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Aug. 10, 2012

BELLINGHAM, Wash. - David Burnett, who earned acclaim as both an assistant coach and student-athlete at NCAA Division I University of Texas at San Antonio, has been named the top assistant track and field coach at Western Washington University, officially beginning his duties on August 28.

"We're very pleased to be getting a very quality person and an extremely talented coach," said veteran Viking head coach Pee Wee Halsell (26th year), who coordinated a national search for the position. "I'm looking forward to David enriching both the track program and our athletic department overall."

The 28-year-old Burnett assisted in track at UTSA for five years from 2007 to 2011, working primarily with the sprinters, hurdlers and relay teams. He was the Southland Conference Assistant Coach of the Year in each of those campaigns and was a nominee for South Central Region Assistant Coach of the Year honors in 2008 and 2010.

During that stretch, the Roadrunners won seven conference team track championships, five indoor and two outdoor. At the 2010 national indoor championships, UTSA took the DI-AAA All Sports Trophy which goes to the highest placing team that does not sponsor football, and in 2008 the Roadrunners were ranked in the United States Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association Top 25 national poll.

Eighteen of the athletes Burnett coached earned Midwest Regional all-star honors, 20 were league champions and 12 set school records.

Among Burnett's athletes were sprinter Teddy Williams (currently cornerback with NFL Dallas Cowboys), a four-time All-American who reached the semifinals in the 100 meters at the 2008 U.S. Olympic Trials, and William Vesse, a four-time SLC champion in the 110 hurdles who finished fourth at the 2008 Nigerian Olympic Trials.

In 2009, the UTSA Athletic Department created the David Burnett Roadrunner Pride Award to honor a hard-working student-athlete who showed dedication and school pride.

As an athlete at UTSA, Burnett earned the inaugural SLC Steve McCarty Citizenship Award as a senior, helping the Roadrunners to their first league indoor title. Twice a team captain, he was a 10-time all-conference performer, winning the 400 at the league indoor meet in 2005 and ranking 11th nationally in the 100 in 2002.

Burnett was twice a Midwest Regional qualifier, a four-time member of the SLC Commissioners Honor Roll, a NCAA Inspiration Award nominee and a semifinalist for the John Wooden Golden Cup Inspiration Award.

Burnett earned a bachelor's degree at UTSA in 2006, majoring in kinesiology. He also began work on a master's degree while coaching for the Roadrunners.

Burnett, whose family is from Jamaica, attended Carroll High School in Corpus Christi, Texas. There he was a three-sport star, being named the South Texas Athlete of the Year as a senior, twice earning all-state honors in track and receiving All-America recognition in soccer.

Burnett is married to the former Jessica Gertz. She was a track athlete at Concordia University, St. Paul and Minnesota State University, Mankato.

David Burnett - Assistant Track & Field Coach

In first year as top assistant at WWU ... Assistant at NCAA Division I University of Texas at San Antonio from 2007 to 2011, earning Southland Conference Assistant Coach of the Year honors all five seasons and nominee for South Central Region Assistant Coach of the Year recognition in 2008 and 2010 ... During UTSA tenure, Roadrunners won seven conference team track championships, five indoor and two outdoor ... At 2010 national indoor championships, UTSA took DI-AAA All Sports Trophy which goes to highest placing team that does not sponsor football, and in 2008 the Roadrunners were ranked in the United States Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association Top 25 national poll ... Coached 18 Midwest Regional all-stars, 20 league champions and 12 school record setters ... Among athletes coached were sprinter Teddy Williams (currently cornerback with NFL Dallas Cowboys), a four-time All-American who reached semifinals in 100 meters at 2008 U.S. Olympic Trials, and William Vesse, a four-time SLC champion in the 110 hurdles who finished fourth in the 2008 Nigerian Olympic Trials ... In 2009, UTSA Athletic Department created David Burnett Roadrunner Pride Award to honor hard-working student-athlete showing dedication and school pride ... As UTSA athlete, earned inaugural SC Steve McCarty Citizenship Award as senior, helping Roadrunners to first league indoor title ... Twice team captain and 10-time all-conference performer ... Won 400 at league indoor meet in 2005 and ranked 11th nationally in Division I in 100 in 2002 ... Twice Midwest Regional qualifier and four-time member of the SC Commissioners Honor Roll ... NCAA Inspiration Award nominee and semifinalist for John Wooden Golden Cup Inspiration Award ... Earned bachelor's degree at UTSA in 2006, majoring in kinesiology, and began work on master's degree as Roadrunner coach ... Attended Carroll High School in Corpus Christi, Texas ... Three-sport star, being named South Texas Athlete of the Year as senior, twice earning all-state honors in track and receiving All-America recognition in soccer ... Married to former Jessica Gertz, who competed in track at both Concordia University, St. Paul and Minnesota State University, Mankato ... 28 years old.