University of North Texas Athletics
Kelly Burns Named Head Softball Coach At North Texas
9/19/2004 12:00:00 AM | Softball
DENTON (5/25/04)- Kelly Burns has been hired as the head softball coach at North Texas, athletic director Rick Villarreal announced today.
Burns comes to North Texas after serving as the head coach of Texarkana College. During her three-year tenure at the helm of Texarkana College, Burns helped the TC teams to a combined 94-70 record, two trips to the Region IV tournament and one appearance at the NJCAA National Tournament.
"I had the opportunity to meet Kelly two years ago when she interviewed for the North Texas assistant softball position," said Villarreal. "We were very impressed with her then, and we have continued to be impressed with her progress at Texarkana College since then. I had a chance to watch her team play this spring, and it was obvious to me that her team was very fundamentally sound and well coached. Leading her team to the national tournament speaks volumes to her ability. We are excited about what she can do at North Texas, and we expect great things from her and the softball team."
This past season, Burns led TC to the East Zone Texas Eastern Athletic Conference Championship with a 43-18 record. The 2004 team went on to win the regional tournament and made its first-ever appearance at the national tournament. Six of Burns’ players were named to the 2004 all-region team, including the 2004 Region XIV Player of the Year Nicki Wilson. For her accomplishments this past season, Burns was named the Region XIV Coach of the Year.
"I am honored to be named the head softball coach of the Mean Green," said Burns. "The North Texas area has a wealth of talented student-athletes, and I am particularly enthusiastic about the central location from which to recruit. UNT also has much to offer student-athletes both academically and athletically. I have heard great things about the returning players as well as the incoming freshmen and can not wait to work with, as well as `get to know each of them."
Prior to coming to Texarkana, Burns coached both high school and select teams. Her high school coaching career was spent at DeKalb High School in DeKalb, Texas from 1994-1996, where she led the Bears to district and area championships in her first year.
While graduating Cum Laude with a bachelor’s degree in Kinesiology at Texas A&M University, Burns was a member of the 1993 Aggies softball team. She received the GTE scholar-athlete award twice while at College Station. The Garland, Texas native began her collegiate playing career at Texas-Arlington, where she lettered as a freshman shortstop and helped her team win the Southland Conference title.
Burns holds her master’s degree in Educational Administration with Principal certification from Texas A&M University-Texarkana. She is currently working on her master’s degree in Kinesiology with an emphasis in softball coaching from Texas Women’s University in Denton.
