Today we’d like to introduce you to Mike Burns
Hi Mike, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
After the men’s varsity gymnastics team was dropped by the University of Minnesota in 2021, we transitioned to a competitive club program through the GymACT League (www.gymact.org). This allowed us to continue to provide meaningful opportunities to high school aged gymnasts who wanted to continue their sport at the college level. I was the head coach for the men’s varsity program for 17 years from 2004 – 2021. After the program was dropped I’ve maintained my head coaching duties for the club program. For the first three years we were housed in our former training gym on the 3rd floor of Cooke Hall and that culminated in a National Team Title in May of 2024. We also had 2 individual National Champions, 18 All Americans, and 12 Academic All Americans. A program the university should be embracing because of its elite nature.
Unfortunately, the university opted to let us know we were no longer able to use the gymnastics facility in Cooke Hall and had to move all of our equipment out, which we did shortly after returning home with a national title.
We are currently training in 5 different facilities, 3 in the western metro area and 2 on campus. We are in the process of looking for warehouse space close to the university to set up a home base from which to train without having to travel all over the Twin Cities.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Some of the struggles mentioned in the last question. Traveling to several different locations. Several of the guys don’t see their teammates all week since they are at different training sites. Not conducive to creating good team chemistry.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I’ve been coaching gymnastics for over 40 years since I graduated from Penn State. I was very fortunate to get my first job right out of college at the University of Iowa. Spent 11 years there, then I did 6 years coaching in the Junior ranks, then 7 years as assistant coach at the University of Michigan. and the last 20 at the University of Minnesota. I spent about 8 months as a restaurant manager and missed coaching so much I quit that job and got back in the coaching business.
I’ve had the good fortune to work with a lot of great athletes but more importantly, great people. many who have gone on the do great things in life. I’d like to think some of the tools I’ve provided them to deal with adverse situations may be helping them in their day to day lives and jobs.
I have two daily goals:
1. Laugh out loud at least once a day
2. Make someone else do the same thing
So far I’ve achieved my daily goals every day of my life since realizing this is important to me (at least the last 35 years)
These are my core principles: Passion, Purpose, Positivity, and Enthusiasm. I try to approach every day with those 4 traits.
Can you talk to us about how you think about risk?
Life is one big risk isn’t it? I will never sit in a corner and take no risks. That’s a great way to get NO WHERE!!!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://minnesotagymnastics.org/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mike.burns.1884787/
