Upcoming Event: Men's Basketball versus Nevada [Exh] on October 17, 2025
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Men's Basketball
vs Nevada [Exh]
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Men's Basketball
Burgess, Chris
Chris Burgess
- Title:
- Men's Basketball Assistant Coach
- Email:
- cburgess@huntsman.utah.edu
- Phone:
- 801-581-5451
Chris Burgess returned home to his alma mater in April of 2022 and begins his second season as an assistant coach with the Runnin’ Utes in 2023-24.
His first season in SLC saw big man Brandon Carlson make a huge jump, averaging 16.4 points, 7.5 rebounds, 1.5 assists and 2.0 blocks. The Utah center also earned multiple accolades including First-Team All-Pac-12, Associated Press All-Pac-12 and NABC First-Team All-District honors. Burgess has also been instrumental in the development of Ben Carlson and Keba Keita his first year. His first season on staff also saw the Utes pick up their first marquee win under Craig Smith when Utah upended then-No. 4/4 Arizona at home 81-66 behind a game-high 22 points with five rebounds from Branden Carlson and 11 points with six rebounds from Ben Carlson.
No stranger to the U, Burgess spent seven seasons alongside Mark Pope at BYU and Utah Valley where he helped guide the Cougars to their first NCAA Tournament appearance in 2021 and first since 2015 as the No. 6 seed. During that season, the Cougs ranked in the top-25 in defensive rebounds per game (5th, 29.7), rebounding margin (22nd, +6.7) and rebounds per game (25th, 39.19). Burgess also helped Matt Haarms become the first player in program history to earn WCC Defensive Player of the Year honors in 2020-21.
The 2021-22 campaign saw the team down south finish 24-11 overall with a signature win over then-No. 12 Oregon with a trio of victories over NCAA Tournament teams. The Cougars also earned an NIT bid and advanced to the quarterfinals.
His first season in Provo saw the Cougars finish 24-8 overall with a final national ranking of #18/16 after the remainder of the season was shut down due to COVID-19. BYU saw three players earn All-WCC First-Team honors that season while the team led the nation in 3-point field-goal percentage (.422), second in assists/turnover ratio (1.57), third in field-goal percentage (.500) and fourth in total assists (556).
Burgess and Pope first linked up at Utah Valley when he joined Pope’s staff in 2015. In his four seasons at UVU, the Wolverines went from a 12-win team his first year to a program record 25 wins in 2018-19. UVU saw plenty of success with Burgess on staff, recording back-to-back 20-win seasons from 2017-19 while also making three-consecutive postseason appearances (2017-19).
His development of post players saw Akolda Manyang named a WAC All-Defensive Team honoree in 2017-18 while Wyatt Lowell earned WAC Freshman of the Year in 2019.
Offensively, the Wolverines rewrote the school record books taking up the top-four spots in scoring average category led by a 78.1 scoring average in 2017-18. UVU also posted four of the top-five spots in the 3-point field goals made category – including a program best 300-made triples in 2016-17.
Burgess played two seasons under the late legendary head coach Rick Majerus from 2000-02 after sitting out the 1999-2000 due to NCAA transfer rules. The former No. 1 recruit in the country and McDonald’s All-American out of Woodbridge High School started his collegiate career at Duke (1997-99) playing for hall of famer and now former head coach Mike Krzyzewski.
While in Durham, Burgess helped the Blue Devils to an Elite Eight run his freshman season (1998) before taking Duke to the National Championship game in 1999. After a solid start to his senior year on The Hill, Burgess tore his right plantar fascia vs. Texas, forcing him to miss the remainder of the year. At the point of his injury, Burgess was leading the Utes with 13.2 points, 7.2 rebounds, 1.2 blocks, and a .667 shooting clip while averaging 25.5 minutes a game. He finished his career at Utah guiding the Runnin’ Utes to an NIT appearance in 2001 and NCAA Tournament appearance in 2002.
Burgess then went on to have an 11-year professional career in Turkey, Australia, the Philippines, South Korea, Ukraine, Puerto Rico, Poland and the UAE.
After hanging up his laces, Burgess returned return to The Hill in 2013-14 and earned his undergraduate degree in speech communications while serving as a student assistant under former head coach Larry Krystkowiak.
He went on as a volunteer assistant coach at Salt Lake Community College in 2014 and then took the assistant coach job at Indian Hills Community College (2014-15) before joining Mark Pope’s staff at Utah Valley (2015-19).
Burgess is married to his wife Lesa, a former Utah soccer player. They have three daughters, Kelli Jo “KJ”, Zoey and Ava as well as two boys, Beckham and Zachary. Daughter KJ, who was a second-team AVCA High School All-American, is currently a sophomore middle blocker on the Utah Volleyball team and was named to the Pac-12 All-Freshman Team last season.
Burgess' Coaching Career
His first season in SLC saw big man Brandon Carlson make a huge jump, averaging 16.4 points, 7.5 rebounds, 1.5 assists and 2.0 blocks. The Utah center also earned multiple accolades including First-Team All-Pac-12, Associated Press All-Pac-12 and NABC First-Team All-District honors. Burgess has also been instrumental in the development of Ben Carlson and Keba Keita his first year. His first season on staff also saw the Utes pick up their first marquee win under Craig Smith when Utah upended then-No. 4/4 Arizona at home 81-66 behind a game-high 22 points with five rebounds from Branden Carlson and 11 points with six rebounds from Ben Carlson.
No stranger to the U, Burgess spent seven seasons alongside Mark Pope at BYU and Utah Valley where he helped guide the Cougars to their first NCAA Tournament appearance in 2021 and first since 2015 as the No. 6 seed. During that season, the Cougs ranked in the top-25 in defensive rebounds per game (5th, 29.7), rebounding margin (22nd, +6.7) and rebounds per game (25th, 39.19). Burgess also helped Matt Haarms become the first player in program history to earn WCC Defensive Player of the Year honors in 2020-21.
The 2021-22 campaign saw the team down south finish 24-11 overall with a signature win over then-No. 12 Oregon with a trio of victories over NCAA Tournament teams. The Cougars also earned an NIT bid and advanced to the quarterfinals.
His first season in Provo saw the Cougars finish 24-8 overall with a final national ranking of #18/16 after the remainder of the season was shut down due to COVID-19. BYU saw three players earn All-WCC First-Team honors that season while the team led the nation in 3-point field-goal percentage (.422), second in assists/turnover ratio (1.57), third in field-goal percentage (.500) and fourth in total assists (556).
Burgess and Pope first linked up at Utah Valley when he joined Pope’s staff in 2015. In his four seasons at UVU, the Wolverines went from a 12-win team his first year to a program record 25 wins in 2018-19. UVU saw plenty of success with Burgess on staff, recording back-to-back 20-win seasons from 2017-19 while also making three-consecutive postseason appearances (2017-19).
His development of post players saw Akolda Manyang named a WAC All-Defensive Team honoree in 2017-18 while Wyatt Lowell earned WAC Freshman of the Year in 2019.
Offensively, the Wolverines rewrote the school record books taking up the top-four spots in scoring average category led by a 78.1 scoring average in 2017-18. UVU also posted four of the top-five spots in the 3-point field goals made category – including a program best 300-made triples in 2016-17.
Burgess played two seasons under the late legendary head coach Rick Majerus from 2000-02 after sitting out the 1999-2000 due to NCAA transfer rules. The former No. 1 recruit in the country and McDonald’s All-American out of Woodbridge High School started his collegiate career at Duke (1997-99) playing for hall of famer and now former head coach Mike Krzyzewski.
While in Durham, Burgess helped the Blue Devils to an Elite Eight run his freshman season (1998) before taking Duke to the National Championship game in 1999. After a solid start to his senior year on The Hill, Burgess tore his right plantar fascia vs. Texas, forcing him to miss the remainder of the year. At the point of his injury, Burgess was leading the Utes with 13.2 points, 7.2 rebounds, 1.2 blocks, and a .667 shooting clip while averaging 25.5 minutes a game. He finished his career at Utah guiding the Runnin’ Utes to an NIT appearance in 2001 and NCAA Tournament appearance in 2002.
Burgess then went on to have an 11-year professional career in Turkey, Australia, the Philippines, South Korea, Ukraine, Puerto Rico, Poland and the UAE.
After hanging up his laces, Burgess returned return to The Hill in 2013-14 and earned his undergraduate degree in speech communications while serving as a student assistant under former head coach Larry Krystkowiak.
He went on as a volunteer assistant coach at Salt Lake Community College in 2014 and then took the assistant coach job at Indian Hills Community College (2014-15) before joining Mark Pope’s staff at Utah Valley (2015-19).
Burgess is married to his wife Lesa, a former Utah soccer player. They have three daughters, Kelli Jo “KJ”, Zoey and Ava as well as two boys, Beckham and Zachary. Daughter KJ, who was a second-team AVCA High School All-American, is currently a sophomore middle blocker on the Utah Volleyball team and was named to the Pac-12 All-Freshman Team last season.
Burgess' Coaching Career
| Years | School | Position |
| 2022- | University of Utah | Assistant Coach |
| 2019-22 | BYU | Assistant Coach |
| 2015-19 | Utah Valley | Assistant Coach |
| 2014-15 | Indian Hills CC | Assistant Coach |
| 2014 | Salt Lake CC | Volunteer Assistant Coach |
| 2013-14 | University of Utah | Student Assistant |
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