Frank R. Burns
Sport(s) | Football |
---|---|
Biographical details | |
Born | March 16, 1928 |
Died |
July 14, 2012 84) Holland, Pennsylvania | (aged
Playing career | |
1945–1948 | Rutgers |
Position(s) | Quarterback |
Coaching career (HC unless noted) | |
1949–1950 | Rutgers (freshman backfield) |
1951–1952 | Johns Hopkins |
1955–1956 | Rutgers (backfield) |
1957–1960 | Chatham HS (NJ) |
1961–1972 | Rutgers (assistant) |
1973–1983 | Rutgers |
Head coaching record | |
Overall | 84–52–2 (college) |
Bowls | 0–1 |
Accomplishments and honors | |
Awards | |
Walter Camp Coach of the Year Award (1976) | |
Frank R. Burns (March 16, 1928 – July 14, 2012) was an American football player and coach. He served as the head coach at Johns Hopkins University from 1951 to 1952 and at Rutgers University from 1973 to 1983, compiling a career college football record of 84–52–2. In 1978, Burns led the Rutgers Scarlet Knights to their first bowl game, the now-defunct Garden State Bowl.
Playing career
Burns played football as a quarterback at Rutgers University for four years, from 1945 to 1948. There he ran the T formation under head coach Harvey Harman, completing 117 of 270 passes for 2,389 yards and 35 touchdowns with a 27–7 career record.[1] He was also a member of Delta Upsilon fraternity.
Coaching career
Burns coached football at Johns Hopkins University from 1951 to 1952 and at Rutgers University from 1973 to 1983. Burns has the most wins of any head coach in Rutgers Scarlet Knights football history with a record of 78–43–1 including an undefeated 11–0 campaign in 1976. He led the Rutgers to a 13–7 upset victory over Tennessee in 1979.[2]
During Burns's tenure as head coach, Rutgers began playing outside of its traditional schedule of Eastern teams such as Ivy League opponents, Colgate, and Lehigh. Burns was dismissed from Rutgers in 1983 after three consecutive losing seasons.[3]
Head coaching record
College
Year | Team | Overall | Conference | Standing | Bowl/playoffs | Coaches# | AP° | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Johns Hopkins Blue Jays (Mason-Dixon Conference) (1951–1952) | |||||||||
1951 | Johns Hopkins | 2–5–1 | |||||||
1952 | Johns Hopkins | 4–4 | |||||||
Johns Hopkins: | 6–9–1 | ||||||||
Rutgers Scarlet Knights (NCAA Division I/I-A Independent) (1973–1983) | |||||||||
1973 | Rutgers | 6–5 | |||||||
1974 | Rutgers | 7–3–1 | |||||||
1975 | Rutgers | 9–2 | |||||||
1976 | Rutgers | 11–0 | 17 | 17 | |||||
1977 | Rutgers | 8–3 | |||||||
1978 | Rutgers | 9–3 | L Garden State | ||||||
1979 | Rutgers | 8–3 | |||||||
1980 | Rutgers | 7–4 | |||||||
1981 | Rutgers | 5–6 | |||||||
1982 | Rutgers | 5–6 | |||||||
1983 | Rutgers | 3–8 | |||||||
Rutgers: | 78–43–1 | ||||||||
Total: | 84–52–2 |
Later life and death
Burns retired to the Twining Village Continual Care Retirement Village in Holland, Pennsylvania. He died there on July 14, 2012.[4]
References
- ↑ United Press (August 12, 1951). "Burns, 23, to Coach At Johns Hopkins". The New York Times. Retrieved September 29, 2010.
- ↑ "Legendary Rutgers Football Head Coach Frank Burns Passes Away". ScarletKnights.com. Retrieved September 20, 2014.
- ↑ "Burns Dismissed As Rutgers Coach". The New York Times. November 21, 1983. Retrieved September 20, 2014.
- ↑ Giambusso, David (July 14, 2012). "Frank Burns, former Rutgers football coach, dies at 84". The Star-Ledger. New Jersey On-Line LLC. Retrieved July 14, 2012.