Burns started at the Times in 2005 as a correspondent, first with the Brandon Times and later with Hillsborough County prep sports. Currently, Burns is a staff writer for prep sports in Pinellas County. Born Jan. 13, 1980, in Charles Town, W.Va., Burns graduated from the University of Miami in 2002 and, after a brief stint living in Germany, returned to his home state to begin working in the public relations department of the Frederick Keys, a minor league baseball team in nearby Frederick, Md. In 2003, Burns began writing for the Frederick News-Post and continued doing so for two years before moving to Tampa in 2005.

Phone: (727) 893-8111, ext. 2216

E-mail: bburns@tampabay.com