Gopher RB Coach Kenni Burns Turns Down Eastern Illinois Head Coaching Job

By Eric Strack |

Updated: Jul 1, 2021

Earlier this week, Gopher Running Back Coach, Kenni Burns, was listed as one of the top candidates for the vacant Head Coaching job at Eastern Illinois.

Sources: Kenni Burns a strong candidate at Eastern Illinois https://t.co/7uEM34ITWK
— FootballScoop Staff (@FootballScoop) December 7, 2018

Well, just a couple of days later and, according to the same source that listed Burns as a top candidate, it looks like Kenni was offered the job and turned it down.

Update…. Source tells FootballScoop Burns has turned down this opportunity and will remain at Minnesota. https://t.co/aPOtsEIauR
— FootballScoop Staff (@FootballScoop) December 9, 2018

Now, Eastern Illinois isn’t a blue-blood football school by any means but it’s definitely a good spot to start your head coaching career. The former NDSU WR Coach, however, seems to find it a better option to remain at Minnesota for now…

Sometimes, when something like this happens, you see a promotion quickly follow, from in-house. Early on, I haven’t seen anything validating that idea.

Eastern Illinois Spark Notes:

Tony Romo and Jimmy Garoppolo both started their football fame at Eastern Illinois
Eastern Illinois won its last conference (Ohio Valley) Championship in 2013
Eastern Illinois has only two losing seasons since 2013 (2014 | 5-7 & 2018 | 3-8)