The American guided the United States men's team to Paralympic gold in Seoul in 1988.

He was also the assistant coach when they won bronze at the Sydney 2000 Paralympics.

"Frank was a teacher at his core and the common thread throughout his career was an emphasis on helping athletes gain access to sport and to the learning that would help them improve," the American-based National Wheelchair Basketball Association (NWBA) said. 

"It didn't matter if it was at the local team level or on the elite national team stage, he had a penchant for motivating athletes and teams to get the most out of them.

"More than a coach, Frank was a builder, helping grow the game and opportunities to play around the country by launching various new teams."

Burns was introduced to wheelchair basketball through a room-mate at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater, who was disabled.

After that he became a strong supporter for people with disabilities and he carried out wheelchair basketball clinics in five countries and 17 US states.

He organised 20 years of NWBA national development camps and guided the Casa Colina Condors side to eight national titles.

"More than the game, Frank loved the people who played the game, those who coached it, and those who organised things so others could play," the NWBA said.

"He cherished the history of those who built it to this point and the promise of those yet to come who would take it further, and he worked tirelessly to ensure that history would not be forgotten.

"The only thing greater than his impact on growing the reach and quality of the game was the impact he had on the people he had a chance to work with."

Burns died of complications following a heart attack, the Chicago Tribune reported.