burns returned to eastern washington in 2004 as head coach. for 2007-2008, burns was head coach at community colleges of spokane, leading the team to a 30-2 record and year-long #1 ranking in the northwest athletic association of community colleges league. his team had a 24-game winning streak snapped with a one-point loss in the title game against yakima valley cc. he was named the nwaacc coach of the year, and the nwaacc east region coach of the year.