Rider University Athletics

Burtnett founded the varsity wrestling program at Rider and coached the Broncs for 10 years, nine on the varsity level (1968-1978) after a year on the club level, and compiled a record of (94 wins, 39 losses, 2 ties). His Broncs won the MAC Championship in 1972-73. His 1973-74 team went 15-0-1, to this day the only Rider wrestling team to go undefeated.

Burtnett coached 14 individual conference champions in nine seasons.

After retiring from coaching at Rider he became Rider's first full-time athletic trainer.