Getting to Work: New Head Women's Basketball Coach Karlie Burris Preparing to Return Vikings to Top of Big Sky Conference

Portland State’s 13th head women’s basketball coach Karlie Burris likes basketball because “it’s fast-paced. There is action on both sides of the ball and the game is won in transition.” 

And, that’s what she expects her teams to bring to the floor as she prepares to begin her first season coaching a Viking program that will be looking to return to the top of the Big Sky Conference once again.

“We are going to get out and run in transition and play advantage basketball. We are going to be tough and connected on the defensive end and force opponents into the shots we want them to take. Rebounding will be a high point of emphasis on both sides of the ball,” she said.

Burris thinks PSU’s “unique position” as a large urban university in the Big Sky Conference helps position it to attract the kind of players to do that and that her experience as an assistant to some of the nation’s top younger head coaches and the lessons she learned as a player will be invaluable in accomplishing that goal.

The 2009 University of Portland graduate was an assistant coach at UNLV for four years prior to accepting the PSU position. Prior to that, she was assistant coach and recruiting coordinator at Northern Arizona (2012-2017), Cal State Fullerton (2017-2020) and Utah State (2020-2021). In those positions, she recruited and coached some national caliber players.

She credits three people with helping create her desire to coach (she calls it a “calling”), the style she wants to play and her overall approach to team play.

Ole Miss Head Coach Yolett Phee-Mcuin was her position coach her junior year as a shooting guard at the University of Portland. 

“Coach Yo was influential with her passion for the game and her approach to coaching and motivating her players. She did so by learning the players and motivating them on their individual needs.  She instilled confidence,” said Burris.

UNLV Head Coach Lindy La Rocque “has had the most influence. Her mindset and preparation were her greatest separators and why she is one of the best coaches in the country. She was an elite organizer and had everyone on the same page.”

And, finally, Burris said, watching her dad, Tim Burris, coach her first youth team for several years. It was like living in a coaching family, she said. “I sort of grew up a coach’s kid and the lifestyle resonates with you from an early age,” she said.

“He emphasized playing for the camaraderie and caring for the team’s success more than my own, so developing and empowering young women to strive to reach their potential always came naturally,” she added.

A lot of what she wants from her teams came from her own playing experience, she said. “Quick action, transitioning…the freedom to create in those settings is what I like most. Quick decision-making play. In the half court, I like to expose mismatches and take pride in the team executing a scouting report,” Burris said.

In her coaching philosophy, she wants an atmosphere of intentional daily individual growth. “Growth happens through inspired action where each day presents an opportunity to be a little better than the day before. I aim to empower my players through trust and belief.”

Her recruiting focus will be local and regional, and she feels her time at Northern Arizona gave her a good insight into what it takes to be successful in the Big Sky Conference. “Having coached in the Big Sky at NAU, I learned how to recruit regionally within the conference and know the type of players that have found great success in this league.”

Besides recruiting, Burris said the transfer portal has placed an emphasis on creating a systematic plan toward player retention.

She said she’s pleased to be back in Portland and considers PSU’s urban location a recruiting advantage as is Viking Pavilion.

Improving the Viking program will require “daily, consistent work. You cannot skip steps. Being prepared in our approach. Creating an environment for the right people to thrive. Recruiting high-character people who want to be part of what we are doing and putting in the focused, intentional work to get it done. We’ll also be building our fan engagement and will be playing for the city. Being in downtown, we are truly Portland’s team,” Burris said.