‘We’re ready for change’: new Utah Tech athletics director hits the ground running

Utah Tech Athletics Director Ken Beazer (middle) is surrounded by Trailblazers coaches at his introduction ceremony last March, St. George, Utah, July 13, 2022 | Photo by E. George Goold, St. George News

ST. GEORGE — When USC and UCLA suddenly announced that they will leave the Pac-12 Conference and join the Big 10, they sent shockwaves through college athletics.

Utah Tech Athletics Director Ken Beazer at his office on campus, St. George, Utah, July 13, 2022 | Photo by E. George Goold, St. George News

The announcement was one of several recent changes that have caused ripple effects all the way to Utah Tech University.

“They are already impacting us,” athletics director Ken Beazer told St. George News from his office on campus Wednesday afternoon.

“It got to our level quickly, quicker than a lot of people anticipated,” Beazer added. “With NIL (name, image, likeness rights that allow college athletes to profit), the transfer portal, megaconferences. These are all things that we are currently dealing with and working with and making some adjustments as we go forward.”

Utah Tech has transitioned into the Western Athletic Conference and Division I in the NCAA. As previously reported in St. George News, all Trailblazers teams are now eligible to compete in conference tournaments.

Beazer reflected on the unsettled landscape of the NCAA, noting its effects are already present in the WAC.

“In just the past two weeks we’ve had Lamar and the University of Incarnate Word elect to stay in the Southland Conference, which has caused us some real scheduling issues as we head into this year,” Beazer said.

Beazer was named athletics director at the end of March. He said that the scheduling adjustments were just some of the changes that he’s dealt with since taking the job.

“To say there haven’t been surprises would be less than truthful,” he said. “However, pretty much everything’s the same. You’re always dealing with budgets, dealing with people. It’s been about what I expected.”

A drone photograph of the new logos and signage on the football field at Greater Zion Stadium, St. George, Utah, July 8, 2022 | Photo by E. George Goold, St. George News

Beazer said that the economic landscape surrounding the NCAA is changing in general.

“I think you just have to come to grips with the fact that it’s going to be awkward, it’s going to be messy, and it will be that way for a while,” Beazer said, adding that he believes there will be a shift in focus toward the student-athlete and the student athlete’s well-being.

“Which I think is a good move,” he added. “As I told our coaches the other day, it’s going to be awkward, but let’s be ready to be flexible and move as quickly as we can. And just be ready to change. We’re ready for change.”

Utah Tech Athletics recently announced a five-year agreement with Canyon Media to provide comprehensive sports coverage, as previously reported here.

“Canyon Media’s proposal more matched our vision of what we want to do here than any other. That vision is forward-thinking – it’s forward-looking,” Beazer said.

And the agreement, he said, will form a symbiosis that will elevate both entities.

“We’re going to continue to grow, and through our relationship with Canyon Media help them with what they want to do,” Beazer said. “It will allow a more structured and accessible opportunity for the student-athletes to talk with the media and represent themselves.” 

It’s mid-July and the first home football game is not until Sept. 10, but already Beazer is really excited about two aspects of the coming sports season.

“Getting all the student-athletes back on campus,” he said. “I really enjoy their day-to-day culture of improvement and their development – academically, emotionally, physically. And that’s what I’m looking forward to the most.”

Secondly, Beazer added, he can’t wait for the press box and all of the upgrades at Greater Zion Stadium to be completed.

“It’s going to provide a fan experience that’s never been available in the state of Utah basically south of LaVell Edwards Stadium,” Beazer said. “So we’re looking forward to that. Most of the luxury suites were sold out before we stuck the first shovel in the ground.”

Copyright St. George News, SaintGeorgeUtah.com LLC, 2022, all rights reserved.

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