Butler University Athletics

Robby Burns enters his 11th season with the Butler Track & Field program, and sixth year working with the strength and conditioning staff. He is responsible for the training and recruitment of Butler's athletes in the sprints, hurdles, relays, vertical and horizontal jumps, as well as the multi event decathletes and heptathletes. A 2012 graduate of Bethel College in Mishawaka, Ind., Burns was named an assistant track and field coach at Butler in August of 2014 and promoted into the program's top assistant spot in 2022. 
 
Under Burns, the program has seen a significant rise in performance, highlighted by All-American finishes in the decathlon, and six NCAA individual appearances by his athletes across multiple events. In addition to the national stage, Burns’ athletes have claimed 24 individual Big East championships, 38 Butler School Records, and hold 200 of the All-Time Top 10 marks in program history. Two Butler athletes have been named outstanding performers at a conference championship.  Nicole Hudec was named Outstanding Field Event Athlete at the 2014 BIG EAST Outdoor Championships, while Wade Walder was named Outstanding Field Performer and High Point Performer at the 2018 BIG EAST Outdoor Championships.

Rebecca Coan, after winning the 2022 BIG EAST title in the heptathlon, qualified for the NCAA Regional in the high jump. Additionally, Burns coached Allie Vogeler to three consecutive BIG EAST titles in the 400 hurdles, while finishing as a national quarterfinalist in the event in 2017.

Prior to his time at Butler, Burns spent two years as an assistant coach/recruiting coordinator for the track and cross country teams at Anderson University (2012-14). He directed sprints, hurdles and relays for both men and women at Anderson, while coordinating the programs’ recruiting efforts and overseeing the teams’ academic progress. During his time at the Indiana school, he coached 16 Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference champions and three NCAA Division III All-Americans.
 
A track and field standout at Bethel, Burns was a six-time NAIA national qualifier. He set a school record in the 110 hurdles as an undergraduate at the northern Indiana school. Burns earned a Master’s Degree from Anderson in 2014. He is also a USATF Level 2 Certified Coach in sprints, hurdles and relays, as well as a Certified Strength & Conditioning Specialist (CSCS).