Jesse Burleson is in his second season as the head coach of the Hardin-Simmons football team.

His team won four of its last five games last year to finish 6-4 and extend the streak of winning seasons to 20 in a row at HSU.

The Cowboys set records for retention rates and had a record number of players go through spring drills. HSU had 200 players report for fall camp.

He also has maintained his role as offensive line coach and in 2011 HSU led the league once again in fewest sacks allowed. HSU also rushed for 190 yards per game.

Burleson was named the 19th head coach of Cowboy football on Dec. 10, 2010, replacing the legendary Jimmie Keeling.

Burleson served as the offensive line coach at Hardin-Simmons for five seasons. He had been the assistant head coach and recruiting coordinator since 2008.

At HSU, he has also been the director of football operations and was directly responsible for maintaining the budget, equipment ordering and travel planning. He also was in charge of recruiting for the Cowboy program.

Aside from his off the field administrative duties he has been a highly successful offensive line coach for the Cowboys.

He has coached six All-Americans in his five seasons at HSU and Josh Knox won the Rimington Trophy as the nation’s top center in 2006. Three of his players have played in national all-star games.

In his time at HSU as a player, student assistant or assistant coach HSU has a record of 88-28. HSU has won four conference titles, and gone to the national playoffs five times.

Through recruiting he has made the HSU offensive line one of the annual strengths of the team.

His 2010 unit fronted an offense that led the nation in total offense at over 515 yards per game. Koby Parker was named an All-American by the American Football Coaches Association, the Associated Press and D3football.com.

Guard Cody Honeycutt, Parker and tight end Aaron Willman were all named first-team All-ASC selections and tackle Ross Hutchinson and center Travis Sugar both were honorable mention All-ASC selections.

He has had an All-American on the offensive line in four of his six seasons at HSU.

In 2008, he put together an offensive line that featured a pair of All-Americans in Brian Fitzgerald and Ryan Hunter.

James Arnold was an honorable mention All-American in 2007, continuing the Cowboys streak of having an All-American offensive lineman every year since 1999.

He guided center Josh Knox to All-American honors and also the Rimington Trophy as the nation’s top center in 2006.

Both Knox and Arnold were selected to compete in the Aztec Bowl, which is a Division III all-star game.

Burleson spent the 2005 season as the offensive coordinator for former Cowboy Darren Allman at Odessa Permian. Prior to that he was the offensive coordinator for two seasons at Temple High School.

He spent two years as the offensive line coach and run game coordinator at South Grand Prairie and one season at his hometown school, Clyde.

He was a student assistant at HSU in 1999 as he finished his degree. HSU won its second straight ASC title that year.

Burleson, a native of Clyde, was a four-year letterman and three-time all-conference selection and team captain at HSU. He won three league titles for the Cowboys. He took over the starting center job midway through his freshman campaign and started the rest of his career.

In 2010 he was named as one of the five offensive linemen on the 20-year Anniversary team.

He also excelled in the classroom. He was a four-time academic all-ASC selection and graduated Magna Cum Laude from HSU.

Burleson has been married to the former Lois Lee for 14 years. He has two daughters Marisa (14) and Lainey (9). Lois is also a graduate of Hardin-Simmons.