UCF leds the nation in tackles for loss in 2019 (9.0 per game) after ranking fifth in that category in 2018—and Knights defensive line coach Shane Burnham has played a noteworthy role in those achievements.
Burnham joined the UCF football coaching staff in December 2017 and helped the Knights continue their success in the 2018 season. With Burnham on staff, UCF completed its second straight undefeated regular season and American Athletic Conference Championship, earning a berth to the 2019 Fiesta Bowl and rising as high as seventh in both the Associated Press top 25 and Amway poll of coaches. Then the Knights completed a 10-3 season in 2019, earning a program-record fourth postseason assignment in a row, winning the 2019 Bad Boy Mowers Gasparilla Bowl.
The UCF defense had a stellar 2018 campaign, allowing just 22.7 points per game and ranking sixth in the nation with 28 forced turnovers on the year. The Knights racked up 8.2 tackles for loss per game, fifth most in the nation, and had 29 sacks. Second-half adjustments proved key to the Knights’ success, as opponents scored just 8.5 points per second half, including 3.3 points per third quarter.
In 2019 the Knights took over the top spot in the national tackle-for-loss standings, with linemen Kenny Turnier leading the way with 13.5 and Brendon Hayes topping the sack chart with 7.5. Burnham and the UCF pass rush up front helped the Knights dramatically improve their defensive numbers—moving up 64 spots in the rush defense ratings (to 146.6 yards per game) and bettering their total defense yards-allowed average by 87.6 yards (to 32nd nationally at 346.1 yards per contest). Those averages comprise the best for UCF since 2014.
Under Burnham’s leadership, defensive linemen Titus Davis and Hayes both earned second-team all-conference honors in 2018 in their first year as starters. Hayes again received second-team recognition in 2019, while Turnier was an honorable mention choice. Burnham also helped Trysten Hill play to a level where the UCF defensive tackle was taken in the second round of the 2019 NFL Draft by the Dallas Cowboys.
Burnham came to Orlando from Rutgers, where he was defensive line coach for two seasons (2016-17). In his first season with Rutgers, the Scarlet Knights’ defense showed a seven-sack improvement over the previous season.
He spent seven seasons at Iowa State prior to his stint at Rutgers. Six of his seasons with the Cyclones were spent coaching defensive tackles, while he worked with the inside linebackers for one year. He added oversight of special teams in 2012. His punt return unit ranked No. 3 in the nation in 2015. Iowa State returned a pair of kickoffs for touchdowns in 2013, the first time it returned a kickoff for a score since 2004 and the first time it tallied two in a season since 1994. The Cyclones also ranked in the top 20 nationally in kick and punt return defense in 2012.
During his time working with the defensive tackles at Iowa State, his unit improved dramatically, helping lead the Cyclones to three bowl appearances.
Burnham coached at Elon from 2005-08, serving as linebackers/defensive ends coach and special teams coordinator. The Phoenix finished No. 19 in the 2008 Football Championship Series (FCS) final poll, while ranking No. 29 in the nation in total defense and No. 30 in scoring defense. Burnham coached the Southern Conference Defensive Player of the Year at Elon. As special teams coordinator, Burnham’s punt return unit ranked No. 17 in 2007. Burnham also has coaching experience at The Citadel and Richmond.
A 1998 graduate of South Carolina, Burnham was a four-year letter-winner with the Gamecocks and a two-year starter. He was named the team’s most outstanding inside linebacker after his junior and senior years. He was a three-time Academic All-Southeastern Conference honoree and won the Gamecocks’ team leadership award.
Burnham joined the UCF football coaching staff in December 2017 and helped the Knights continue their success in the 2018 season. With Burnham on staff, UCF completed its second straight undefeated regular season and American Athletic Conference Championship, earning a berth to the 2019 Fiesta Bowl and rising as high as seventh in both the Associated Press top 25 and Amway poll of coaches. Then the Knights completed a 10-3 season in 2019, earning a program-record fourth postseason assignment in a row, winning the 2019 Bad Boy Mowers Gasparilla Bowl.
The UCF defense had a stellar 2018 campaign, allowing just 22.7 points per game and ranking sixth in the nation with 28 forced turnovers on the year. The Knights racked up 8.2 tackles for loss per game, fifth most in the nation, and had 29 sacks. Second-half adjustments proved key to the Knights’ success, as opponents scored just 8.5 points per second half, including 3.3 points per third quarter.
In 2019 the Knights took over the top spot in the national tackle-for-loss standings, with linemen Kenny Turnier leading the way with 13.5 and Brendon Hayes topping the sack chart with 7.5. Burnham and the UCF pass rush up front helped the Knights dramatically improve their defensive numbers—moving up 64 spots in the rush defense ratings (to 146.6 yards per game) and bettering their total defense yards-allowed average by 87.6 yards (to 32nd nationally at 346.1 yards per contest). Those averages comprise the best for UCF since 2014.
Under Burnham’s leadership, defensive linemen Titus Davis and Hayes both earned second-team all-conference honors in 2018 in their first year as starters. Hayes again received second-team recognition in 2019, while Turnier was an honorable mention choice. Burnham also helped Trysten Hill play to a level where the UCF defensive tackle was taken in the second round of the 2019 NFL Draft by the Dallas Cowboys.
Burnham came to Orlando from Rutgers, where he was defensive line coach for two seasons (2016-17). In his first season with Rutgers, the Scarlet Knights’ defense showed a seven-sack improvement over the previous season.
He spent seven seasons at Iowa State prior to his stint at Rutgers. Six of his seasons with the Cyclones were spent coaching defensive tackles, while he worked with the inside linebackers for one year. He added oversight of special teams in 2012. His punt return unit ranked No. 3 in the nation in 2015. Iowa State returned a pair of kickoffs for touchdowns in 2013, the first time it returned a kickoff for a score since 2004 and the first time it tallied two in a season since 1994. The Cyclones also ranked in the top 20 nationally in kick and punt return defense in 2012.
During his time working with the defensive tackles at Iowa State, his unit improved dramatically, helping lead the Cyclones to three bowl appearances.
Burnham coached at Elon from 2005-08, serving as linebackers/defensive ends coach and special teams coordinator. The Phoenix finished No. 19 in the 2008 Football Championship Series (FCS) final poll, while ranking No. 29 in the nation in total defense and No. 30 in scoring defense. Burnham coached the Southern Conference Defensive Player of the Year at Elon. As special teams coordinator, Burnham’s punt return unit ranked No. 17 in 2007. Burnham also has coaching experience at The Citadel and Richmond.
A 1998 graduate of South Carolina, Burnham was a four-year letter-winner with the Gamecocks and a two-year starter. He was named the team’s most outstanding inside linebacker after his junior and senior years. He was a three-time Academic All-Southeastern Conference honoree and won the Gamecocks’ team leadership award.