Shane Burnham - Football Coach - Iowa State University Athletics

Shane Burnham

Title:
Defensive Tackles
Email:
sburnham@iastate.edu
Phone:
4-8059

Shane Burnham’s coaching ability was underscored by the improved play of Iowa State’s defensive tackles through five seasons under Burnham’s tutelage. Burnham works in Ames under his father, Iowa State defensive coordinator Wally Burnham.

Defensive tackle Nate Frere finished his career under Burnham in 2009, completing his eligibility with 69 tackles, 34 of them in 2009. It was Stephen Ruempolhamer who stepped up under Burnham’s coaching in 2010-11. Ruempolhamer finished his career with 91 tackles, 14 for loss, and six sacks. Former walk-on Patrick Neal closed out his career with 98 tackles and 5.5 sacks.

In 2012, Burnham helped mentor Jake McDonough into an All-Big 12 first-team performer. McDonough, who has been on NFL practice squads the last two seasons, had 36 tackles, including 5.5 for loss.

Burnham’s contribution to ISU’s special teams is evident. ISU’s kickoff return unit in 2013 was dynamic, as the Cyclones had a pair of kickoffs returned for touchdowns. ISU hadn’t had a KO return (non-onside kick) for a touchdown since 1994 until Jarvis West returned a 95-yarder for a TD vs. Texas Tech. DeVondrick Nealy recorded the second KO return for a touchdown vs. TCU with a 98-yarder, the second-longest return in school history.

It marked the first time since 1963 where the Cyclones had two KO returns for a touchdown in a season.

Iowa State ranked in the top-20 nationally in both kickoff return and punt return defense in 2014. West tallied his second special teams touchdown when he raced 82 yards to paydirt vs. Kansas State. It was the ninth-longest punt return in school history and the senior became just the ninth player in school history with multiple special teams touchdowns.

West and Aaron Wimberly graduated with top-five career kickoff return averages. Wimberly’s 26.45 career kickoff return clip is the second-best total in school history.

Burnham had been linebackers/defensive ends coach and special teams coordinator at Elon from 2005-08. Elon finished the 2008 season ranked 19th in the final FCS coaches poll. The Phoenix was third in the Southern Conference and 29th nationally in total defense, allowing 388.9 net yards per contest. Elon landed second in the conference and 30th in the country in scoring defense. At Elon, Burnham coached former Jacksonville Jaguar Chad Nkang to SoCon Defensive Player-of-the-Year and All-America honors.

As special teams coordinator, Burnham saw the Elon punt return unit rank 17th nationally by averaging 11.93 yards per return in 2007. Senior Michael Mayers, a first-team All-SoCon selection as a return specialist, ranked seventh in the country, averaging 28.77 yards per kickoff return that fall.

Burnham joined the Phoenix staff for the 2005 season after serving at The Citadel as a linebackers coach in 2004. Previously, Burnham was a linebackers coach at Richmond for four years (1998, 2001-03). While there, he coached All-Atlantic 10 Conference selections Adrian Archie and Mark Thompson. He also helped the Spiders claim a conference title and an NCAA I-AA playoff berth during his tenure.

A 1998 graduate of South Carolina, Burnham earned a bachelor’s of science degree in exercise science while collecting four varsity letters for the Gamecocks’ football team. The two-year starter was named his team’s most outstanding inside linebacker as both a junior and a senior.

As a senior, the three-time Academic All-SEC choice received his team’s leadership award and was named the Honda/Jefferson-Pilot Scholar-Athlete of the Week for his performance in games against both Kentucky and Auburn.

Burnham is married to the former Meagan Drolet, who was a swimmer at Virginia Tech. The couple are parents of daughters Lindsay and Brady.