In 1972, took the head coaching job at Willow Glen High School in San Jose, compiling a 143-52 record in eight seasons there.
Burton left Willow Glen in 1980 to become head coach at West Valley College in Saratoga.
Burton spent the 1986-87 season as an assistant coach on a Utah team which reached the NIT, but returned to West Valley the next year.
Burton left West Valley for good in 2002, to be an assistant coach under Ray Lopes at Fresno State.
Burton was named Fullerton's head coach on June 6, 2003, replacing Donny Daniels, who left the program to become an assistant at UCLA.