Entering the 2025-26 season, Kaitlynn Payne will begin her second season as an official member of the Tarleton State Athletics department, and her fifth season in a similar role. She spent her first three years as Director of Ticket Sales and Service and Senior Sales and Service Consultant with The Aspire Group, as part of a Tarleton State University agreement.
In her role, Payne focuses on increasing ticket sales for all ticketed sports, including group sales and season ticket packages.
Payne is familiar with Stephenville after spending six years as an undergraduate and graduate student at Tarleton State. She earned a Sports Pedagogy degree in 2020 and a master’s degree in sports administration in the same year.
A native of Austin, Texas, Payne came to Tarleton State following her graduation from Westwood High School. With her maiden name Burris, Kaitlynn married Shawn Payne in the summer of 2025, and the pair resides in Stephenville.
