SPRINGFIELD, Mo. -- Katie A. Henderson, an associate head coach at Michigan State, was introduced Tuesday as the head coach at Southwest Missouri State.

She has been known as Abrahamson-Henderson but decided to eliminate the hyphen when she agreed to replace Cheryl Burnett, who abruptly resigned last month.

Henderson, 34, has never been a head coach. She spent the last two seasons at Michigan State. Before that, she was an assistant at Iowa State for six seasons.

Southwest Missouri State went 16-13 last season.

Henderson was chosen after a 22-day search that involved 46 candidates, said Bill Rowe, director of athletics. She accepted a four-year deal that will pay her a base of $115,260 a year with additional guarantees for TV and radio show appearances, achievement payments and other benefits.

Burnett had a 319-136 record and two Final Four berths in 15 seasons at Southwest Missouri State. She cited "philosophical differences" with school administrators for her April 22 resignation and has yet to accept another job.

Assistant coaches Lynnette Robinson and Karen Rapier resigned eight days later, leaving just one assistant.