"Krys has been a valued member of our athletics department, consistently demonstrating professionalism, dependability, and a strong commitment to excellence. She approaches her work with maturity, integrity, and a team-first mindset, while carrying herself in a way that reflects positively on the university. Her versatility, steady presence, and ability to support others at a high level make her a strong asset to any athletics department. I recommend her with confidence and believe she will continue to make a meaningful impact wherever she goes."
VP & Director of Athletics
"Krys Burnett is a talented, engaging and enthusiastic professional! Her never-ending commitment to growth in her field, continuing to develop her knowledge and skills to be the best in every way possible, is truly remarkable. Furthermore, she is so caring and committed to the success and well-being of those around her — coaches, student-athletes, colleagues, everyone. She is a bright light that shines near and far!"
Coach Krys responds:
"If athletic directing is ever in the cards, AD McCoy is the first call. The people's champ. Had the pleasure of working under her for most of my time at Washington State, and she was always personable, professional, and genuinely likable. She truly cared about getting to know her staff members, and that stood out. Grateful for the time spent in her office picking her brain about life, athletics, and what it's like to sit in the AD chair. A lot of my approach to the business of athletics has been shaped by observing and learning from her, and I'm grateful our paths crossed on this journey."
"Krys brings a collaborative approach to the athletic department and cares about the people around her. She's always welcoming, with a smile and a warm hello for coworkers. Krys is a hard worker who aims to support team efforts and help create a positive, team-oriented environment."
Senior Associate Director of Athletics · Senior Women's Administrator
Coach Krys responds:
"Kelli is such a welcoming presence at WSU, and it is always a joy to be around her at work. Her team works hard and speaks highly of her, which made me want to get to know her more and closely observe how she operates in a professional environment. Gained valuable insight simply by watching the way she leads, communicates, and carries herself, and am especially grateful for her open-door approach, which created space for questions, learning, and a deeper understanding of collegiate athletics."
"What I remember most from my three years with Coach Krys is the first day of practice and especially my first year. As an international player struggling with the language, Krys helped me a lot off the court by explaining things so I could translate them during practice, and she was always a strong, positive voice. She also guided me through decision-making in video sessions, which really helped my understanding of the game. She's always smiling, with the best energy and approach, and that made a huge difference in my experience."
Coach Krys responds:
"Coach Ethridge really knows how to recruit kind, caring, and hardworking young women! Ele's presence brings instant joy, and she's truly a joy to be around. As a freshman in her first year, stepping into the big world of the U.S. and college basketball, I just wanted to make sure she was good. It was special to watch how quickly she learned, and now here she is, a U.S. pro. Lol. So happy to have been a part of Ele's journey, and for her to have been a part of mine. She's a beast on the court and one of the sweetest, kindest people off it. Just a great young woman all around."
"Having Coach Krys on the team means having good energy around, always. She is friendly and easy to talk to, and she has a way of making every practice feel better just by being there. No matter what kind of day you are having, she brings a good mood and lifts people up without even trying. That kind of presence is rare and it means more than she knows."
Coach Krys responds:
"Made it a point to be someone who brings good energy and makes the people around me feel seen, supported, and better. But can't take all the credit. The players who come to Washington State, especially Marta, make it easy to walk into practice, feel good, and be that way. Marta is respectful, kind, and a great player. She was always smiling, always willing to have a conversation, and always a great teammate. Truly enjoyed being part of her journey, and will always be rooting for her in whatever she does."
"Coach Krys is one of the most high energy, giving, and selfless coaches I have gotten the privilege to learn from. I don't know how she did it but without fail every day she came in with a smile on her face and an attitude that made me want to be a better teammate and person for others. I will always remember how kind and supportive she was when I went through my injury. Going out of her way to make a booklet for me that really helped me mentally get through that rehab process. She is an amazing coach, and any player that has the honor to have her as a leader is lucky."
Former Washington State University Women's Basketball Player
Coach Krys responds:
"Juice is just a different breed. I remember my first visit to Washington State so clearly. CLW, who I call Juice, was the first player to welcome me on my visit, and then again on my first official day, welcoming me to the family with a hug. That always stuck with me because she was a phenomenal player, the best on the team and one of the best I had ever seen, yet she still made people feel seen. In my years of coaching, that is rare. From then on, every time I saw her, she spoke to me and everyone around her. That's just who she is. She carries herself with grace on and off the court, and she has a presence that naturally makes people admire and respect her. When she got hurt, I just felt led to remind her that she was going to be A-OK and that the comeback is always stronger than the setback. I always loved being around Juice and being in her presence, and it's been beautiful to watch her continue to shine at UCLA."
"One of my favorite things about working for / with Krys is that she was so willing to teach me and help me improve while also being so willing to learn from me. She works so hard at improving herself that it's infectious and made me want to learn more and work even harder. She has the rare ability to both drive people to work really hard while making the hard long nights on the road be something I looked forward to."
Coach Krys responds:
"To have been blessed with a lot of people who poured into my journey to Division 1 coaching genuinely surprises me. Nothing but favor. I told myself if I made it to my dream, I would pour into others around me the same. Those late nights on the road drawing plays, scouting, and washing clothes when everyone was sleep, I never minded. I leave no staff behind. I am my brothers and sisters keeper. If you need analytics for your program, Robin would be a valuable addition to any program."
"I've had the opportunity to work alongside Krys in the office as a standout creative talent. Through my years working in-house, as a sports creative my entire career, I've crossed paths with many designers who have made an impact on me both professionally and personally. Krys holds the bar high in that she's one that I'll never forget — she's professional, kind, honest, humble, and sincere. I've told her (many times) that she's someone I'd always want 'on my team,' someone who understands TEAM better than anyone I know. Not only does she respect the established brand we are stewards of at Washington State University, but she does it with imagination, compassion, enthusiasm, and grit. She goes above and beyond to think outside the box of your typical sports creative approach, she researches ideas/inspiration, she experiments with the most recent technology and new techniques, and through her hard work and distinctive designs you'll see that she cares deeply about our student-athletes, our teams, our community, and her consistent role as a source of positive and productive influence. Anyone would be fortunate to have Krys' infectious spirit on their squad, rooting everyone on because she's a person and a coach who puts others before herself and understands, wholeheartedly, that the best successes are the ones celebrated together."
Associate Director of Athletics, Design, Branding & Special Projects
Former NBA · Seattle SuperSonics | Former WNBA · Seattle Storm
Coach Krys responds:
"Ms. Lisa has been such a blessing to me. Had an online tutor, but was looking for someone in person to bounce ideas off of and grow with creatively, and Lisa became that person in graphic design and beyond. She manages graphic design for all of WSU Athletics, so the fact that she still made time to answer questions, let me learn from her, and even provided a place to work nearby means more than can be fully expressed. Incredibly grateful for her teamwork, friendship, and willingness to invest, especially when she did not have to and already had more than enough on her plate. More than anything, she showed me what TEAM truly looks like, and that same spirit is something to carry into every interaction, because from experience, that kind of support changes people."
"Krys and I worked together in the Washington State University Athletics department from February 2024 - February 2026. Right away, I could see her care and concern for others was unmatched. While executing her role with women's basketball at the highest level, Krys also made time to check in on coworkers around the department! My experience at WSU was made better each and every time I would interact with Krys. She is a true team player that strives to be successful herself, but also wants others to achieve their goals! I highly recommend Coach Burnett for any organization wanting the above mentioned qualities and employees with incredible character."
15-Year D1 Volleyball Coach
Coach Krys responds:
"Basketball is my job, but genuinely caring about the people around me is not part of a job description. That's just who I am, and Jason saw that. That means more than he probably knows. Checking in with him and interacting with him made my days at WSU better. His presence and the way he carried himself gave me a great example of how to move, both professionally and personally. He was a great colleague, an even better friend, and someone I truly needed during my time at WSU, especially while adjusting to being across the country with hometown ties."
