Bio

Courtney Burns enters her sixth season as head coach of the women's basketball program at Mitchell College in 2022-23.

Burns led the Mariners to their first-ever New England Collegiate Conference championship and NCAA postseason last season. Mitchell advanced to the NECC Championship finals with a road win over second-seeded Eastern Nazarene College, earning a spot in the title game for the first time in school history. The Mariners then clinched the conference crown with a 85-74 victory over top-seeded New England College, claiming the NECC's automatic bid for the NCAA Championship. Six days later, Mitchell took on top-ranked Christopher Newport University in the opening round of the NCAA tournament in Baltimore, Md.

Burns had three players take home major awards in 2022, as the program produced the NECC's Player of the Year, Defensive Player of the Year and Co-Rookie of the Year. Senior forward Amina Wiley became the program's first three-time all-conference first team selection, and she also garnered all-region recognition from both D3hoops.com and the New England Women's Basketball Association. 

In 2020, Mitchell finished with a 16-11 record in that included the most non-conference victories (5) since the program joined the NCAA Division III ranks. The Mariners won double-digit conference games for the third straight year under Burns and advanced to the NECC Championship semifinals. 

In 2019 the program recorded the most wins (17) in a season in the program's Division III era. The Mariners finished with a 15-3 record in league play and tied for first in the regular season standings, advancing to the semifinals of the conference tournament before bowing out. The program produced the NECC Rookie of the Year as well as three all-conference honorees, and for her efforts Burns was tabbed NECC Coach of the Year.

A native of Rockland, Mass., Burns has coaching experience at both the NCAA Division II and III levels. Prior to joining the Mariners she served as an assistant coach at Southern New Hampshire University in Manchester, N.H. She also spent time as an assistant at both Southern Connecticut State University and Johnson & Wales University.

Burns was named to the SNHU women's basketball staff in the summer of 2015. For two seasons she assisted in all facets of the program, serving as offensive coordinator and focusing on guard development. As offensive coordinator she was charged with implementing the read and react offense, and she was also responsible for recruiting, opponent scouting, and film breakdown and exchange.

Prior to SNHU, Burns served a season as an assistant coach at Southern Connecticut in 2014-15. At the time she was the youngest assistant in the Northeast-10 Conference, and she helped lead the Owls to the fifth-best league record despite being selected last (15th) in the preseason polls. She spent the 2013-14 season as an assistant coach at Johnson & Wales, working with guards and post players and helping the Wildcats to their first postseason win since 2009.

Burns joined the coaching ranks after a four-year playing career at Rhode Island College. A captain in her final two seasons, she played in 103 career games and averaged 8.2 points and 4.4 rebounds per contest. During her four years the Anchorwomen won 77 games and enjoyed a pair of 20-win seasons, including a 2011-12 campaign (25-4 overall) in which the program won its first-ever Little East Conference title and advanced to the second round of the NCAA Tournament.

Following college, Burns continued her playing career with a stint with the Brockton Lady Thunder. She also represented the United States in a four-game tour of Italy with American International Sports.

In addition to coaching, Burns has a background in strength and conditioning. She serves as the strength and conditioning coach for multiple Mitchell programs, creating and overseeing work outs in the on-campus fitness center. She has also played a huge role in the recent overhaul the facility, upgrading equipment and machines to the benefit of all student-athletes.

Burns graduated from RIC in 2014 with a degree in mathematics. She is currently pursuing a Master's in sports management at SNHU.