Georgia Southern University Athletics

Announced as the head coach of the Georgia Southern men's basketball program March 29, 2020, Brian Burg is in his third season leading the Eagles.

Defense has been the Eagles' calling card during Burg's tenure. Georgia Southern allowed 65.6 points a game in 2021-22, the eighth-best scoring defense in school history, and Eagle opponents shot 41 percent from the field, which ranked third in the Sun Belt and was the second-best field goal percentage defense in a season at Georgia Southern. The Eagles have held their opponent under 60 points in 14 contests and under 40 percent shooting in 22 games under Burg.

Named a finalist for the Joe B. Hall Award, presented annually to the top first-year coach in Division I college basketball, Burg led Georgia Southern to a 13-win campaign in his first year, and the Eagles ranked fourth in the Sun Belt in scoring defense, first in turnovers forced and third in steals. Georgia Southern returned just five lettermen (two scholarship) to the 2020-21 roster, which was tied for the fourth least in the country, and the Eagles' nine newcomers were tied for the fourth-most in the country. 

Burg came to Statesboro after four successful seasons on Chris Beard’s staff at Texas Tech, and was the first coaching hire for Eagle Director of Athletics Jared Benko, who was named to his post in March of 2020.

In Burg's four seasons with the Texas Tech program, the Red Raiders went 94-44 with two deep runs in the NCAA Tournament, including an appearance in the 2019 national title game. Burg served as an assistant coach the last two seasons after serving as the program's Chief of Staff in 2016-17 and 2017-18, where he was involved in all facets of the program. 

Burg, who is described as one of the nation's top recruiters by his peers, brings nearly a decade of experience as an assistant coach at the Division I level with stops at Campbell, North Carolina Central and at fellow Sun Belt school Little Rock under Beard in 2015-16. During that stretch, Burg helped lead programs that compiled a 176-60 record, highlighted by four NCAA Tournament trips and an NIT appearance. The teams also have posted an 88-36 conference mark, including Texas Tech's first Big 12 regular-season title as well as two MEAC and one Sun Belt regular-season championship.

In his first year as an on-court assistant coach for Texas Tech, the Red Raiders recorded the program's winningest season in school history by going 31-7 in 2018-19. Tech advanced to the program's first Final Four after earning wins over Northern Kentucky, Buffalo, Michigan and Gonzaga before advancing to the national championship game with a 61-51 win over Michigan State in the semifinal in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Before the tournament run, the Red Raiders won the program's first regular-season Big 12 title by going 14-4 in conference play. 
 
No stranger to the Sun Belt Conference, Burg served as an assistant coach on Beard's Little Rock staff in 2015-16. The Trojans began their Sun Belt championship season with a program-best 10-0 record, completed a 30-5 campaign, and overcame a 14-point deficit in the final five minutes during its NCAA Tournament First Round contest en route to an 85-83 double-overtime victory against No. 12-ranked and fifth-seeded Purdue. 

The Trojans' 15-game improvement in the win column tied for the NCAA's top spot and Little Rock had three players pick up All-Sun Belt honors during the same season for the first time in program history, led by Josh Hagins on the All-Sun Belt First Team and the NABC's All-District 24 First Team. Roger Woods collected All-Sun Belt Third-Team honors and the 2016 Sun Belt Tournament Most Valuable Player award. Burg was named one of the nation's Top 5 Mid-Major Recruiters by CBSsports.com.

Before Little Rock, Burg spent two seasons at North Carolina Central as an assistant coach. The Eagles turned in an impressive 53-14 record, won 31 of their 32 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) games and secured berths to the 2014 NCAA Tournament and 2015 NIT. NCCU’s 28 victories in 2013-14 were a single-season MEAC record and its .824 winning percentage was the highest by a MEAC school since the 1987-88 season.
 
Overall, Burg assisted in the recruitment and coached seven All-MEAC selections during his tenure. Jeremy Ingram came away with 2014 All-MEAC First-Team honors, the 2014 MEAC Player of the Year and the 2014 MEAC Tournament Most Outstanding Performer. Burg was ranked the MEAC’s top assistant coach by NextUpRecruits.com in 2014-15.

Burg’s first opportunity as an assistant coach at the Division I level came at Campbell University where he organized the program’s recruiting efforts and assisted in all phases of the program. The Camels won the 2010 Atlantic Sun Conference regular season title and set program records for regular season (19) and conference (14) wins. Campbell ranked second in the country in steals per game and eighth in turnover margin. 
 
Burg served as lead recruiter on All-Big South performer Eric Griffin, who spent time with the Detroit Pistons during the 2015-16 NBA season and was Campbell’s first-ever NBA player. Griffin also enjoyed stints with the Los Angeles Lakers, Miami Heat, Dallas Mavericks and Los Angeles Clippers summer league teams. Darren White became the first player to represent the Camels in the NBA Development League, and Trey Freeman garnered 2012 Big South Freshman of the Year accolades. In total, Burg has had 37 players go on to play professional basketball.
 
Burg joined the Campbell program after two seasons as the Director of Basketball Operations under Kermit Davis at Middle Tennessee State. He began his coaching career at Lake Erie College as a graduate assistant from 2003-05, followed by one-year assistant coaching stops at Garden City Community College (2005-06) and Western Texas College (2006-07). 

A native of Houston, Texas, Burg earned his bachelor's degree from Mount Mercy in 2003 and a master's degree from Lake Erie in 2005. He is married to the former Resea Musgrove and has stepson, Dane.
 
Burg's Coaching Experience 
Seasons, School, Position 
2003-05, Lake Erie College, Graduate Assistant
2005-06, Garden City Community College, Assistant Coach
2006-07, Western Texas College, Assistant Coach
2007-09, Middle Tennessee State, Director of Basketball Operations
2009-13, Campbell, Assistant Coach
2013-15, North Carolina Central, Assistant Coach
2015-16, Little Rock, Assistant Coach
2016-18, Texas Tech, Chief of Staff
2018-20, Texas Tech, Assistant Coach
2020-Present, Georgia Southern, Head Coach
 

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WHAT THEY ARE SAYING ABOUT BRIAN BURG
"I want to thank Brian Burg for everything he's done for our program over the past five years and congratulate Jared Benko and Georgia Southern on a great hire. Burg's contributions to our success cannot be overstated. He is a great coach, relentless recruiter and someone who worked his way through multiple levels of college basketball to earn this opportunity. I know that he will build on the success that Georgia Southern has established through his unmatched work ethic. He will be missed at Texas Tech, but I couldn't be more proud and appreciative of everything we accomplished together." - Texas head coach Chris Beard

"Brian Burg is one of the best assistants in the country and is more than ready to be a head coach. I've watched him for years now. The first thing that stands out is his work ethic, but he's also able to connect with people - players, coaches, boosters and media. Then you factor in his ability to coach, and I think this will be the best hire of 2020." - Jeff Goodman, Stadium Basketball Insider

"Brian Burg is a home run hire. His ascension in the coaching ranks is well earned. He has garnered the respect of coaches on every level due to his relentless work ethic, tireless recruiting and ability to foster relationships. Georgia Southern is not only getting a winner but a champion in all facets of the program." – LeVelle Moton, North Carolina Central head coach

"Brian Burg will do a terrific job at Georgia Southern. He is the total package. He has an incredible work ethic, is a terrific floor coach and a proven evaluator and recruiter. His network is strong throughout the country. Coach Burg has worked at every level and paid his dues. He has worked for terrific coaches and helped build winning cultures and programs. I look forward to following his success." – ESPN analyst Seth Greenberg.

"Georgia Southern hired as hard-working a coach there is in college basketball in Brian Burg. Well trained and tutored by Chris Beard, he'll have an immediate impact at Georgia Southern." - Jon Rothstein, CBS Sports

"Brian Burg was an integral part of Texas Tech's run to the Final Four. As Chris Beard's lead assistant, he has been involved in every aspect of the Red Raiders' program. He's ready to take the next step and build a great program at Georgia Southern. Eagles' fans will love his passion, work ethic and commitment to creating an NCAA Tournament level program." - ESPN analyst Fran Fraschilla

"Brian Burg ticks all the boxes for this job. He's played a key role alongside Chris Beard at both Texas Tech and Little Rock and has strong Southeast ties from his days at North Carolina Central and Campbell. He's the ultimate grinder and took no shortcuts on his way to becoming a head coach. He'll bring that same work ethic to Georgia Southern." - Jeff Borzello, College Basketball Insider for ESPN

"Jared Benko is getting a great coach but an even better guy. Coach Burg helped me through my success and is a relentless worker. He's worked hard to help his players and also his development. He's a winner and makes a difference wherever he is at. I'm excited to follow and watch Coach Burg and Georgia Southern basketball." - Former Texas Tech All-American Jarrett Culver, now with the Minnesota Timberwolves

"I just became a Georgia Southern fan today by the hiring of Brian Burg. I can't say enough good things about Coach Burg. He genuinely cares about all his players. Every single day I was at Texas Tech, he pushed me to get better. That's no exaggeration. He's the ultimate grinder. He works as hard as anyone I've ever seen. I'm very excited to follow Georgia Southern basketball." – Matt Mooney, Former Texas Tech guard, now with the Cleveland Cavaliers

"Athletic Director Jared Benko made a great hire. My relationship with Coach Burg was amazing on and off the court. He helped me with film and inspired me to be one of the best offensive rebounders in the Big 12 and inspired me to write 'rebound' on my wrist before every game. I am most definitely looking forward to watching Georgia Southern basketball in the near future."  - Former Texas Tech guard Zhaire Smith, now with the Philadelphia 76ers

"Georgia Southern made a tremendous hire today when they hired Coach Burg. The guy is about excellence, and he demands that out of everyone in the building. From the staff to the players, his leadership inspires others to be 'superstars' in the role they play within the organization. You won't find another coach in the country that prepares his guys like Coach Burg does. You always feel like you've played the opponent several times before you actually have. The guy is special. I know whenever I need something, he'll always be there for me. I'm excited about becoming a Georgia Southern fan and following along their journey with Coach Burg. Hail Southern!" - Former Texas Tech center Norense Odiase, now in the G-League with the Northern Arizona Suns

"I've been impressed with Brian and his passion for the game of basketball, his ability to recruit and his work ethic. He's been an integral part of the success of Texas Tech has had the last couple of years." – Evan Daniels, 247Sports.com Director of Recruiting