Bob Burns

Born Feb. 8, 1920, in Sioux City, Iowa. 1938 Sioux City Central HS grad. University of South Dakota. One of the most colorful and successful coaches in state history. Began coaching football in 1947 in Yankton. Coached football at Washington High, Augustana, University of South Dakota and O'Gorman High School. In 23 years of coaching he was 145-62-6. A great storyteller, Burns was popular at banquets and clinics. Burns was 8-2 and 8-1-1 at Yankton before moving to Washington. At WHS from 1949-55, Burns was 55-8-3. After opening 4-5, the Warriors lost just three times in the final six years, including one 37-game unbeaten streak. In 1956 he became Augustana coach, and the Vikings shocked area fans with consecutive wins over USD, South Dakota State and Northern Iowa (Augustana had never beaten SDSU or UNI). At Augustana, Burns was 28-20-3 in six years, leading the Vikings to the 1959 NCC title. After a 1-9 season at USD in 1962, he left to enter private business. In 1976 he became O'Gorman's coach. The Knights were 45-22 in seven seasons under Burns, and O'Gorman won the inaugural Class 11AA state title in 1981. Was instrumental in starting the Dakota Bowl, an annual fundraiser-football game at O'Gorman that attracts more fans than any other prep game in the state. As a player, he was an all-NCC quarterback at USD as a senior, though he was a wingback and fullback the previous two seasons. As a boxer, he went to national Golden Gloves tournaments in Chicago and New York.