Hall of Fame Inductees
One of the unquestioned leaders during his playing days, Jock was a pillar along the offensive line for the Cardinals in his three years as a member of the varsity football squad as a starter at left guard and contributor along the defensive line. Lauded by his teammates, Burns’ leadership helped carry the 1969 football team to an undefeated 8-0 season and spot among the Wesleyan Hall of Fame class of 2010.
Burns arrived at the Middletown campus in the fall of 1968, following one of the nation’s most tumultuous summers; it was a time when resistance to organized activities was high. Competing when freshmen were not eligible at the varsity level, Jock was one of only 18 men on the freshman football team at the start of school. His efforts to recruit others with football experience to join the team proved valuable, attracting several talented classmates to the squad who would help the Cardinals win the Little Three title in 1969 and 1970.
Burns was also an outstanding defender on the lacrosse team. He earned All-Northeast honors his junior year and was an Honorable Mention All-American his senior year. Serving as a team captain his senior year on lacrosse and football, Jock admits he was not a verbal leader until the game started. Instead, he led by example by practicing hard, setting a good standard, and asking, “What can I do to make everyone else and the team better?”
Burns became a full-time assistant football coach at Wesleyan on the offensive line for one year in 1973. After dabbling in other areas for a few years, he went on to enjoy a long, distinguished career in education, first as a teacher and coach at Cushing Academy (1976-1978) and then as a teacher, coach and counselor at Suffield Academy (1979-1986). While at Suffield, he worked as the defensive coach for the varsity football program and head coach for the varsity lacrosse program where he was named Western New England Conference Coach of the Year for lacrosse and Western New England Man of the Year. After a decade managing multiple businesses, he returned to education as CFO at the Pingree School where he was instrumental in starting its football program, serving as defensive coach for three years.
Always up for a challenge, Jock now renovates homes in his ‘retirement’.
