Coach Burns was born and raised in the Chicago area and graduated from Joliet Catholic High School in 1985. He earned a Bachelor of Science in History from Northern Illinois University, a Master of Arts in political studies from Governors State University, and a Master of Arts in sport management from the United States Sports Academy. Coach Burns began his basketball coaching career at his alma mater, Joliet Catholic, coaching at all three levels from 1991 to 1997. He married his wife, Laurie, in 1997 and they moved to Wisconsin where he joined Catholic Memorial High School in Waukesha as head varsity coach, coaching from 1998 to 2008. In 2004 he led his team to the Division II state title. Coach Burns, Laurie, and their daughter, Holly, moved to Phoenix in 2008 when Coach Burns joined Brophy’s faculty as a member of the social studies department.