Former Pack Linebacker “Thunder Dan” Burnette Promoted

2002 team MVP now Assistant Head Strength & Conditioning Coach for Football

Raleigh, NC — NC State head football coach Dave Doeren has announced that former Wolfpack linebacker Dantonio Burnette has been promoted to assistant head strength & conditioning coach for football. “Thunder Dan” is entering his 10th year as a member of the Pack’s strength and conditioning staff and served as an assistant S&C coach in 2013.

“It’s great to have an opportunity to work with someone as special as ‘Thunder,’” said Doeren. “NC State is more than a job for him, it’s a way of life. Because of that and the positive way he deals with our players, I wanted to elevate him to this new position.”

A four-time letterwinner at linebacker from 1999-2002, Burnette was named first-team All-ACC as a senior in 2002, was the Wolfpack’s co-MVP and served as a team captain. He ranks second in NC State career history in tackles with 476, while his 41 career tackles for loss rank fourth. A standout in the weight room as well, he earned the team’s most valuable lifter award in 2001.

Burnette worked for three seasons as a graduate assistant with the Wolfpack strength and conditioning program and five years as a full-time assistant before spending 2012 as an assistant strength and conditioning coach at Pittsburgh. He returned to NC State in January of 2013 to join Jason Veltkamp’s staff.

Originally from Warner Robins, Ga., Burnette graduated in 2002 with a degree in sports management and earned his master’s in higher education and sports management in 2007. He is a certified member of the NSCA and USA Weightlifting.