BOISE, Idaho— Boise State men’s basketball head coach Leon Rice completed his coaching staff Wednesday, with the addition of Mike Burns as an assistant coach. Burns spent last season as the interim head coach at Pacific. He was also previously the head coach at Eastern Washington. During his 22 years of collegiate coaching, Burns has spent time in the Pac-12, West Coast and Big Sky Conferences.
“Mike is a tremendous addition to this program and our community,” said Rice. “He brings a wealth of experience both as a head coach and an assistant coach. He has great energy and passion for the defensive side of the ball and his commitment to developing student-athletes fits with the core values of our program.”
The Tigers won six league games last year, matching their most since joining the WCC, including a victory at BYU. The 2015-16 campaign was Burns’ lone season at Pacific, after spending seven years as the top assistant at San Diego. He helped the Toreros reach the quarterfinals of the 2014 CollegeInsider.com Postseason Tournament.
Burns was the head coach at Eastern Washington for three seasons from 2004-07, where he coached NBA Draft first-round pick Rodney Stuckey. His 2006-07 team ranked No. 3 in the NCAA scoring 84.2 points per game. Burns was an assistant coach at EWU from 2000-03, under Ray Gioacoletti, eventually earning a promotion to associate head coach in 2002. The three-year span saw EWU earn the first NCAA Tournament and NIT berths in program history.
In his one year between stints with the Eagles, Burns joined Dick Bennett’s staff at Washington State. He helped the Cougars to a six-win improvement over the previous season.
Following his head coaching tenure at EWU, Burns was the head coach at Spokane Community College for one season. He led the Sasquatch to a 30-2 record and was named NWAACC Coach of the Year. Burns returned to the Division I ranks the following season as an assistant coach at San Diego.
Burns began his collegiate coaching career at his alma mater, Central Washington, from 1996-99. He orchestrated the defense on a team that advanced to the quarterfinals of the NAIA National Tournament in consecutive years before moving to NCAA Division II. In their first season at Division II, the Wildcats spent time ranked No. 1 in the West Region. Following the season Burns took a position at Stephen F. Austin for one year before returning to the Northwest.
“Mike is a tremendous addition to this program and our community,” said Rice. “He brings a wealth of experience both as a head coach and an assistant coach. He has great energy and passion for the defensive side of the ball and his commitment to developing student-athletes fits with the core values of our program.”
The Tigers won six league games last year, matching their most since joining the WCC, including a victory at BYU. The 2015-16 campaign was Burns’ lone season at Pacific, after spending seven years as the top assistant at San Diego. He helped the Toreros reach the quarterfinals of the 2014 CollegeInsider.com Postseason Tournament.
Burns was the head coach at Eastern Washington for three seasons from 2004-07, where he coached NBA Draft first-round pick Rodney Stuckey. His 2006-07 team ranked No. 3 in the NCAA scoring 84.2 points per game. Burns was an assistant coach at EWU from 2000-03, under Ray Gioacoletti, eventually earning a promotion to associate head coach in 2002. The three-year span saw EWU earn the first NCAA Tournament and NIT berths in program history.
In his one year between stints with the Eagles, Burns joined Dick Bennett’s staff at Washington State. He helped the Cougars to a six-win improvement over the previous season.
Following his head coaching tenure at EWU, Burns was the head coach at Spokane Community College for one season. He led the Sasquatch to a 30-2 record and was named NWAACC Coach of the Year. Burns returned to the Division I ranks the following season as an assistant coach at San Diego.
Burns began his collegiate coaching career at his alma mater, Central Washington, from 1996-99. He orchestrated the defense on a team that advanced to the quarterfinals of the NAIA National Tournament in consecutive years before moving to NCAA Division II. In their first season at Division II, the Wildcats spent time ranked No. 1 in the West Region. Following the season Burns took a position at Stephen F. Austin for one year before returning to the Northwest.
