DENTON -- North Texas Director of Track & Field Carl Sheffield announced the addition of David Burnett as an assistant coach for the 2016-17 season.

"It is truly an exciting time here at North Texas," Sheffield said. "We are adding an outstanding young coach to our staff. David brings a wealth of experience in a number of coaching areas that will improve the quality of our athletes training environment and bolster our recruiting efforts in the state of Texas."

Burnett comes to North Texas after spending the last five seasons as the top assistant at Division II power Western Washington. Burnett was the 2014 USTFCCCA West Region Assistant Coach of the Year leading the Vikings to five top 25 NCAA team finishes.

"I want to thank Coach Sheffield and the hiring committee for giving me this outstanding opportunity," Burnett said. "It feels amazing to be back in the great state of Texas and I look forward to building upon a culture of producing championship caliber student athletes."

Burnett has helped produced five Great Northwest Athletic Conference championships at Western Washington (two men's indoor, three men's outdoor) and has coached 10 student-athletes achieve All-America honors. He also coached 27 GNAC champions and five USTFCCCA academic All-America honorees.

Before Western Washington, Burnett spent five seasons (2006-11) as an assistant coach at UTSA, earning Southland Conference Assistant Coach of the Year honors all five seasons. During UTSA tenure, Roadrunners won seven conference team track championships (five indoor and two outdoor). He coached 18 Midwest Regional all-stars, 20 league champions and 12 school record setters.

Among athletes coached were sprinter Teddy Williams (currently plays special teams with NFL's Carolina Panthers), a four-time All-America who reached semifinals in 100 meters at 2008 U.S. Olympic Trials, and William Vesse, a four-time SLC champion in the 110 hurdles, who finished fourth in the 2008 Nigerian Olympic Trials.

In 2009, the UTSA Athletic Department created David Burnett Roadrunner Pride Award to honor hard working student-athlete showing dedication and school pride. As a former UTSA student-athlete, Burnett earned the inaugural Southland Conference Steve McCarty Citizenship Award as senior as top overall student athlete in the conference, helping the Roadrunners to its first league indoor title. Twice a team captain, he was a 10-time all-conference performer, winning the 400 at the league indoor meet in 2005 and ranking 11th nationally in the 100 in 2002.

Burnett was twice a Midwest Regional qualifier, a four-time member of the SLC Commissioners Honor Roll, a NCAA Inspiration Award nominee and a semifinalist for the John Wooden Golden Cup Inspiration Award.

Burnett earned a bachelor's degree at UTSA in 2006, majoring in kinesiology. He also began work on a master's degree while coaching for the Roadrunners.

Burnett, whose family is from Jamaica, attended Carroll High School in Corpus Christi, Texas. There he was a three-sport star, being named the South Texas Athlete of the Year as a senior, twice earning all-state honors in track and receiving All-America recognition in soccer.

Burnett is married to the former Jessica Gertz. She was a track athlete at Concordia University, St. Paul and Minnesota State University, Mankato.