Kim Duncan-Payten ready to coach Burnet girls hoops

CAPTION: Burnet girls basketball head coach Kim Duncan-Payten (left) with youngest son Kaleb and husband Donovan. Courtesy photo

Kim Duncan-Payten is the new Burnet High School girls basketball head coach, a position she accepted about two weeks ago.

“I’ve been overwhelmed with everybody,” she said. “They’ve been so welcoming and so inviting. I’m grateful to be here, and I know the area very well.”

Payten is a 1987 Llano High School graduate. She played basketball at Angelo State University for two years and graduated from Sam Houston State University.

Payten applied for the Burnet position because of the timing and the school district, she said.

“I have to say part was selfish,” she said. “I was commuting for five years to Round Rock. And the other part was I had a really great job with really great kids. God opened a door, and I walked in it. It fell into my lap. I’m grateful.”

Though this is her first job as the head coach, it’s the not first time she’s been a head coach.

Payten was the girls basketball varsity assistant coach and girls head track coach and cross country coach at Round Rock Westwood High School and was a girls assistant basketball coach at Brenham High School. She also served as the interim girls basketball head coach of both programs. She worked at Westwood for 18 years and at Brenham for 10 years and had a stint at Bryan High School.

“I had been offered the head coaching job at both places,” she said of Brenham and Westwood. “I have three boys of my own. It’s virtually impossible to see them play and coach.”

But with her youngest son, Kaleb, graduating from Llano High School in 2024, Payten now has the time to devote to running a program. Her experience and knowledge — she has coached volleyball, basketball softball, track and field and cross country — as well as her desire to help continue the high standards of the Burnet program are reasons why she was the ideal choice, Burnet High School girls athletic coordinator Crystal Shipley said.

“She has worn many hats there, helping out in almost every sport when needed,” Shipley said. “Instantly she showed confidence and leadership in her personality. She knows basketball along with just about any other sport. Her drive to continue to build this program, starting with our youth and middle school is something I loved hearing her talk about. Her experience in all sports is incredible. She will be vital in mentoring our younger coaches.”

Payten said she plans to be at Burnet Middle School, too.

“That’s how you build a program starting with the little ones and build it to the top,” she said.

Meanwhile, she attended the first day of the Lampasas Summer League where the Lady Dawgs took on Killeen Shoemaker and Hamilton. It’s on Tuesdays starting at 4 p.m. until June 26.

“I know we have a lot of freshmen and a sophomore who’s a really good post player (Emma Hashbarger),” Payten said. “I look forward to seeing who I have stepping up to be a leader.”

She called this next phase of her career bittersweet as she knows she’s leaving behind some excellent middle-distance runners who she believes will do well at the Class 6A Region IV meet and have a great chance at advancing to the Class 6A state meet.

“They are great kids and great families,” she said. “I wouldn’t have stayed so long if it weren’t a great place. I’ve been in some of those kids’ lives since they were in elementary school.”

Shipley believes Payten will bring plenty to an already loaded coaching staff and talented roster where the Lady Dawgs have advanced to the playoffs in every sport.

“We are excited to have coach Kim Payten join our Lady Dawg family,” she said. “She brings experience, passion and a strong work ethic. I know our girls will be in great hands going forward.”