INDIANAPOLIS – UIndy men's basketball head coach Paul Corsaro welcomed a new addition to the Greyhound bench Friday. Mike Burris, Indiana native and former head coach at Olney Central College, joins Corsaro's staff as an assistant coach, becoming the first assistant hired by Corsaro since he took over the head position last month.
 
"I'm grateful and thankful for the opportunity that Coach Corsaro has given me," said Burris. "His love, vision and passion for the city of Indianapolis and the university is contagious."
 
Burris is the winningest coach in OCC history, racking up 252 wins over 15 seasons from 2005-20. After taking over as the youngest head coach in the school's history at age 26, Burris had 68 players sign with NCAA DI and DII programs while graduating 97 percent of his student-athletes.
 
"I'm honored that Coach Burris is joining our program, and I can't wait to work with him," Corsaro noted. "Coach Burris is a home-run addition."
 
OCC is coming of its best six-year stretch in program history under Burris, amassing 118 wins in that span and ascending to national prominence. Burris led OCC to a 25-6 record in 2018-19, where the team defeated two top-five programs and finished the season with a No. 14 national ranking. Per Massey Ratings, the Blue Knights also topped the NJCAA in offensive production.
 
With the team success came personal accolades, as Burris was voted the Great Rivers Athletic Conference Coach of the Year in 2012 and the NJCAA Region 24 Coach of the Year in 2013.
 
"I've known Coach Burris for a number of years and have always admired his work from a professional standpoint," added Corsaro. "Recently I've been able to witness his high-character personality as an individual, and he will be a great mentor for our student-athletes."
 
Prior to his coaching success at OCC, Burris donned the Blue Knight jersey himself from 1997-99 before transferring to Division I Cal Poly University. Burris then returned to OCC as an assistant coach, and obtained his bachelor's degree in liberal arts from Eastern Illinois University in 2004.
 
Burris grew up 75 miles from the city of Indianapolis in Owensburg, Ind., graduating from Eastern Greene in 1997.
 
Said Burris: "I can't wait to roll up my sleeves and get to work. Indianapolis a tremendous city that my family is excited to live in. I'm excited to get back to the Hoosier State and be closer to my parents, who have always been very supportive of my coaching endeavors.
 
"I'm excited to play my role in helping UIndy student-athletes continue their winning ways as people, as students and as athletes. I can't wait to get on campus."