Zohn Burden

  • Zohn
  • Burden

  • Running Backs Coach
The Burden File
Experience: 11th season, 2nd at Virginia Tech
Hometown: Virginia Beach, Va.
High School: Salem (2002)
College: VMI (2006)
Playing Exp: VMI (2002-05)
Family: Children – Zaria, Zamir and Langston
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Coaching History
YearSchoolPosition
2016Virginia TechRunning Backs
2015Virginia TechWide Receivers
2012-14Old DominionPassing Game Coordinator/Wide Receivers
2011RichmondWide Receivers
2007-10Old DominionDefensive Backs
2006Fork UnionWide Receivers/Defensive Backs


Bowl Games/Playoffs Coached (2)
2015Virginia TechIndependence
2014Old DominionFCS Playoffs

Coaching Highlights

  • Talented and versatile coach enters his third season at Virginia Tech, his second coaching running backs. 
  • Originally joined the Hokies as wide receivers coach in 2015.
  • Selected to participate in NFL’s Bill Walsh Diversity Coaching Fellowship with the Washington Redskins during camp in July 2017.
  • Born and raised in the heart of the 757, Burden hails from an area that has served as a hotbed of talent for the Hokies for generations. Also owns experience coaching at Fork Union Military Academy, a school that has produced a distinguished pedigree of NFL performers.
  • Helped groom RB Sam Rogers into a multiple-purpose offensive threat.
  • A record-setting collegiate receiver in his own right at VMI, helped develop WR Isaiah Ford into Virginia Tech’s first pass catcher to ever produce a 1,000-yard season in 2015 when he set a single-season school record with 1,164 yards, capping the year with a 12-catch, 227-yard effort in the Independence Bowl.
  • Joined the Hokies after a three-year stint as the passing game coordinator and coaching wide receivers for Old Dominion (2012-14).
  • Prior to Virginia Tech, Burden spent three seasons at Old Dominion (2012-14) in Norfolk, Virginia, where he groomed 1,000-yard wideouts such as Antonio Vaughan, Zach Pascal, Larry Pinkard and Nick Mayers.
  • Old Dominion was one of 13 FBS schools in 2014 to have three players with 40 or more catches and one of 16 schools to have four players with 30 or more receptions.
  • Vaughan produced his best collegiate season with 63 catches for a league-high 1,019 yards under Burden’s guidance in 2014 as his 12 touchdowns tied for fourth among FCS programs.
  • With Burden serving as passing game coordinator in 2013, Old Dominion ranked fourth in the FCS in scoring offense (42.3 ppg), fourth in passing offense (359.4 ypg) and seventh in total offense (519.0 ypg) as Pinkard led the squad with 68 catches for 1,020 yards.
  • Helped lead the most prolific FCS offense in 2012 as the Monarchs led the nation in scoring (45.2 ppg),  total offense (548.2 ypg), passing offense (393.8 ypg) and TD passes (44). Mayers tied for second among FCS performers with a school-record 16 TD catches. He also set single-season school records with 79 catches for 1,233 yards earning All-America honors from College Sports Madness and Beyond Sports Network.
  • Developed WR Tre Gray into a record-setting receiver at Richmond in 2011. He earned third team All-America honors from the AP after leading the Colonial Athletic Association and setting Richmond single-season records with 95 receptions for 1,187 yards.  
  • Served as an integral part of one of the most successful start-up programs in recent history as Old Dominion returned to the field in 2009 after a 68-year absence.
  • Joined the Old Dominion staff as defensive backs coach in 2007, helping to build a roster from scratch as the Monarchs got on the field in 2009 and produced a 9-2 mark, the best record for a first-year program in the modern era of college football.
  • Embarked on his coaching career in 2006 at Fork Union Military Academy where he coached wide receivers and defensive backs while also serving as the passing game coordinator and recruiting liaison.

Prominent Pupils

WR Isaiah Ford – Virginia Tech
All-ACC First Team

WR Tre Gray – Richmond
AP All-America Third Team

WR Nick Mayers – Old Dominion
All-Colonial Athletic Association First Team

WR Antonio Vaughan – Old Dominion
All-Conference USA First Team

WR Zach Pascal – Old Dominion
All-Conference USA Honorable Mention

Playing Highlights

  • Three-time All-Big South wide receiver at VMI from 2002-05, finished his career with 162 receptions for 2,101 yards (13.0 avg.) with 12 touchdowns for the Keydets.
  • His 162 catches rank second in school history behind only Mark Stock (165) while his yardage tally is third in VMI history.
  • Owns a share of a school record with a reception in 34 consecutive games.
  • Racked up 58 catches for 742 yards and three TDs as a senior in 2005, tying as the second-best season reception total at the school. Also had 57 catches as a junior in 2004.
  • Registered two games with 10 catches during his career, a mark that ties as the second-best single-game tally in VMI history, while his five 100-yard contests are the second-highest total in the VMI record book.