Chris Burgess

For the Australian rules footballer, see Chris Burgess (footballer).

Chris Burgess

BYU Cougars
Position	Assistant coach
League	Big 12
Personal information
Born	(1979-04-23) 23 April 1979 Provo, Utah, U.S.
Listed height	6 ft 10 in (2.08 m)
Listed weight	244.2 lb (111 kg)
Career information
High school	Mater Dei (Santa Ana, California) Woodbridge (Irvine, California)
College	Duke (1997–1999) Utah (2000–2002)
NBA draft	2002: undrafted
Playing career	2002–2013
Position	Power forward / center
Coaching career	2015–present
Career history
As player:
2002	Idaho Stampede
2003	Tuborg Sports Club
2004–2005	Cairns Taipans
2005	San Miguel Beermen
2005–2006	Cairns Taipans
2006	Criollos de Caguas
2006–2007	Mobis Phoebus
2007–2008	TTNet Beykoz
2008	Gigantes de Carolina
2008	BC Donetsk
2008–2009	Erdemirspor
2009–2010	Al Wasl
2010	Sharjah
2010–2011	Zastal Zielona Góra
2011–2012	Trefl Sopot
2012	Guaynabo Mets
2012–2013	Baniyas
2013	Al Ahli
2013	Al Shabab
As coach:
2015–2019	Utah Valley (assistant)
2019–2022	BYU (assistant)
2022–2024	Utah (assistant)
2024–present	BYU (assistant)
Career highlights and awards
As player: All-NBL First Team (2005) All-NBL Third Team (2006) First-team Parade All-American (1997)

Chris Burgess (born 23 April 1979) is an American basketball coach who is currently serving as an assistant coach of the Brigham Young University (BYU) men's basketball team. Burgess has held assistant coaching roles at three universities in Utah, including three years at BYU (from 2019 to 2022) prior to rejoining the staff in 2024. As a player, Burgess played power forward and center and spent a decade playing professionally in the U.S. and internationally.

College career

Burgess was recruited by several high-profile programs out of high school, as the No. 1 recruit in the country and a McDonald's All-American. He narrowed his choices to Duke and BYU. He ultimately signed with the Blue Devils, later explaining that the opportunity to play for coach Mike Krzyzewski was a major deciding factor. Burgess played at Duke for two years, reaching the Elite Eight in 1998 and playing in the championship game in 1999. During both seasons, Burgess played a supporting role off the bench, averaging (freshman) 4.3 points, 3.4 rebounds, shooting 50.8% from the field, and playing 12.5 minutes a game; and averaging (sophomore) 5.4 points, 3.9 rebounds, shooting 61.4% from the field, and playing 15.6 minutes a game.

Burgess subsequently transferred to the Utah, but he suffered three different injuries. He averaged 7.8 points, 5.9 rebounds, 1.2 blocks, and shot 53.5% from the field while averaging 21.6 minutes a game his junior year. He averaged a team high in 5 statistical categories with 13.2 points, 7.2 rebounds, 1.2 blocks, and shot 66% from the field while averaging 25.5 minutes a game his senior year.

Professional playing career

Burgess was not drafted into the National Basketball Association (NBA). He played for the Idaho Stampede of the Continental Basketball Association, after which he spent a decade between various professional teams based in Australia, Korea, Philippines, Poland, Puerto Rico, Turkey, and Ukraine. He also participated in training camps or summer leagues for several NBA teams including the Phoenix Suns, the Boston Celtics, and the Washington Wizards.

Coaching career

Burgess coached at Utah Valley for four years before following coach Mark Pope to BYU. Burgess coached at BYU for three years and then took the job at Utah. In 2024, Burgess returned to BYU as the lead assistant coach under new coach Kevin Young.

Personal life

Burgess is married to Lesa Zollinger of Millville, Utah; they have three daughters and two sons. He is a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

External links

• Chris Burgess at BYU Cougars
• Chris Burgess on Instagram