Gilbert Lady Tigers Basketball

Colton Walker is entering his third season as varsity head coach. Last year, he led the Lady Tigers to the semi-finals of the 5A state playoffs for the second consecutive season. In two seasons, he's accumulated an overall record of 37-15.

In addition to coaching at Gilbert High School, he also coaches with Arizona Elite, a local club program in the valley. Previously, Colton spent five years coaching seventh grade girls’ basketball at Stapley Junior High School, one year volunteering as a student manager for the West Virginia University women's basketball team, one year as the freshman girls’ basketball coach at Mountain View High School, and one year as an assistant women's basketball coach at Benedictine University at Mesa.

Colton graduated from Mesa High School in 2018, where he spent two years as a student assistant for the boys’ basketball program, which at the time, was led by Shane Burcar, the current head coach of the men's basketball program at Northern Arizona University.

In the summer of 2021, Colton earned his Bachelor of Science in Multidisciplinary Studies, with minors in Sport & Exercise Psychology, Sport Communication, Public Relations, and Native American Studies, fully online, through West Virginia University. He is currently working on his Special Education certification in Middle to Moderate Disabilities from Rio Salado College, while working as a teacher-in-residence.

During the day, Colton teaches Resource and Co-taught English I for Gilbert High School.

Ryan Burdge is entering his second season as a part of the girls' basketball program at Gilbert High School. Ryan has been coaching basketball for over fifteen years. His coaching experience includes high school, middle school and elementary level experience.

At Campo Verde High School, he coached one season of freshmen girls' basketball and four seasons of JV girls' basketball. Ryan coached five seasons of eighth grade girls' basketball at Greenfield Junior High School and five seasons of eighth grade boys' basketball at Greenfield Junior High School and Mesquite Junior High School. He has also coached five seasons of fifth and sixth grade girls' basketball and four seasons of seventh and eighth grade girls' basketball in competitive leagues. In addition to his numerous seasons coaching, Ryan has helped coordinate and conduct over twenty basketball camps emphasizing basketball fundamentals.

Ryan grew up in Mesa, AZ and moved to Gilbert, AZ shortly after graduating high school. In 2001 he earned a Bachelor’s in Education from Arizona State University. After graduating, Ryan began teaching physical education in Gilbert where he is currently in his nineteenth year teaching. Along with being a teacher, Ryan is also a licensed realtor. For the last sixteen years, he has been flipping houses, managing his own rental properties, and representing clients as a licensed realtor.

Ryan has been married to his wife, Jill, for twenty-one years. Together, they have five kids: two biological and three adopted. In his free time, he enjoys hanging out at home spending time with his family.