Tonya Burns
{{Short description|American basketball player and coach}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=October 2024}}
{{Infobox basketball biography
| name = Tonya Burns
| image =
| image_size =
| caption =
| number = 42
| position = Center
| height_ft = 6
| height_in = 2
| league = Big Eight Conference
| team = Iowa State Cyclones
| birth_date =
| birth_place =
| high_school = Leo High School
(Leo, Indiana)
| college = Iowa State (1981–1985)
| highlights =
- First-team All-Big Eight (1985)
| medal_templates =
}}
Tonya Burns-Sheehan{{r|cycast}} ({{nee}} Burns, known as Tonya Burns-Cohrs from 1991 to the 2020s{{efn|Burns married John Frederick Cohrs in 1991{{Cite news|page=2F|url=https://www.genealogybank.com/newspaper-clippings/burns-cohrs/mddankywcsqrgmemfwoijzkngvgsazpy_ip-10-166-46-190_1725086987130|title=Burns-Cohrs|work=Fort Wayne News-Sentinel|date=June 28, 1991}} and was known as Burns-Cohrs as late as 2020.{{r|FWJG200322}} }}) is an American former basketball player and coach. After a noted high school career in Indiana, she starred for the Iowa State Cyclones from 1981 to 1985 and was the first women's basketball player at Iowa State to have her number retired. After an attempt to play professionally in the National Women's Basketball Association, which never played a regular-season game, she became a high school basketball coach and physical education teacher in her native Indiana.
Playing career
Tonya Burns grew up shooting baskets with her father and brother at her childhood home in Cedarville, Indiana. She played softball, volleyball, and track,{{cite news|url=https://www.genealogybank.com/newspaper-clippings/tonya-courting-basketball-future/qtyazishgcnzszsgwtomiubvkoupluvv_ip-10-166-46-94_1725086089344|work=Fort Wayne News-Sentinel|title=Tonya 'Courting' Basketball Future|date=January 21, 1982|first=Barbara|last=Wachtman|page=3C|access-date=August 31, 2024|archive-date=September 5, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240905194222/https://www.genealogybank.com/newspaper-clippings/tonya-courting-basketball-future/qtyazishgcnzszsgwtomiubvkoupluvv_ip-10-166-46-94_1725086089344|url-status=live}} later recalling that Indiana—which in the 1970s was still phasing in women's sports at the high school level—offered little more than intramurals, which did not include basketball for girls.{{Cite news|first=Blake|last=Sebring|work=The Journal Gazette|date=March 22, 2020|title=Until '70s, doors often closed to female athletes }}
At Leo High School, Burns averaged 17 points and 11 rebounds a game in her final two seasons as the first girl in school history to surpass 1,000 career points.{{r|Dail810331}} In her senior season of 1980–81, the team was expected to contend for a state championship, but Burns sprained her ankle; she instead watched from the bench as Leo was upset before making the tournament in Indianapolis.{{Cite news|url=https://www.genealogybank.com/newspaper-clippings/burns-finally-gets-her-wish/xrkeuxkofzlwbctggtfkbofiuungjhja_ip-10-166-46-139_1725086282527|first=George|last=Honold|page=2B|work=The Journal-Gazette|title=Burns finally gets her wish|date=June 19, 1981|access-date=August 31, 2024|archive-date=September 5, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240905194222/https://www.genealogybank.com/newspaper-clippings/burns-finally-gets-her-wish/xrkeuxkofzlwbctggtfkbofiuungjhja_ip-10-166-46-139_1725086282527|url-status=live}} She was named to the Indiana girls All-Star basketball team.{{Cite news|url=https://newspapers.com/article/the-indianapolis-news-southsiders-all-st/154346458/|date=April 6, 1981|page=22|title=Southsiders All-Stars|newspaper=The Indianapolis News|location=Indianapolis, Indiana|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=August 31, 2024|archive-date=September 5, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240905194058/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-indianapolis-news-southsiders-all-st/154346458/|url-status=live}}
In March 1981, Burns signed a letter of intent to play for the Iowa State Cyclones. Iowa State's coach at the time, Deb Oing, hailed from Indiana.{{Cite news|url=https://newspapers.com/article/the-daily-nonpareil-isu-coach-announces/144250036/|date=March 31, 1981|page=10|agency=Associated Press|title=ISU coach announces signings|newspaper=The Daily Nonpareil|location=Council Bluffs, Iowa|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=August 31, 2024|archive-date=September 5, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240905194059/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-daily-nonpareil-isu-coach-announces/144250036/|url-status=live}} The switch from high school to college, with its taller players, led her to become less of a scorer and more of a rebounder in her first season.{{Cite news|url=https://www.genealogybank.com/newspaper-clippings/burns-concentrates-defense-proves-she-still-can-fill-basket/enslosdjeaqxirukpwwixzdpqosuuzkf_ip-10-166-46-170_1725086144106|first=Phil|last=Bloom|work=The Journal-Gazette|title=Burns concentrates on defense, but proves she still can fill basket|date=July 29, 1982|access-date=August 31, 2024|archive-date=September 5, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240905194102/https://www.genealogybank.com/newspaper-clippings/burns-concentrates-defense-proves-she-still-can-fill-basket/enslosdjeaqxirukpwwixzdpqosuuzkf_ip-10-166-46-170_1725086144106|url-status=live}} She set a new school rebounding record in her freshman year of 1981–82 with 213, averaging 11.3 points per game, and was selected to play at the National Sports Festival.{{Cite news|url=https://newspapers.com/article/-isu-player-on-festival-team/144250120/|date=June 23, 1982|page=11|agency=Associated Press|title=ISU player on festival team|newspaper=The Muscatine Journal|location=Muscatine, Iowa|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=August 31, 2024|archive-date=September 5, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240905194100/https://www.newspapers.com/article/-isu-player-on-festival-team/144250120/|url-status=live}}
In her sophomore year of 1982–83, Burns set a new Iowa State season scoring record with 460.{{Cite news|url=https://newspapers.com/article/the-des-moines-register-isu-women-cagers/144250321/|date=November 15, 1983|page=2S|title=ISU women cagers shoot for .500 mark|first=Mark|last=Smidt|newspaper=The Des Moines Register|location=Des Moines, Iowa|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=August 31, 2024|archive-date=September 5, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240905194100/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-des-moines-register-isu-women-cagers/144250321/|url-status=live}} The team had a 5–6 beginning to its campaign. Burns paced the Cyclones in points and rebounds;{{Cite news|url=https://newspapers.com/article/the-des-moines-register-texas-tough-foe/144250263/|date=January 6, 1983|page=3S|title=Texas tough foe for ISU women|newspaper=The Des Moines Register|location=Des Moines, Iowa|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=August 31, 2024|archive-date=September 5, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240905194101/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-des-moines-register-texas-tough-foe/144250263/|url-status=live}} in the lone win of the first five games, a double-overtime win over Oklahoma State, she posted a career-high 29 points.{{Cite news|url=https://newspapers.com/article/the-des-moines-register-isu-women-win-in/144250207/|date=December 20, 1982|page=5S|title=ISU women win in 2 overtimes|newspaper=The Des Moines Register|location=Des Moines, Iowa|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=August 31, 2024}}
Burns was Iowa State's lone representative to the all–Big Eight team in her junior season of 1983–84, earning second-team honors even as the Cyclones finished 4–23 and 0–14 in league play.{{Cite news|url=https://newspapers.com/article/the-des-moines-register-isus-burns-is-s/144250552/|date=March 5, 1984|page=4S|agency=Associated Press|title=ISU's Burns is second-team pick|newspaper=The Des Moines Register|location=Des Moines, Iowa|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=August 31, 2024|archive-date=April 4, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240404211923/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-des-moines-register-isus-burns-is-s/144250552/|url-status=live}} She scored her 1,000th career point in a 42-point, 18-rebound performance on January 18, 1984, as Iowa State lost to Nebraska;{{Cite news|url=https://newspapers.com/article/quad-city-times-burns-explodes-isu-wome/144250467/|date=January 19, 1984|page=19|title=Burns explodes, ISU women fall|newspaper=Quad-City Times|location=Davenport, Iowa|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=August 31, 2024|archive-date=September 5, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240905194615/https://www.newspapers.com/article/quad-city-times-burns-explodes-isu-wome/144250467/|url-status=live}} later that month, she became the all-time leading rebounder in program history.{{Cite news|url=https://newspapers.com/article/the-des-moines-register-hot-panamanian-l/144250513/|date=February 3, 1984|page=5S|first=Wayne|last=Grett|title=Hot Panamanian leads Briar Cliff|newspaper=The Des Moines Register|location=Des Moines, Iowa|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=August 31, 2024|archive-date=September 5, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240905194755/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-des-moines-register-hot-panamanian-l/144250513/|url-status=live}} During the offseason, she participated in tryouts for the U.S. Olympic basketball team, missing an early cut.{{Cite news|url=https://newspapers.com/article/the-des-moines-register-womens-cage-tea/144250624/|date=April 22, 1984|page=3D|title=Women's cage team trimmed to 28 players|agency=Associated Press|newspaper=The Des Moines Register|location=Des Moines, Iowa|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=August 31, 2024|archive-date=April 4, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240404211912/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-des-moines-register-womens-cage-tea/144250624/|url-status=live}}
For the 1984–85 season, Pam Wettig replaced Oing as coach. On November 24, 1984, Burns surpassed Pat Hodgson to become the all-time leading point-scorer in ISU history.{{Cite news|url=https://newspapers.com/article/the-des-moines-register-burns-sets-mark/144250666/|date=November 26, 1984|page=5S|title=Burns sets mark as Cyclones win|newspaper=The Des Moines Register|location=Des Moines, Iowa|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=August 31, 2024|archive-date=April 4, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240404211915/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-des-moines-register-burns-sets-mark/144250666/|url-status=live}} The team finished the regular season at 12–15 and 3–11 in Big Eight play.{{Cite news|url=https://newspapers.com/article/the-des-moines-register-isus-burns-help/144250725/|date=March 3, 1985|page=10D|first=Chris|last=Adams|title=ISU's Burns helps women rout Colorado|newspaper=The Des Moines Register|location=Des Moines, Iowa|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=August 31, 2024|archive-date=September 5, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240905194623/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-des-moines-register-isus-burns-help/144250725/|url-status=live}} In spite of losing in the first round of the Big Eight conference tournament, the team posted its best season since 1977–78.{{Cite news|url=https://newspapers.com/article/quad-city-times-iowa-state-women-bow/144250789/|date=March 6, 1985|page=15|title=Iowa State women bow|newspaper=Quad-City Times|location=Davenport, Iowa|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=August 31, 2024|archive-date=September 5, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240905194707/https://www.newspapers.com/article/quad-city-times-iowa-state-women-bow/144250789/|url-status=live}} After the season, Burns was named to the first team all–Big Eight{{Cite news|url=https://newspapers.com/article/the-des-moines-register-burns-is-named-t/144250746/|date=March 5, 1985|page=4S|title=Burns is named to Big 8's first team|newspaper=The Des Moines Register|location=Des Moines, Iowa|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=August 31, 2024|archive-date=April 4, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240404211925/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-des-moines-register-burns-is-named-t/144250746/|url-status=live}} and became the first Iowa State woman athlete to have her number retired, in possession of 31 school records.{{Cite news|url=https://newspapers.com/article/the-des-moines-register-isus-burns-has/144250816/|date=March 25, 1985|page=5S|title=ISU's Burns has number retired|newspaper=The Des Moines Register|location=Des Moines, Iowa|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=August 31, 2024|archive-date=April 4, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240404211915/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-des-moines-register-isus-burns-has/144250816/|url-status=live}} Her 1,789 points stood as the Iowa State high mark until she was surpassed by Jayme Olson on March 16, 1998;{{Cite news|url=https://newspapers.com/article/the-sioux-city-journal-rutgers-women-tip/144250949/|date=March 17, 1998|page=B3|agency=Associated Press|title=Rutgers women tip Iowa State, 62-61|newspaper=The Sioux City Journal|location=Sioux City, Iowa|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=August 31, 2024|archive-date=September 5, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240905194800/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sioux-city-journal-rutgers-women-tip/144250949/|url-status=live}} Olson became the second Cyclone women's basketball player to have her number retired in 2004.{{Cite news|url=https://newspapers.com/article/quad-city-times-cyclones-to-retire-olson/144251070/|date=January 28, 2004|page=D1|first=Steve|last=Batterson|title=Cyclones to retire Olson's number: Bettendorf native led ISU women to first NCAA berth|newspaper=Quad-City Times|location=Davenport, Iowa|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=August 31, 2024|archive-date=April 4, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240404211926/https://www.newspapers.com/article/quad-city-times-cyclones-to-retire-olson/144251070/|url-status=live}} After graduation, Burns continued to pursue her education degree at Iowa State.{{r|cycast|p=17:20}}
Burns signed to play for the Virginia Express of the National Women's Basketball Association (NWBA), a new professional league, in September 1986.{{Cite news|url=https://newspapers.com/article/the-charlotte-observer-9-players-sign-wi/144334484/|date=September 11, 1986|page=20B|agency=Associated Press|title=9 Players Sign With Women's Pro League|newspaper=The Charlotte Observer|location=Charlotte, North Carolina|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=August 31, 2024|archive-date=September 5, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240905194727/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-charlotte-observer-9-players-sign-wi/144334484/|url-status=live}} The Express and several other NWBA teams held exhibitions,{{Cite news|url=https://newspapers.com/article/the-charlotte-observer-womens-basketbal/144408550/|date=October 20, 1986|page=7B|first=Stan|last=Olson|title=Women's Basketball League Holds Charlotte Exhibitions|newspaper=The Charlotte Observer|location=Charlotte, North Carolina|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=March 30, 2024|archive-date=March 30, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240330175715/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-charlotte-observer-womens-basketbal/144408550/|url-status=live}} but the financially strapped league never played a single regular-season game.{{Cite news|url=https://newspapers.com/article/the-des-moines-register-womens-basketba/144410864/|date=February 2, 1987|page=3S|first=Wayne|last=Grett|title=Women's basketball league folds before first game|newspaper=The Des Moines Register|location=Des Moines, Iowa|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=March 30, 2024|archive-date=September 5, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240905194730/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-des-moines-register-womens-basketba/144410864/|url-status=live}} She later attempted to try out for the WNBA a decade later, but tryouts were scrapped due to a collective bargaining dispute.{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RE2jhh1HJoQ |title=Tonya Burns-Sheehan CyCast |date=January 18, 2024 |last=Cyclones.tv |type=Video |access-date=August 31, 2024 |via=YouTube |archive-date=September 5, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240905194727/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RE2jhh1HJoQ |url-status=live }}{{rp|19:35}}
Burns-Cohrs was inducted into the Iowa State Cyclones Hall of Fame in 2000{{Cite news|url=https://newspapers.com/article/the-gazette-plenty-of-fan-focus-on-johns/144250987/|date=April 23, 2000|page=7D|first=Jim|last=Ecker|title=Plenty of fan focus on Johnson|newspaper=The Gazette|location=Cedar Rapids, Iowa|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=August 31, 2024|archive-date=April 4, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240404211918/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-gazette-plenty-of-fan-focus-on-johns/144250987/|url-status=live}} and the Indiana Basketball Hall of Fame in 2010.{{Cite news|url=https://newspapers.com/article/the-indianapolis-star-cook-was-well-ahea/144334121/|date=January 4, 2010|page=B2|first=Kyle|last=Neddenriep|title=Cook was well ahead of peers|newspaper=The Indianapolis Star|location=Indianapolis, Indiana|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=August 31, 2024|archive-date=September 5, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240905195307/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-indianapolis-star-cook-was-well-ahea/144334121/|url-status=live}}
Coaching
Beginning in the mid-1980s, Burns became a high school basketball coach in northeast Indiana. She coached North Side High School in Fort Wayne for 13 years before spending another 13 at Woodlan Junior/Senior High School, compiling 219 wins in her 26 seasons.{{r|FWNS130624}} Burns-Cohrs left coaching after the 2012–13 season to focus on being a physical education teacher at Woodlan.{{cite news|title=Woodlan's Burns-Cohrs steps down - Girls basketball coach had 219 wins in 26 years|first=Blake|last=Sebring|work=The News-Sentinel|date=June 24, 2013}}
Notes
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References
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Category:Year of birth missing (living people)
Category:American women's basketball players
Category:Basketball players from Indiana
Category:Iowa State Cyclones women's basketball players