Utah Tech University and head men’s basketball coach Jon Judkins have agreed to a five-year contract extension that will keep the longtime Trailblazer mentor on the Burns Arena sidelines through the 2026-27 season.
“This is a red-letter day for Utah Tech University and Trailblazer Athletics,” UT Director of Intercollegiate Athletics Ken Beazer said. “Ensuring the winningest coach in Utah collegiate basketball history will remain at the helm of our men’s basketball program is a huge win for our student-athletes and the community.”
In his 17 seasons in St. George, Judkins has led the program to a 306-164 (.651) overall record, including a 286-152 (.653) mark in the university’s NCAA era. While at Utah Tech (previously Dixie State), Judkins’ teams have won seven conference championships (6 PacWest/1 RMAC) and made nine NCAA Division II Basketball Tournament appearances, including a “Sweet 16” run during the 2010-11 campaign.
Last season Judkins (284-128 in 12 years at Snow JC; 1992-2005) reached two career milestones. On Dec. 15, 2021, he became the all-time winningest head coach in Utah collegiate basketball history with career victory No. 583 in UT’s 114-49 home rout of SAGU-American Indian College. Judkins (590-292; .669) moved past legendary Utah head women’s basketball coach Elaine Elliott (582-324) atop the state’s all-time coaching victories list (men’s and women’s).
Then three days later he collected his 300th-career win at Utah Tech in a 78-69 road triumph at North Dakota (12/18/21).
Judkins, who became the first Utah collegiate men’s basketball coach to reach the 500-win plateau during the 2017-18 season (81-72 vs. Hawai’i Hilo; 1/28/17) led the Trailblazer program to 12-straight winning seasons from 2008-20. That run included seven 20-win campaigns, highlighted by a pair of NCAA-era school record 23-win seasons in 2017-18 and again in 2019-20.
“I am grateful for the opportunity that Utah Tech University has given to me over the past 18 years,” said Judkins. “My wife Lanette and I love St. George, our University, our fans and the state of Utah. We will continue to work very hard in the future to have our basketball program reflect the greatness of this University.
“I thank Ken Beazer and President [Richard B.] Williams for their faith and commitment to our coaching staff and basketball program,” Judkins added. “The future of men’s basketball is bright and I am excited to be a part of it.”
During his time at Utah Tech, Judkins has coached 44 all-conference selections, including 19 first team honorees, and two conference players of the year (Trevor Hill – PacWest 2017-18, Jack Pagenkopf – RMAC, 2019-20). In addition, he has had seven players collect all-region recognition, and two players – Zach Robbins (2014-15 D-II Bulletin Honorable Mention) and Trevor Hill (2017-18 NABC First Team) go on to earn All-America honors.
Meanwhile in the classroom, Judkins has had a combined 120 student-athletes earn academic all-conference recognition since 2009-10, with three of those student-athletes – Josh Fuller (2016-17 second team), Brandon Simister (2017-18 second team) and Hunter Schofield (2020-21 second team/2021-22 first team) garner CoSIDA Academic All-America honors.
