Troy Football Adds Nathan Burton as Co-Defensive Coordinator

TROY, Ala. – Troy Football head coach Gerad Parker continued to assemble his coaching staff on Thursday with the addition of Nathan Burton as the Trojans' co-defensive coordinator and inside linebackers coach. Burton joins the Trojans following a successful season leading the Kennesaw State defense.

Burton comes to Troy with more than 16 years of coaching experience after spending last season at Kennesaw State, plus stops at Georgia Tech, Temple, NC State and Oklahoma State. Additionally, he has experience in the state coaching at West Alabama and began his career under head coach Chan Gailey, who won a National Championship at Troy, as a graduate assistant at Georgia Tech.

Burton's defense at Kennesaw State allowed just 17.9 points and 308.2 yards per game in 2023, the ninth and 15^th best marks, respectively, at the FCS level. The Owls were stout in both facets of their defense, holding opponents to 118.8 rushing yards and 189.4 passing yards per game.

Kennesaw State held 40 percent of its opponents to 17 points or fewer, including four of its final five non-FBS opponents (allowed just 24 points in a three-point loss to C-USA's Sam Houston).

Burton spent the 2022 season as the secondary coach for the New Orleans Breakers of the United States Football League. With the Breakers, the Lilburn, Ga., native served as the secondary coach for a defense that led the league in fewest points per game (16.4), passing yards allowed per game (163.9) and red zone defense (38.5 percent).

Before his stint in the USFL, Burton was the co-defensive coordinator and safeties coach at his alma mater, Georgia Tech, for two seasons (2020-21). In his first season, the Yellow Jackets ranked in the top 25 nationally in red zone defense and were among the nation's top 40 in pass defense.

During the 2020 season, Georgia Tech's defense ranked in the top 25 in two categories within the turnover department. The team finished the year second in the nation in fumble recoveries (12) and was 25th in total takeaways (18).

Under Burton's leadership, Yellow Jacket safety Tariq Carpenter was selected by the Green Bay Packers in the seventh round of the NFL Draft.

Before his time on The Flats, Burton spent the 2018 season as the defensive backs coach at Temple. The Owls scored eight defensive touchdowns, best in the country, and ranked third in forced turnovers (31) and fumble recoveries (13). Temple also intercepted 18 passes, which ranked fourth nationally.

Prior to his success at Temple, Burton served as a defensive quality control assistant at NC State in 2017. The Wolfpack finished the season third in the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) in rushing defense, yielding 131.0 yards per game. NC State also ranked fifth in sacks per game with 2.31.

Burton spent five seasons as a defensive coordinator at the Division II level from 2012-2016 before joining the coaching staff at NC State. He coached three seasons at West Alabama (2014-2016) and two at Shorter (2012-2013).

Burton's West Alabama defense led the Gulf South Conference (GSC) in rushing defense (2015) and ranked first in total defense, pass defense and interceptions in 2014. While coaching at Shorter, he coordinated the GSC's No. 2-ranked defense and led the Hawks to a winning record in their transitional season from NAIA to Division II.

From 2010-2012, Burton was a linebackers, special teams and secondary coach at the UT-Martin. He also made a stop at Oklahoma State in 2009 as a graduate assistant coach.

Burton got his start in coaching at Georgia Tech, where he served as the team's graduate assistant coach for four seasons under head coaches Chan Gailey and Paul Johnson (2005-2008).

The metro Atlanta native first arrived at Georgia Tech as a walk-on student-athlete in 2001. In his time at Georgia Tech, Burton earned a scholarship and led the Yellow Jackets to victories in the Seattle Bowl, Humanitarian Bowl and Champs Sports Bowl.

The football standout was known by his teammates as "The Admiral" and was named the 2004 Yellow Jackets' Lifter of the Year for his accomplishments in the weight room. He graduated from Georgia Tech with a bachelor's degree in applied biology in 2005.

Burton attended Greater Atlanta Christian School and was a two-time all-Gwinnett County selection as a wide receiver and quarterback in high school. He is married to the former Britney Kener, and the couple has four sons: Charlie, Grady, Isaac and William.

Troy University Athletics

Troy Football Adds Nathan Burton as Co-Defensive Coordinator

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