Ron Burton - Football Coach - Michigan State University Athletics

Photo by: Matthew Mitchell Photography

Ron Burton

Title:
Defensive Line Coach
Email:
football@msu.edu
Phone Number:
355-1647

Ron Burton, a 29-year coaching veteran who also played four seasons in the NFL, is in his ninth season on the defensive staff at Michigan State. He has coached in a bowl game 12 of the past 14 seasons, including six bowls with the Spartans (2014 Rose, 2015 Cotton, 2015 College Football Playoff Semifinal, 2017 Holiday, 2018 Redbox, 2019 Pinstripe).

Burton went back to coaching the entire defensive line in 2020 under head coach Mel Tucker after previously coaching the defensive tackles for three seasons (2017-19). Burton spent his first four seasons in East Lansing (2013-16) coaching the defensive line.

Burton is the only coach to win the FootballScoop National Defensive Line Coach of the Year Award twice, an honor he won for the second time in 2018 after MSU finished with the top-ranked rushing defense in the country. He also won the award during his first season in East Lansing in 2013 when the Spartans claimed the Big Ten Championship, won the Rose Bowl, and finished No. 2 in the FBS in total defense and rushing defense.

The defensive line is one of the main reasons why Michigan State continues to rank among the national leaders in rushing defense. Since Burton’s first year in 2013, the Spartans have led the Big Ten in rushing defense four times (2013, 2014, 2017, 2018) and have ranked in the NCAA FBS Top 25 six of his eight seasons, including twice at No. 1 (No. 2 in 2013 at 86.6 ypg; No. 1 in 2014 at 88.5 ypg; No. 11 in 2015 at 116.0 ypg; No. 2 in 2017 at 95.3 ypg; No. 1 in 2018 at 77.9 ypg; No. 16 at 113.8 ypg in 2019).

During Burton’s three-year stint (2017-19) exclusively coaching the defensive tackles, Michigan State led the Big Ten in rushing defense twice, including a No. 2 national ranking in 2017 and No. 1 in 2018. The Spartans also finished in the FBS Top 20 in total defense all three years (No. 7 in 2017, No. 10 in 2018, No. 18 in 2019).

The interior of the Spartan defensive line was the same all three seasons from 2017-19, as Mike Panasiuk and Raequan Williams started 41 games alongside each other. The duo’s presence in the middle helped solidify Michigan State as one of the best defenses in the nation. Williams earned first-team All-Big Ten honors by The Associated Press in 2019 for the second consecutive year and made his NFL debut in 2020 with the Philadelphia Eagles, while Panasiuk was a second-team All-Big Ten honoree by Pro Football Focus for the second year in a row and was a member of the Carolina Panthers' practice squad last year. Williams started 42 conseuctive games to close out his career, the longest starting streak by any player in the Mark Dantonio era.

There is no question Burton has made a significant impact on the defensive line during his tenure in East Lansing. During his eight seasons on the Michigan State staff, Spartan defensive linemen have earned All-Big Ten recognition 16 times, including three-time first-team selection Shilique Calhoun, who became the first defensive end in program history to be named first-team all-conference three times. Five Spartan defensive linemen that Burton has coached at MSU have played in the NFL (Calhoun, Joel Heath, Marcus Rush, Lawrence Thomas, Williams). Two Spartans have been drafted under Burton’s watch (Calhoun in third round of the 2016 NFL Draft by the Raiders, Malik McDowell in the second round of the 2017 NFL Draft by the Seahawks) and six have been invited to the NFL Combine (Calhoun, Heath, McDowell, Thomas, Williams, Naquan Jones).

During his first season coaching the defensive tackles exclusively in 2017, Burton’s mentoring helped the resurgent Spartan defense rank in the FBS Top 25 in rushing defense (No. 2 at 95.3 ypg), total defense (No. 7 at 297.6 ypg), third-down defense (No. 18 at .328) and scoring defense (No. 19 at 20.0 ppg). Panasiuk and Williams both earned honorable mention All-Big Ten honors after starting every game alongside each other on the Big Ten’s top-ranked rushing defense.

In February 2017, Burton was one of 34 NCAA coaches selected to participate in the NCAA and NFL Coaches Academy in Tampa, Florida. The academy was developed in 2011 as a collaborative effort between NCAA leadership development and NFL Player Engagement to boost diversity in the college game.

Michigan State saw its sack total increase upon Burton’s arrival, rising from 20 before his arrival in 2012 to 32 in 2013 to a Big Ten-best 42 in 2014, which also ranked eighth most in the NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision. In 2015, the Spartans were once again ranked among the nation’s leaders (tied for 13th) with 37 sacks.

All four starters on the defensive line picked up Big Ten accolades during MSU’s Big Ten Championship season in 2015: Calhoun (first team), McDowell (second team), Heath (honorable mention) and Thomas (honorable mention). Calhoun, who posted career highs his senior season in tackles for loss (15 for 82 yards) and sacks (10.5 for 74 yards), was also named a second-team All-American for the third year in a row. One of the most productive defensive ends to ever play at Michigan State, Calhoun finished his career ranked among MSU’s all-time leaders in sacks (second with 27) and tackles for loss (fourth with 44).

Burton played a key role in the development of two-year starters Heath and Thomas, who both recorded a career high in tackles during their last season in 2015. Thomas also recorded career bests in tackles for loss (5.0 for 31 yards) and pass break-ups (six) while matching his career best with three sacks (27 yards), and used his productive season to land a spot in the Senior Bowl.

Calhoun, Heath and Thomas all earned invitations to the NFL Scouting Combine, as Michigan State was one of just four schools (Alabama, Clemson, Penn State) to send three defensive linemen to the NFL Combine in 2016. Calhoun was selected in the third round of the 2016 NFL Draft by Oakland, while Heath (Houston) and Thomas (Jets) both made the active roster their rookie season as free agents. Heath played four seasons in the NFL (2016-19) with the Houston Texans before opting out of the 2020 season with the Broncos, while Calhoun has played five seasons in the NFL, including the last two years with the Patriots (2019-20).

Burton coached the final two years of Rush’s career in East Lansing in 2013 and 2014. Rush was a model of consistency, finishing his career in 2014 with the most starts (53) of any player in MSU history. The honorable mention All-Big Ten selection ranked second on the team with a career-high 7.5 sacks and was fourth with 10.5 tackles for loss in 2014. Rush, who finished his career ranked seventh in MSU history in both sacks (18.5) and tackles for loss (37.5), played on the practice squad for the San Francisco 49ers in 2015 and made his NFL debut with the Jacksonville Jaguars in 2016.

Michigan State's defensive line showed significant improvement in its productivity in Burton's first year on the Spartan staff in 2013, increasing its totals in sacks (+12) and tackles for loss (+10) from 2012. In his first year as a starter, Calhoun garnered second-team All-America honors from numerous organizations and was named the Big Ten Defensive Lineman of the Year as well as the National Defensive Performer of the Year by the College Football Performance Awards. Rush garnered honorable mention All-Big Ten accolades for the third year in a row, while senior defensive tackles Micajah Reynolds and Tyler Hoover both delivered their most productive seasons wearing the Green and White. For his efforts in 2013, Burton was named the National Defensive Line Coach of the Year by FootballScoop.

Burton previously spent 10 seasons (2003-12) as the defensive line coach at Air Force. During his tenure, Burton helped the Falcons to a combined record of 67-57 (.540), including a school-record six consecutive bowl appearances (2007-12), while developing some of the top defensive linemen in school history. Burton also served as the program's NFL liaison.

In 2008, Jake Paulson became the first-ever defensive lineman at Air Force to earn first-team All-Mountain West honors after recording 14.5 tackles for loss and nine sacks. One year later, nose guard Ben Garland was a second-team All-MWC selection; Garland has gone on to play seven seasons in the NFL and is currently on the roster for the San Francisco 49ers. In the Falcons' 2010 Independence Bowl victory over Georgia Tech, defensive lineman Rick Ricketts, a second-team All-MWC choice, was named the defensive most valuable player of the game. Burton also coached two-time Academic All-American (defensive end) Ryan Carter.

Before arriving at Air Force, Burton spent one season (2002) at Grand Valley State and helped lead the Lakers to a perfect 14-0 record and the 2002 NCAA Division II National Championship, the first in school history.

Burton had previous Big Ten coaching experience prior to coaching at MSU, as he spent five seasons as the linebackers coach at Indiana from 1997-2001. Burton mentored two Butkus Award nominees, Jabar Robinson and Justin Smith, during his time with the Hoosiers. Robinson led the team in tackles two straight years and is eighth in school history with 339 career tackles, while Smith played one season (2003) in the NFL and ranks ninth in IU history with 326 tackles.

Burton also coached linebackers at Eastern Michigan for two seasons (1995-96) and landed his first full-time coaching position as the defensive backs coach at Morehead State (1994).

A four-year letterman (1982-86) at North Carolina, Burton helped the Tar Heels to three bowl appearances during his career and was named team captain and best defensive lineman as a senior. He graduated from UNC with a bachelor's degree in industrial relations in 1987.

Following graduation, Burton spent four seasons playing linebacker in the NFL for the Dallas Cowboys (1987-89), Phoenix Cardinals (1989) and Los Angeles Raiders (1990). Burton started 15 games for the Cowboys in 1988 and recorded two sacks, and played on the 1990 Raiders team that advanced to the 1990 AFC Championship Game.

After his NFL career, Burton returned to North Carolina and spent two years as a graduate assistant (1992-93) for the Tar Heels.

Burton was an all-state selection as a linebacker at Highland Springs (Va.) High School.

A native of Highland Springs, Virginia, Burton and his wife, Andrea, have four children: Ronald, Ryan, Roya and Reid.

THE BURTON FILE

YEARS AT MICHIGAN STATE: Ninth. Hired Feb. 8, 2013, from Air Force.

PREVIOUS COACHING EXPERIENCE: College - Graduate assistant coach (1992-93) at North Carolina; defensive backs at Morehead State (1994); linebackers at Eastern Michigan (1995-96); linebackers at Indiana (1997-2001); defensive line at Grand Valley State (2002); defensive line at Air Force (2003-12).

EDUCATION: Bachelor's degree in industrial relations from North Carolina in 1987.

PLAYING EXPERIENCE: College - Four-year letterman as a defensive lineman at North Carolina (1982-86). Professional - Spent four seasons in the National Football Leauge, with the Dallas Cowboys (1987-89), Phoenix Cardinals (1989) and Los Angeles Raiders (1990).

POSTSEASON EXPERIENCE: Player - 1982 Sun Bowl, 1983 Peach Bowl, 1986 Aloha Bowl; Coach - 1993 Peach Bowl, 1993 Gator Bowl, 2002 NCAA Division II Playoffs, 2007 Armed Forces Bowl, 2008 Armed Forces Bowl, 2009 Armed Forces Bowl, 2010 Independence Bowl, 2011 Military Bowl, 2012 Armed Forces Bowl, 2014 Rose Bowl, 2015 Cotton Bowl, 2015 College Football Playoff (Cotton Bowl), 2017 Holiday Bowl, 2018 Redbox Bowl, 2019 Pinstripe Bowl.

BIG TEN STAT CHAMPIONS: Rushing Defense (2013, 2014, 2017, 2018); Scoring Defense (2013, 2018).

FBS TOP 10 STAT RANKINGS: Rushing Defense (No. 2 in 2013, No. 1 in 2014, No. 2 in 2017, No. 1 in 2018); Scoring Defense (No. 3 in 2013, No. 8 in 2018); Total Defense (No. 2 in 2013, No. 8 in 2014, No. 7 in 2017, No. 10 in 2018).

ALL-BIG TEN PLAYERS: DE Shilique Calhoun (first team, 2013, 2014, 2015); DL Malik McDowell (second team, 2015, 2016); DT Raequan Williams (first team, Associated Press, 2018-19)

BIG TEN POSITION PLAYER OF THE YEAR: DL Shilique Calhoun (2013)

ALL-AMERICANS AT MSU: DE Shilique Calhoun (second team, 2013, 2014, 2015); DT Malik McDowell (second team, 2016)

FRESHMAN ALL-AMERICANS: DL Malik McDowell (2014)

NFL DRAFT PICKS AT MSU: DE Shilique Calhoun (Raiders, third round, 2016); DL Malik McDowell (Seahawks, second round, 2017)

NFL PLAYERS: Michigan State: DE Shilique Calhoun (Raiders, 2016-18; Patriots, 2019); DE Marcus Rush (Jaguars, 2016); DE Lawrence Thomas (Jets, 2016-17); DT Joel Heath (Texans, 2016-19); DT Raequan Williams (Eagles, 2020); Air Force: Ben Garland (Broncos, 2012-14; Falcons, 2016-18; 49ers, 2019); Indiana: Justin Smith (Buccaneers/Rams, 2003).