THE OFFICIAL ATHLETICS SITE OF THE UNIVERSITY OF NORTH ALABAMA LIONS

Max Burleson was one of the most versatile athletes in the Lions' athletic history. He earned NAIA All-American honors in football as a sophomore in 1956 and was an accomplished passer who played both quarterback and halfback. He lettered three years in football in 1956, 1957 and 1959 and twice each in baseball (1956, 59) and basketball (1956-57). An All-State T quarterback at Hackleburg (Ala.) High School, Burleson rushed for 296 yards and two touchdowns and passed for 168 yards and two scores as a junior in 1957 for the Lions. 

He was named to the 50th Anniversary UNA Football Team for 1949-98. He spent 1958 in the Birmingham Barons professional baseball organization and returned to Florence State to play football in 1959. He completed 40 of 70 pass attempts for 563 yards and four touchdowns as a senior in 1959, while rushing for 306 yards. He played professional baseball again, signing with the Detroit Tigers organization and playing in Idaho Falls, Montgomery and Birmingham before beginning a coaching career in 1960. Burleson became one of the most successful high school coaches in the state of Alabama at Huntsville's J.O. Johnson and Lee  high schools.

He began his coaching career at Lauderdale County High School in 1960 and in 1963 he became assistant football and head baseball coach at Lee High School, where he stayed until 1972. He then became the first head football coach at Johnson High School and compiled a 52-19-2 record before retiring in 1980. He returned a year later as head baseball coach at Lee and became head football coach in 1982. Burleson died from a heart attack in 1984.