Burns joined the UAlbany Men's Basketball coaching staff as an assistant coach in June of 2025.
In his first season alongside Coach Killings in 2025–26, UAlbany finished 11–21 overall and 7–9 in America East play while navigating a demanding schedule and a tightly contested conference race. UAlbany showed resilience throughout the year, earning key conference wins and positioning itself in the postseason picture before falling to UMass Lowell in the America East Quarterfinals. The season featured four televised games, including two appearances on ESPNU highlighted by a nationally broadcast victory over Vermont, as well as two games on SNY, including a win over Stony Brook. The Great Danes earned postseason recognition, as Okechukwu Okeke was named America East Defensive Player of the Year and Amir Lindsey was selected to the All-America East First Team following a breakout campaign. Despite the early tournament exit, UAlbany demonstrated steady growth with strong home performances and continued competitiveness within the league. Overall, the season reflected a group that battled through adversity while gaining valuable experience and building momentum within a deep America East field.
A Troy, N.Y. native, during his time with the Dolphins, Burns helped strategize and direct offensive plans for practice and games, per scouting reports. Additionally, he implemented player development sessions that helped improve individual and overall team performance while guiding the Dolphins to the number one scoring offense in the NEC. His day-to-day responsibilities also saw him tasked with assisting on the court with in-game management of substitutions and offensive adjustments, while off the court, he focused on recruiting efforts for prospective student athletes.
Before Le Moyne, Burns spent the 2023-24 season as an assistant coach with the College of Saint Rose under legendary head coach Brian Beaury. There, he developed practice plans and schedules, workouts, and scouting reports while leading daily film meetings of game analysis and practice film as well as helping to create the team’s offensive playbook and defensive coverages.
A former member of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish, as a forward from 2015-2018, Burns appeared in 44 games scoring 98 points, shooting 28-68 (.411%) from the field and 2-6 (.333%) from the three-point line while grabbing 91 rebounds, 10 assists, eight steals and five blocks.
Transferring back home to the Capital Region for his graduate degree to play for the Siena Saints, Burns had a career year in 2019-20, winning the Wallas Award as the Nation’s Top Transfer and Second Team All-MAAC selection. Named as a team captain for the Saints, he saw action in 29 games, averaging 25.9 minutes, 14.38 points, and 5.79 rebounds per game. He finished the season with a total of 417 points, shooting 140-225 (.622%) from the field and 15-18 (.536%) from three-point range, while knocking down 122-142 (.859%) of free throws, while grabbing 168 rebounds, 25 assists, 17 steals and six blocks.
“I am excited to join an incredible coaching staff and get to work. I am looking forward to pouring into our players, pushing toward excellence, and chasing greatness together.”
Burns earned his Bachelor of Arts and Letters in Psychology, College of Arts and Letters from the University of Notre Dame in 2018. He is currently Masters Degree in Business Administration from Siena University.
Killings on Burns
“I am excited to welcome Elijah back home to the Capital Region. Elijah has so much talent and ability to not just teach, but also to help run the day-to-day of our program. In his short time at UAlbany, everyone who has met him has been impressed, as Elijah is a true professional. His work ethic and consistency will help us get our program to the next level.”
