ronx, NY - (June 7, 2006) – Fordham University men’s basketball assistant coach Ross Burns announced his resignation today to pursue other interests. Burns, who will return to Wagner College to complete a graduate degree, has been a member of head coach Dereck Whittenburg’s staff since Whittenburg took over at Fordham prior to the 2003-04 season.

“Ross did a great job in helping to start turn the program around here at Fordham and we will miss him,” said Whittenburg. “I wish him the best of luck in the future.”

Burns, a member of the 1996 UMass team that went to the Final Four, just completed his third season on the basketball staff at Rose Hill, rejoining Whittenburg after serving on his staff for two years at Wagner.

Prior to coming to Fordham, Burns served as an assistant at Youngstown State University. While at YSU, Burns helped assemble a recruiting class that was widely considered to be in the top 100 in the nation.

While at Wagner from 2000-02, Burns played a key role in the transformation that took place during Whittenburg’s tenure. The Seahawks improved in each of his two seasons, while recording 19 wins and earning a berth in the NIT tournament during his second season. During his two seasons with Wagner, Burns prepared scouting reports, assisted with on-campus recruiting and skill development with players. In addition, he was the camp director for the Dereck Whittenburg Basketball School.

Before arriving at Wagner, Burns held a position at Bear, Stearns & Co. Inc., in Boston, Mass., working with the top producing team in private client services for the company. He also worked for Pinnacle Sport Systems as a basketball product manager.

A 1999 graduate of the University of Massachusetts and Greenfield, Massachusetts native, Burns earned a Bachelors Degree in Psychology and Education with a minor in Economics. He was a four-year letter winner on the basketball team, an athletic honor roll student, and a member of the 1996 Final Four team.