCaptain and the former walk-on ended the season with three carries for 31 yards and one touchdown as Minnesota's ground game would not be denied.
In 2020, Ibrahim set school records in season rushing yards per game (153.7), consecutive 100-yard rushing games (8) and touchdowns in consecutive games (8). He tied school records in most rushing touchdowns in a game (4), most rushing touchdowns in a first half (4), most rushing touchdowns in one half (4) and consecutive 200-yard rushing games (2).
Ibrahim rushed 201 times (25th most in school single-season history) for 1,076 yards (23rd most in school single season-history) and 15 touchdowns (most ever for a junior at Minnesota and ranks fourth in school-single season history) in the COVID-19 shortened season. He led Big Ten in the following categories: rushing attempts (201), rushing yards (1,076), rushing yards per game (153.7), rushing touchdowns (15), scoring (90), points per game (12.9) and all-purpose yards per game (168.4).
In 2019, Minnesota rushed for a combined for 2,323 yards and 25 touchdowns, which is only the tenth time since 1955 that the Gophers reached those numbers in a season. The Gophers also had three running backs - Smith, Ibrahim and Shannon Brooks - rush for more than 400 yards. The last time three Gophers rushed for more than 400 yards was 2007 (quarterback Adam Weber, Amir Pinnix and Duane Bennett) and the last time it was done by three running backs was 2005 (Laurence Maroney, Gary Russell and Amir Pinnix).
Smith carried the ball 228 times for 1,163 yards and eight touchdowns on his way to being named All-Big Ten Second Team. One of those touchdowns was a 1-yard burst against Maryland and made him Minnesota's all-time record holder in all-purpose yards. Smith ended his career ranked first in school history in all-purpose yards (5,411) and second in rushing yards (4,122).
The hard-to-tackle Ibrahim rushed 114 times for 604 yards and seven touchdowns in nine games. He had only one negative rush all season and was once again at his best in Minnesota's final game of the season. Ibrahim, who set a freshman game rushing record with 224 yards in 2018 against Georgia Tech in the Quick Lane Bowl, picked up 140 yards on 20 carries and scored one touchdown in an Outback Bowl win against Auburn.
Brooks, who missed 12 games in 2018 with an injury, returned to form and rushed 73 times for 408 yards and one touchdown in nine games. His 5.6 yards per carry average led the team.
In 2018, Burns mentored two freshmen running backs in Ibrahim and Bryce Williams to exceptional seasons, as upperclassmen Brooks and Smith were injured. Ibrahim rushed for 1,160 yards, which was the second most ever for a Gopher freshman, and nine touchdowns while Williams churned out 502 yards and four touchdowns as a true freshman.
Ibrahim rushed for more than 100 yards in five games to become the first Gopher freshman to do so since Laurence Maroney (five 100-yard games) in 2003 and he set a freshman single-game record with 224 yards against Georgia Tech (most by a Gopher in a single game since Maroney ran for 258 yards against Wisconsin in 2005) in the 2018 Quick Lane Bowl (named bowl game MVP) and produced the 12th-best rushing game in school history.
In 2017, Smith, Brooks, Kobe McCrary and Jonathan Femi-Cole rushed 411 times for 1,884 yards and 16 touchdowns under Burns. The quartet rarely lost yardage as they totaled only 67 negative rushing yards during the season. Smith, Brooks and McCrary also caught passes out of the backfield and combined to catch 24 balls (21 percent of team total) for 193 yards (12 percent of team total).
Burns came to Minnesota after one season at Western Michigan coaching the running backs.
In 2016, Burns coached two running backs who each amassed more than 900 yards in Jarvion Franklin and Jamauri Bogan. Franklin rushed 248 times for 1,353 yards and 12 touchdowns, while Bogan gained 923 yards on 179 carries and scored eight times. Franklin ranked third in the MAC in rushing and 26th in the nation, while Bogan finished sixth in the conference in rushing. Franklin was named All-MAC Second Team and set a Bronco single-game record with 281 rushing yards against Akron.
Prior to his year at Western Michigan, Burns coached at Wyoming, North Dakota State and Southern Illinois and was a three-year letter winner at Indiana.
Burns was Wyoming’s receivers coach and passing game coordinator in 2014. Wyoming totaled 2,733 receiving yards in that season and four different players caught more than 20 passes. He also had seven receivers average over 13.0 yards per catch.
Burns coached receivers at North Dakota State from 2010-13 and was also the Bison recruiting coordinator for his final two seasons. He helped lead North Dakota State to three consecutive FCS National Championships in 2011, 2012 and 2013. In 2013, the Bison offense ranked No. 10 in the nation in scoring offense (38.7 points per game) and No. 14 in total offense (457.5 yards per game).
From 2011 through 2013, Burns helped the Bison to a 43-2 (.956) overall record and a 22-2 (.917) Missouri Valley Football Conference mark on way to its three consecutive national titles. The 2013 squad became the first undefeated (15-0) FCS National Champion since Marshall went 15-0 in 1996.
In 2013, Burns coached junior wide receiver Zach Vraa, who made 67 catches for 1,191 and 15 touchdowns. Vraa earned First Team All-Missouri Valley Conference honors as a junior. Burns coached former Bison receiver Warren Holloway in 2011, who had 77 receptions for 1,003 yards and eight touchdowns. Burns also coached Ryan Smith, who earned Second Team All-MVFC honors at both wide receiver and return specialist in 2012.
In 2011, 2012 and 2013, the North Dakota State offense featured a pair of 1,000-yard rushers. Burns receiving corps played a key role in blocking for the successful running game. Two of those years also saw a Bison receiver record a 1,000-yard season. The 2011 season was the first time in school history that the Bison featured a 1,000-yard receiver and two 1,000-yard rushers. Wide receiver Holloway had 1,003 receiving yards, while Sam Ojuri rushed for 1,105 yards, and DJ McNorton ran for 1,020. In 2012, Ojuri (1,047 yards) and John Crockett (1,038) each rushed for 1,000 yards.
Prior to joining the NDSU coaching staff in 2010, Burns spent two seasons as the tight ends coach at Southern Illinois where he part of two league titles and two FCS playoff appearances. Southern Illinois played in the First Round of the 2008 FCS Playoffs and advanced to the Quarterfinals of the 2009 Playoffs. The Salukis had a combined overall record of 20-5 in 2008 and 2009 and a combined conference record of 15-1. Southern Illinois tied for the conference title in 2008, with a 7-1 conference mark, and won the league outright in 2009, with a perfect 8-0 record.
The tight ends played a key role in the Southern Illinois offense. The Southern Illinois offense ranked No. 5 in the nation in rushing offense in 2009, averaging 221.1 yards per game.
Burns began his coaching career at Millersville (Pa.) University in 2007, where he coached the running backs.
He played running back at Indiana from 2003-06 and was a three-year letterwinner for the Hoosiers. At Indiana, he served as a liaison between student government and the athletic department.
Burns completed his bachelor's degree in general studies at Indiana in December 2006.
Burns and his wife, Ciara, have one daughter (Raziah) and one son (Kohen).
BURNS AT A GLANCE
Coaching Experience
2019-present: Minnesota - Running Backs / Assistant Head Coach
2017-18: Minnesota - Running Backs
2016: Western Michigan - Running Backs
2014: Wyoming - Receivers
2010-13: North Dakota State - Receivers
2008-09: Southern Illinois - Tight Ends
2007: Millersville (Pa.) - Running Backs
Bowls Coached
2021 Guaranteed Rate Bowl (Minnesota)
2020 Outback Bowl (Minnesota)
2018 Quick Lane Bowl (Minnesota)
2017 Cotton Bowl (Western Michigan)
Playing Experience: Indiana (running back), 2003-06
Birthday: November 24, 1983
Hometown: Springfield, IL
High School: Sacred Heart Griffin, 2003
Alma Mater: Indiana University, 2006 (general studies)
Wife: Ciara
Daughter: Raziah
Son: Kohen
Cinematic Recap: Gophers Rout Demons
Tuesday, September 09
Highlights: Gophers 66, Northwestern State 0
Saturday, September 06
Sights & Sounds: Gophers-Demons
Saturday, September 06
Game Trailer: Gophers-Demons
Friday, September 05
