ST. GEORGE — Dixie State University removed the interim tag from Ken Beazer’s job description and officially named him executive director of athletics Wednesday afternoon.
“I’m thrilled to be here,” Beazer said at a crowded press conference on the fifth floor of the Holland Commons building on campus. “The future that’s in place, I hate to use this term, but it’s intoxicating. I’m just happy to be a part of it.”
Beazer is no stranger to the Trailblazer student-athletes, boosters and families. He has served as interim athletic director since mid-January, when predecessor Dr. Jason Boothe stepped down from the post after more than a decade.
Beazer worked as DSU executive director of development beginning in 2015.
In his remarks, Beazer said that he and his wife Cidnee were considering retirement to West Virginia after he finished his work as director of intercollegiate athletics at Southern Utah University (2006-15) in Cedar City.
“I grew up in Ephraim, played football at Snow College, was athletic director at Snow College,” Beazer said. “A Snow College guy hates Ricks and Dixie. Then you compound that with 10 years at SUU, and they hate Dixie. So I really had no intention of coming to St. George, let alone working at Dixie.”
But in a 15-minute phone conversation with DSU President Richard Williams, Beazer said, “…he told me his vision for the university, I walked into the house and said, ‘I know you’re not going to believe this, but we need to look at this.’ And now we’re here.”
Beazer praised some of the previous Trailblazers who established such a strong tradition at Dixie State, mentioning the likes of Stan Plewe, Doug Allred, Jason Boothe, Pat Roper, Greg Croshaw and Sark Arslanian.
“The weight of the traditions of this university and the good people who have been through this university is felt,” Beazer said. “And to insert myself now in that timeline, I take a great deal of pride in that.
“I hope to turn the reins over whenever it is to the next person, whoever it is, having fulfilled my stewardship and tenure that I am about to embark upon.”
Dixie State men’s basketball coach Jon Judkins, who last season became the all-time winningest coach in Utah collegiate basketball history, told St. George News that he is excited to have Beazer on board.
“I think it’s a big day, it’s a great day for Dixie State, or Utah Tech,” Judkins said. “I’ve known Ken for a long time. When he was at Snow, I was there, so I’ve known him for a long time and we became good friends.”
Added Judkins: “I’m excited to sit down with him and kind of pick his brain for where he sees, for me, for men’s basketball, where we’re going. I think we’re pretty close. I think we’re getting where we need to be.”
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