UTAH TECH UNIVERSITY'S STUDENT NEWS SOURCE | October 05, 2025

Month: December 2023

Austin Wallace earns two postseason awards

by News SubmissionsPosted on

By Serina Sharbo

The Utah Tech University men’s soccer team ended the season with an even 9-9 record. They have shown improvement over the past seasons and achieved many firsts in the program. These accomplishments weren’t by accident. Of the 36 men on the roster, one freshman stood out. 

Austin Wallace, a freshman general studies major from Lehi, made a name for himself during his first collegiate soccer season. He ended the season with a total of 882 minutes on the field and became the team’s leading scorer with five goals.  

Among these goals, two came from his first game against Lindenwood University. Another goal was a game-winning point in the first game of the Western Athletic Conference tournament, giving his team the chance to play in the semifinals. His performances did not go unnoticed, earning him a spot on the WAC All-Freshman team.  

Wallace’s love for soccer began as a toddler, even before he could articulate his fascination with it.  

“My mom always told me that as soon as I could start walking, I was kicking a ball around,” Wallace said. “I was always into sports but soccer kind of called my name.” 

Despite starting as a goalkeeper in his youth, the transition to the larger field led him to discover his love for playing forward and fueled the development of his speed. By high school, the dream of playing collegiate soccer became a reality, and he was noticed by head Utah Tech men’s soccer coach Jonny Broadhead in his junior year.  

He committed to Utah Tech the following year before taking off on a mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, where he served in Mozambique. Upon returning, Wallace tackled the challenge of regaining his skills and adapting to the collegiate level.  

“There have been very few [people] that have been able to come home and jump right in like he did,” Broadhead said. “It’s really remarkable what he just accomplished…He handled it like a boss.” 

Wallace spent his free time training and putting in extra hours when he could. His determination eventually paid off, and he earned him a spot on the team. 

Wallace said: “For me, it took a lot of hard work. Adjusting to college life and the workload…and to still excel and get better is really hard. Hard work, I think, is the key.” 

Reflecting on his overall performance, he acknowledged that he could have scored more goals but still felt he had a good season, and this modest attitude did not go unnoticed.  

 “He is extremely humble,” Broadhead said. “He scored his first college goal, and his reaction was to turn around and quiet his team by saying ‘We’re not done.’ Like this was just a small thing and this is nothing to celebrate because we haven’t won the game yet.” 

He credits his success to the support of his old club coach and his father as they both played pivotal roles in his soccer journey. Additionally, he attributes his talent to God and shares that He is the key to his success. 

“I believe that I have been given the talent from my Heavenly Father to be able to play,” Wallace said. “I always say a prayer of gratitude in the circle when we take a moment.”

As for the prospect of a professional career, Wallace remains open but thinks life may lead him in a different direction. He is currently exploring his options but ultimately hopes to attend dental school. Regardless of the path ahead, he is thankful for his family’s support and the opportunities he has had thus far. 

“Congrats to him,” said teammate Jimi Villasenor, a fifth-year marketing major from Las Vegas. “Austin knows I am going to miss him, but if I can give him some last advice, it would be super cheesy, but just to cherish every moment…it goes by so fast.” 

Broadhead also had a message for Wallace: “Enjoy this. You deserve it. We are really proud of you, and our team can’t wait to keep working with you.”  

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OPINION | How to feel holiday magic, despite having Christmas blues

by Emily VanmiddendorpPosted on

It’s early on Christmas day. You and your siblings rush into your parents’ room in the pajamas you opened last night and jump on their bed to wake them up because the excitement of seeing the presents downstairs has overcome you.

Under the decorated tree are presents galore and full stockings hung on the wall. The cookies you left out for Santa are all but crumbs now.

Fast forward to the present day, and Christmas feels completely different now. It has become less traditional, more complicated and more stressful.

When my relationship with my family changed, Christmas began to feel different. The holidays are focused on family time, and that’s tough for people who have lost loved ones or struggle with their relationship with their family.

Christmas feels magical when you’re a kid. You don’t have a care in the world other than waiting to see what’s under that tree on Christmas morning. As I got older, Christmas had an element of bittersweetness and usually involved financial stress and high expectations that weren’t ever met.

Behind Christmas magic is a whole lot of stress, and this is something we didn’t think about when we were younger. We simply got to enjoy Christmas for what it was. Now that we can see how stressful the holidays are, Christmas doesn’t feel the same.

The holidays are different for everyone. Each person is dealing with their own level of stress and version of the Christmas blues. In a survey by the National Alliance on Mental Illness, 55% of 775 people found themselves remembering happier times in the past compared to the present. The sadness that some experience around the holidays can be brought on by varying reasons including feeling stressed, lonely and jealous.

Surrounded by holiday cheer, it’s easy to feel out of place when you feel sad during the holidays. It’s important to know that this depression surrounding the season is experienced by 6% of the population, so you are not alone.

Prioritize self-care during times of heightened stress and lean into things that make you happy. There are various things you can do to bring back some of that Christmas magic that we feel we’ve lost since growing up. Activities as small as listening to Christmas music or watching old holiday cartoons can do the trick.

Traditions are what always made Christmas special to me. When I feel the Christmas blues, I find it helpful to take traditions I enjoyed when I was younger and put a new spin on them. Baking Christmas cookies, driving around and looking at Christmas lights, and decorating a small tree for my apartment are activities that I still enjoy doing. Even though we have grown up and these traditions won’t look the same, we can still find some Christmas joy in doing them.

Looking back at memories is bittersweet. Instead of being melancholy about what once was, accept where you are today and ask yourself how you can make Christmas special for yourself now.

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EDITORIAL | Graduation needs to be improved before it loses prominence

by Sun News StaffPosted on

Picture your ideal graduation. Maybe Taylor Swift is the keynote speaker, or maybe there will be an epic fireworks show following the closing ceremony.

Are you picturing a night graduation that goes super late with half the graduates leaving by the time the ceremony is over? No, you’re probably not.

Currently, Utah Tech University’s graduation ceremonies have leaned toward the latter. The upcoming ceremony on May 3, 2024, follows similar patterns, with the ceremony starting at 7 p.m. Therefore, we have some recommendations that can make it more enjoyable for all parties.

Something that we have noticed is that graduation has lost that special exciting feeling that was often felt for one’s high school graduation. Some of us don’t see the benefits of attending our graduation, and others have noted how many graduates leave as soon as they cross the stage. With all of this in mind, the excitement for graduation needs to be brought back, even if that means making a couple of changes.

Not to blame everything on the COVID-19 pandemic, but a lot of these graduates, especially in the next few years, did not have a high school graduation or it was completely changed. Therefore, they deserve to have a ceremony that truly represents them and all they have accomplished.

The first possible improvement to graduation is to create a winter graduation ceremony. This would ensure that students who graduated in the summer or fall semesters prior do not have to come back to campus for a spring commencement ceremony, including international students. These students who graduated early usually have to go out of their way to come back to campus for a ceremony that is now a couple of months late of the excitement.

Creating this winter ceremony can also solve some of the common issues with the graduation ceremony. Two graduation ceremonies would break up the attendance and break up the length of it. This would decrease the chance of students leaving early.

Another way to shorten the length of the ceremony could be by breaking up the graduation based on colleges. Megan Church, director of university events and promotions, said each academic college will be hosting award banquets before commencement this year as a way to make the main ceremony as impactful as possible.

Since there will already be a reception and award banquet beforehand for the different colleges, the commencement might as well be broken up. This could be done in either a few groups or even two groups. It would help make the ceremony more meaningful since graduates will be surrounded by peers from their college.

However, if breaking up the ceremony is not possible, then there might be some benefits of moving it to the morning. We would rather get up early and attend the ceremony than stay super late into the night. Sun News reporters have asked students on campus about their ideal graduation, and many said it would be in the morning.

Also, have you heard about the Iron Man World Championship? Well, this triathlon event is being hosted in St. George and bringing people from all over the world to our town for the same week of graduation. According to Triathlete, last year the Iron Man World Championship brought about 6,000 athletes and 4,000 volunteers to St. Geroge.

While this is something that the university can’t control, it does add extra chaos to graduation week. Students and families are already being advised to start making travel arrangements as soon as possible. Graduation week is already stressful enough for graduates, with moving and starting their next adventure, and the triathlon just adds another element of chaos.

Church said changes are still being made to the commencement and timeliness, and the final schedule will be released at the beginning of the spring semester.

While we are not expecting immediate changes, it is time to survey students to see what their ideal graduation ceremony is. We’re not envisioning Taylor Swift giving a speech, even though that would be awesome, but rather decisions that have the best interests of the students in mind. Especially before graduation loses its importance for the graduates.

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Women’s basketball coach J.D. Gustin receives two-game suspension after investigation closes

by Lexy BorgognoPosted on

Utah Tech University’s women’s basketball coach has been suspended for two games after an investigation into alleged misconduct by players. 

Information was first released Sept. 12 that J.D. Gustin was under investigation for bullying, physical intimidation and retaliation. Then, it was announced Nov. 22 that Gustin would continue business as usual after his two-game suspension.

After it was announced that the investigation had concluded, Hall said: “Utah Tech University has received the summary findings of the third-party investigation looking into the allegations against Coach J.D. Gustin, and it has been determined that he will continue to serve as the head coach of the women’s basketball team. The University is in the process of addressing the findings from the summary and using those findings to improve our women’s basketball program moving forward.”

The third-party investigation Hall mentioned is a Boise-based human relations consulting firm called BestDay HR. 

When The Salt Lake Tribune asked the university’s public relations department if there were any other components to Gustin’s suspension, Hall said the university doesn’t provide details concerning personnel matters. 

The Tribune also wrote that former players who spoke with them in previous months hoped the allegations against Gustin would be enough to get him fired. Two former players told The Tribune that Gustin pulled their scholarships and kicked them off the team after finding out they made complaints against him. 

Sun News reporters have reached out to former players for comment on their experience on the team, including Vegas Camacho, Talia Sireni, Averi Papa and Taylia Stimpson. Current women’s basketball player Maggie McCord reached out to Sun News through an Instagram story Sept. 14 about the investigation but refused to comment again when we reached out to her for an interview.

According to Utah Tech University Policy 322: Abusive Conduct, which includes complaints, hostile work environments, retaliation and workspaces, investigations that do not result in termination of employment result in administrative review by university HR or an external source. Policy 322 also explains the procedure parties will follow after the investigation.

Policy 322

Sun News has reached out to Utah Tech’s HR department regarding the process and conclusion of Gustin’s investigation, to which we received no replies. 

After reaching out to former and current players and the university’s public relations and human relations departments, it is still unclear what happened between Gustin and Utah Tech’s women’s basketball players and how the investigation was performed.

The two games before Gustin’s suspension resulted in two losses for the women’s basketball team. For the games Gustin was suspended for, the team won.

The women’s basketball team with play California Baptist University Dec. 6 at the Burns Arena at 7 p.m.

Additional reporting by Jenessa Walgren and Angel Wood.

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‘Who’s tougher’: Utah Tech men’s basketball faces in-state opponent

by Brandt FaurschouPosted on

The Utah Tech University men’s basketball team laces up for a showdown against Utah Valley University this Saturday at 7 p.m. in Trailblazer territory.

Coming off a 73-66 win over Lindenwood University, the Trailblazers sit at 3-3 on the season. With a roster boasting a mix of seasoned veterans and promising new and young talent, this team is eager to defend their home court and secure another victory. 

On the other side of the court, the Wolverines come into this game with a stronger record of 5-2 on the year. This historical matchup record favors Utah Valley, leading the series 4-2. The last time these two teams faced each other, UVU came out on top with a 76-69 upset in the Burns Arena.

Beon Riley, a junior management major from Chula Vista, California, said Utah Tech has an advantage playing at home in front of the home crowd. 

“I feel like the fans ultimately help us play better,” Riley said. “I feel like we have to do our job and come out ready to play, but having all these fans in the arena supporting us makes a big difference.”

Riley is a transfer student from the University of Hawaii, but he is already finding success at Utah Tech. Standing at 6 feet 6 inches tall, Riley is currently averaging 10.5 points and 5.3 rebounds per game. 

Unisa Turay, a junior management major from Phoenix, is another new face on the team. He said adapting to a new team posed a challenge, but Turay said the team already has a strong bond. 

“At first it was a little difficult because it’s a brand new team with a bunch of new players,” Turay said. “We don’t know how each other plays, but with more practice and getting shots up together, I feel we’ve adjusted pretty well.”

Turay agrees with Riley about the home-court advantage; he said it is hard for a team to come in and beat them at home because of the familiarity of the court and the cheers of the home crowd. 

Head coach Jon Judkins said UVU has the upper hand since they’re a team that has been playing together for a longer time. He emphasizes the need for his team to play hard and be fundamentally sound all game.

“We’re going to know their stuff, and they’re going to know our stuff,” Judkins said. “There’s no tricks to that, it’s just gonna be who’s tougher. Who talks better defensively? And who is reading the right stuff and making the right plays.” 

This is Judkins’ 19th season as head coach for Utah Tech. He is a six-time Pacific West Conference Coach of the Year and became the first men’s coach in Utah collegiate basketball history to reach 500-win.

As the Trailblazers tip off against UVU, they will use the home-court advantage in their favor, in hopes of getting revenge from the last time they played UVU in the Burns arena.

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OPINION | 2023 predictions: the hits and misses of the year

by Annie MuirbrookPosted on

As 2023 comes to an end, we often reflect on forgotten New Year’s resolutions, events that happened throughout the year, and predictions made at the start of the year. But do we look back at any predictions to see if they are correct?

I wrote an article at the start of the year predicting what would happen in 2023. Some of my guesses were right and others were far off. I never could have predicted the OceanGate submarine or the success of the “Barbie” movie, but I did predict some things that happened this year.

To review, the predictions I made included:

  • Sheer fabric and silver jewelry would make a comeback.
  • Artificial intelligence would be more accessible to everyone.
  • The off-season for tourist attractions would disappear, and there would always be an on-season.
  • TikTok would get banned and Vine would come back.
  • President Joe Biden would die.

The predictions I got right

Sheer fabric and silver

Sheer fabric and silver jewelry were a staple in the spring and summer 2023 collections. Fashion designers like Kernemilk and REMAIN owned the runway while showing off sheer and silver fabrics.

Silver jewelry was in style with mostly wide hoop earrings and thick necklaces. If you decided to wear or buy silver this year, it was most likely thick and wide jewelry pieces. These pieces are often inspired by the early ’70s and ’80s.

I did predict the thick jewelry pieces for this year because of the color schemes and fashion trends in clothing. Cool and neutral colors were very popular, which pairs nicely with silver. I hope this trend continues into 2024.

AI

It comes without fail to say that AI is more accessible now than ever before. With tools like ChatGPT for writing or coming up with ideas and Gencraft for generating art, it is now a staple in everyday life. It’s interesting because AI wasn’t this accessible this time last year. So much new technology has changed over this year alone.

Even Google AI has made an appearance at the top of search bars. This year has not only opened up doors to AI, but it has also opened up many concerns. Even I have concerns about the extent to which AI could go. AI will only evolve and will continue to be more easily accessible for everyone.

The off-season

My prediction of the rise and fall of the off-season was kind of right. The off-season for tourism is supposed to be when not as many tourists visit an area.

Now with social media influencers, climate change and marketing, it is starting to come to an end. Social media influencers are giving out secrets and tips on when to go to specific destinations.

The economy is often forcing companies to quickly get people to tourist attractions. We will have to see how this trend continues in the future.

The predictions that didn’t happen

Biden’s death

At the end of 2022 and the start of 2023, Biden was under harsh speculation about his overall health. At the time, Biden was falling off bikes and stumbling his words.

According to a poll conducted in June 2023 by The Hill, 68% of Americans are concerned for Biden’s mental health. He is 81 years old, and at the time, I was convinced he was going to die sometime this year.

Being president is stressful and takes a physical and mental toll on a person, so it is only a matter of time before he dies. If Biden is re-elected in the upcoming election, I do think that he will die in office.

TikTok vs. Vine

TikTok has been in hot waters for the last year. Multiple countries, especially the United States, have tried to get it banned. Obviously, TikTok is still here and relevant today. As of October of this year, there are 1.1 billion users on TikTok, with 220 million of them from the U.S. There are no legitimate signs that TikTok will be leaving the U.S. anytime soon.

Utah has been one of the many states to try to ban TikTok. Over 30 states have enacted or have announced to ban TikTok from government devices. The only state in the U.S. to have public restrictions is Montana.

It is interesting to see how trends and topics evolve over one year. Looking back, this year seemed to come and go so fast. As we approach the new year, it is exciting to see what future predictions we can make. What trends will be in style? What movies will be a hit at the box office?

I don’t know what 2024 will bring, but I do wish it brings everyone a safe and happy New Year.

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Meet Asher Anderson: the vibrant force behind Birds Aren’t Real Club and academic involvement

by Alyssa BaylesPosted on

Front and center, you see a guy holding a Birds Aren’t Real sign in the student section of sports games. He’s one of the loudest fans at the games, hyping up his peers around him as he creates a fun environment for others. Who is this school-spirited student?

This student is Asher Anderson, a junior marketing major from Mesa, Arizona. Because of his ex-girlfriend and cheaper expenses, Anderson ended up finding his way to Utah Tech University. Anderson is now an ambassador for Utah Tech and the president of the club, Birds Aren’t Real.

During the interview to be hired as an ambassador, Anderson liked the culture and leadership growth that was offered through the program. He hoped that by joining the ambassador team, he could inspire students to attend Utah Tech and contribute to the school through this position.

Anderson didn’t want to go to college at first, but once he got here, the social aspect was something he started to enjoy. He enjoys the fact that someone can make a friend at one event and end up being lifelong friends.

Some of his favorite memories since being at the university come from the retreats that the ambassadors go on and how they get to bond with each other during their free time.

“We always do a vulnerability activity,” Anderson said. “Everyone gets really emotional and shares something.”

The ambassadors create a family-feeling culture, which is something he wanted to show the rest of the campus through Birds Aren’t Real. This club was created in 2022 as a way to bring school spirit to campus, especially against Southern Utah University, whose mascot is the Thunderbird.

Nick Fajardo, a senior history major from St. George, is the founder of the club and now vice president. Fajardo and Anderson are friends, and after a phone call, Anderson was convinced to apply as the leader.

“He has been a very positive influence on it [Birds Aren’t Real],” Fajardo said. “He is a great hype man and a great leader for our club.”

This semester, the club went with the alumni ambassadors to SUU to support the women’s volleyball team in Cedar City. Anderson said they wore chicken heads to the game and created an away student section for the team. This was one of his favorite events this semester.

Utah Tech alum Devon Rice said: “Asher’s work with the Birds Aren’t Real club has been exciting and fun to watch. The events and experiences his club has provided for the students this year have all been very engaging.”

The club has been involved in many events like hosting a Taylor Swift vs. Kanye night. At this event, a live DJ would play whoever’s fan base was the loudest.

“He has a can-do attitude, and because of him and the team we have right now, we were able to pull it off and it was pretty successful,” Fajardo said.

While the club partakes in multiple events, Anderson doesn’t think that is the main goal of the club. He said he wants to create an environment that is fun for everyone.

“The whole goal is so people can find that niche because some people like that small community,” Anderson said. “Maybe they’re not interested in art, crafts or reading but just want to meet people and be social.”

Through his time in both leadership positions, Anderson said he has gained different leadership qualities, with the main one being problem-solving. He hopes to use this skill as he continues his college experience.

Anderson said: “I’m the type of person that if my friend wants to jump off a cliff, I’m doing it. I want to be with people, and so if that’s going outside, hiking or playing sports, if there are people there, I want to be there.”

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Utah Tech soccer recognizes athletes for academic success

by Brandt FaurschouPosted on

Utah Tech University recognizes its student-athletes for their hard work on and off the field as six Trailblazers are named to the Academic All-District Team.

Chosen by College Sports Communicators, the Academic All-District teams acknowledge the country’s top student-athletes for excelling both academically and athletically. To be eligible for this recognition, athletes must maintain a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.5 while participating in at least 90% of games or starting in 66% of games.

Players named to the Academic All-District Team include:

These student-athletes showcased the ability to integrate the rigors of education with the physical and mental demands of competitive sports. The secret to their success lies in a combination of time management and dedication.

Gracie Knutzen, a senior criminal justice major from Mapleton, said she uses a planner to help her manage her time effectively throughout the day.

“My biggest thing is to plan it out and write it down,” Knutzen said. “I make sure I’m accomplishing everything I need to do for that day. Also, I find time for myself so I don’t get too overwhelmed.”

Knutzen said building a strong and healthy relationship with her teachers and professors has helped her succeed in the classroom.

Brynlee Rider, a senior exercise science major from Layton, said the better the relationship with your professors, the more lenient and more likely they are to work with you on assignments and quizzes.

“I find that if you’re very upfront with them and have a good line of communication, then they’re really good to work with,” Rider said. “I’ve never had a problem. Most of them are totally understanding and will help you.”

The Department of Athletics at Utah Tech University has established a partnership with the Academic Performance Center to provide academic tutoring to student-athletes. Going to study hall is a requirement as student-athletes strive to maintain a balance between hitting the books and hitting the gym.

These student-athletes are required to spend a minimum of two hours per week at the study hall. A check-in system monitors tutoring time with weekly reports sent to coaches, specifying class and assignment details.

According to an article by Stat Crunch, the median GPA for a student-athlete is 3.7, and the median GPA for non-athletes is 3.45. The data demonstrates that athletes tend to achieve higher GPAs, possibly due to the academic requirements imposed on them to participate in their sports.

Tessa Thornton, a junior communication studies major from Spokane, Washington, said she learned valuable life skills from juggling the responsibility of sports and school. 

“It really helps with being able to multitask and take on more than one thing at once,” Thornton said. “It can help you career-wise by learning to balance family and work.”

Student-athletes often emerge from their collegiate years not only with a degree but also with well-rounded skills like multi-tasking, the ability to perform under pressure and goal setting. These skills prepare them for the challenges of the professional world.

As they continue to excel both in the classroom and on the field, student-athletes serve as an example of what can be achieved through dedication, discipline and a passion for both education and athletics.

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OPINION | Concurrent enrollment students should not have access to our university’s resources

by Kellason WalkerPosted on

It has become normal for high schools to offer concurrent enrollment classes to students from nearby colleges.

According to the 2022-2023 Concurrent Enrollment Handbook from the Utah State Board of Education, “Over 50,000 students earn over 350,000 credit hours by participating in the concurrent enrollment program.”

These classes serve as both credit for high school and college and can give high school students a head start in their collegiate careers.

However, the implementation of these classes can be quite a nuisance to college students.

There’s nothing more infuriating than having a class early in the morning and having to sit in front of or beside chatty high school students. I have my first-year nutrition class to thank for that experience.

While there are always exceptions to these cases, most high school students sit in the back of the class, have at least one other high school student with them, and are known for being very chatty.

That, in itself, doesn’t do much harm, but most of these students are very proud of taking college classes while they are still young.

Rightfully so for them, but it can serve as a grim reminder for those of us who either didn’t choose to take concurrent enrollment classes in high school or bit off more than we could chew.

In high school, I tried taking multiple classes like this and failed all but a couple. I either withdrew from the class earning me a “W” as a grade or simply couldn’t keep up with the workload and ignored it.

While these classes aren’t typically harder or easier than other high school classes, the workload is greater and can overwork students.

This brought me into the situation of academic probation, which I paid heavily during my first year of college. I paid around $300 every 15 days of my first semester, while only working a part-time job that paid me $12 an hour.

While I partially did that to myself, I know there are a lot of parents pushing their kids to get a higher education while still in high school. That way they can save money and time in the long run. I also wouldn’t put it too far out of the question to say that parents would rather pay $50 for their kids to go to college than $5000.

It’s important not to push kids into taking so many classes that it overworks them and gives them burnout, causing them to take a gap year like I did.

All that aside, most full-time college students at Utah Tech pay anywhere from $3,000 to $3,500 a semester. I paid around $400 in student fees this fall, adding another $75 for a parking permit for the full year.

How is it fair to college students who pay so much in tuition, fees and miscellaneous amenities that high school students only pay $5 for one credit?

These students are also using the same amenities, resources and parking spaces as us, and yes, while they are expected to do the same course work, it’s at a significantly decreased level than that of a college student taking 15 credits or more.

These resources include crucial testing center hours that, because of the recent change in hours, students are fighting for or writing center walk-in appointments that take away from college students who need that extra help to bring up their grades.

In my experience, it seems that these students gain preferred treatment because they are younger than college students and are not considered adults.

Concurrent enrollment is fine, but if the college is going to take the time to offer it, either have the students take it online or have a teacher who is certified to teach that class at the high school itself.

That way, high schoolers aren’t forced to come onto campus, and college kids can maintain their own space and resources without the fear of deferred treatment.

Or raise the amount they pay for classes, so it’s more fair to those of us paying for all of our schooling out of pocket.

We pay to be here and to keep and use the resources available to us. We shouldn’t have to worry about sharing it with younger kids who are only paying a small fraction of what our tuition is.

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ANALYSIS | Paul Peterson relieved of duties at Utah Tech

by Emily VanmiddendorpPosted on

The Utah Tech University football program starts the search for a new head coach after a disappointing season.

Paul Peterson’s time as the head coach of the football team has come to an end after five seasons. Ken Beazer, executive director of intercollegiate athletics, announced Peterson was relieved of his duties as head coach Nov. 20.

Peterson was named head coach of the Utah Tech football team following the 2018 season. Before coaching at the university, Peterson was head coach at Snow College for two years leading the Badgers to an 18-4 record.

While the first season with Peterson as head coach at Utah Tech did show improvement in the program, the seasons following yielded records that were far from successful.

Peterson’s first year as head coach began in 2019. During this season, the Trailblazers secured the most wins in program history with a record of 8-3 overall and 7-3 in conference play. The 2019 season was also the final season the football program played at the National Collegiate Athletic Association Division II level.

The program had its NCAA Football Championship Subdivision debut in 2020. However, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the games were played in spring 2021 where the team had a record of 2-3.

The football program failed to raise to a higher level of play for the 2021 season. That season was the team’s first full NCAA FCS season and a partial first season in the Western Athletic Conference. The team had a record of 1-10 overall and 0-3 in their partial conference play.

The following year, the program had its first full WAC season and had a record of 4-7 overall and 2-2 in conference play.

The current record of the team for the 2023 season is 2-9 overall and 1-5 in conference play.

In an interview with Sun News Daily reporter, Troy Grimmond, from the beginning of the 2023 football season, Peterson said their offense was called “the spread and shred.” The offense focuses on the passing game, and they look to throw the ball and spread out the other team.

While their passing game was strong this season, the team fell short in rushing yards. They were also found lacking on the defensive side with only four of the games resulting in less than four touchdowns by the opposing team.

A pattern of this season was games that started strong, but ultimately, the Trailblazers were unable to finish strong and secure a win.

In an interview with Rod Zundel for SportsVision, following the loss to Southern Utah University to end the 2023 season, Peterson said the team did not have the record they needed.

“When you’re playing really good teams, close won’t do it,” Peterson said. “You have to finish.”

Keeping the same level of play throughout a game is important. Consistency can be the deciding factor between winning and losing, especially against a strong team. Starting a game strong isn’t enough to win; the entire game has to be played with that same strength.

A change in leadership is what the program needs to build the team and reach a level of play that will bring success to the program. There is young talent on the team, and with the right guidance, the future could be great for the Trailblazers.

There is an ongoing national search for a new head coach for the program. No further comment would be made by Steve Johnson, the associate athletics director of media relations, regarding the search for a new head coach.

With Utah Tech’s transition to NCAA Division I athletics, it’s time for a head coach who will build the program into one that can not only compete at a Division I level, but also secure wins against other Division I schools and yield a ranking in the conference that the Trailblazers can be proud of.

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