"I am excited to welcome Marc Burns and his family to Peoria," said Cross.  "He is a coach with tremendous credentials, values, and intelligence.  He is a dynamic person who has built championship cultures at two institutions while consistently valuing and encouraging the educational success of student-athletes.  Coach Burns has an incredible passion for running and has been a winner in every professional role, as well as from his earliest days as a competitor in the sport.  I am confident that he will build on the foundation we have in place and take Bradley's cross country and track and field teams to new heights."

Burns, who boasts 14 years of experience as a Division I head coach, comes to The Hilltop after spending the last four years at Valley rival Wichita State as men's and women's cross country head coach, while also serving as assistant coach for the Shockers men's and women's track and field teams.

Prior to Wichita State, Burns was head cross country and track and field coach at his alma mater, Loyola University in Chicago.  During his 14-year head coaching career, he has coached three All-American runners, more than 70 conference individual champions, seven cross country conference team champions and three Academic All-Americans.  His teams also have excelled in the classroom, garnering 25 national All-Academic honors.

"We are thrilled and honored to be joining the Bradley family," said Burns.  "This program has a strong tradition of excellence and I am excited to have the opportunity to build on the teams' past success.  We were overwhelmed with the support from the athletic administration and President (Joanne) Glasser.  Bradley is making a strong commitment to help this program succeed at the highest level.  I would like to thank Mike Cross and his leadership team in providing this opportunity to me and my family.

"This program will be driven by the challenge of competing for Valley cross country titles year in and year out," Burns added.  "I believe in a strong team atmosphere and will work hard to recruit the type of young men and women that will represent Bradley University with the highest of integrity.   I am looking forward to creating a culture of championship success and an environment that is conducive to the development of each individual as a student, athlete and person."

The reigning Missouri Valley Conference Women's Cross Country Coach of the Year, Burns earned the honor in each of his four seasons with the Shockers and led the Wichita State women's cross country team to four consecutive Valley team titles.  In addition to the team honors, Burns coached three All-America runners, 22 MVC individual cross country and track champions and 11 Valley Cross Country Scholar-Athletes.  He also was named the 2009 USTFCCCA Midwest Region Women's Assistant Track and Field Coach of the Year.

A native of Wheeling, Ill., Burns was head cross country and track and field coach at Loyola for 10 years prior to taking over the Wichita State program.  During his tenure with the Ramblers, he led the men's cross country team to its first-ever NCAA Championship berth in 2005 and guided teams to three Horizon League cross country team championships.  His teams produced 49 All-Horizon League performers who combined for 53 individual cross country and track and field conference champions.

Burns' responsibilities at Loyola also included planning the annual Sean Earl Loyola Lakefront Cross Country Invitational, which he grew into one of the premier events of the season and featured 70 intercollegiate teams in 2005.   

A 1991 graduate of Loyola with a degree in business administration, he was a two-time All-American on the track for the Ramblers and clocked the third-fastest collegiate time in the nation in the indoor 3,000 meters in 1990.  Burns was a three-time All-Midwestern College Conference cross country performer and two-time 5,000 meter indoor conference champion. 

Burns is married to the former Alana Crisman, who is originally from Rushville, Ill.  They have three sons: Connor, Brian and Sean.