Get ready for a compelling episode of Beyond the Game as host Mike Lacey sits down with Chris Burgess, BYU's assistant coach and former McDonald's All-American who chose between Duke, Kentucky, Kansas, and UCLA before his basketball journey took him around the world.

From being recruited by legendary coaches like Coach K, Rick Pitino, and Roy Williams to playing professionally in 11 countries across Ukraine, Turkey, Australia, and the Philippines, Chris's path led him back to Provo with invaluable global perspective. As BYU's big man developer, he's transformed players like Fousseyni Traore and Aly Khalifa while preparing for the arrival of AJ Dybantsa and building around rising stars like Egor Demin and Richie Saunders.

His coaching philosophy centers on creating "joy in the gym" rather than fear-based motivation, building authentic relationships through honest communication and the 3-to-1 ratio of positive reinforcement. Drawing from mentorship by Duke's Quinn Snyder, Burge emphasizes that today's players thrive on truth-telling coaches who invest in them personally, not just during practice hours.

Through stories of Keba's Superman dunks, Egor's leadership, and the team chemistry that carried BYU to the Sweet 16, Burg reveals how modern coaching requires vulnerability, authenticity, and genuine care for each player's development beyond basketball. His message, supported by wife Lisa's sacrificial journey documented in her book "Behind the Bench," demonstrates that championship culture isn't built through intimidation but through love, honesty, and unwavering commitment to the mission that makes BYU basketball special.

Check out "Behind the Bench" by Lesa Burgess: https://a.co/d/dbH6mHN