With 31 years of service to John Brown University in total from 1975-2006, Dr. Bob Burns spent 25 years in the role of director of athletics.

Burns, a two-time NAIA Region VI Athletics Director of the Year, was inducted into a prestigious group in 2009 when he entered the National Association of College Directors of Athletics (NACDA) Hall of Fame.

An integral part in shaping the now widely-implemented Champions of Character initiative with the NAIA, Burns served on the committee that crafted a piece of intercollegiate athletics now synonymous with the NAIA. For his years of service and his efforts on the Champions of Character committee, Burns was inducted into the NAIA Hall of Fame in 2013.

During his three-decade tenure, Burns also served as the NAIA Region VI chair for six years, the NAIA District 17 executive committee for eight years, the NAIA Council of Athletic Administrators and was a member of the NACDA executive committee for four years.