Dixie State softball head coach Randy Simkins is excited to announce Michael Garoutte as a new assistant coach with the Trailblazers.  
 
"We're very happy to add Coach G to our coaching staff," Simkins said. "He's an excellent coach who has been a proven winner at every level.  A great teacher of the game, with a tremendous work ethic, he'll be an excellent addition to our Dixie State softball program." 

Garoutte comes to Dixie State with over 20 years of coaching experience in the softball world. He spent the last four seasons as head coach at Big Bend Community College. While at Big Bend he posted a 77-53 record. He led Big Bend to their first winning season since 2006. He set the record for most wins in 2018 and then beat his own record for wins in a single season in 2019. 

He helped the team to a 3.57 team GPA which was the seventh highest in the nation in 2019 as well as placed eight on the NFCA All-America Scholar Athlete list. In 2020 his team recorded a 3.76 GPA for top three in the nation with 10 on the All-America Scholar Athlete list. 

Before Big Bend, he served as head coach Wentachee Valley College, where he posted a 40-11 record and was the 2017 NWAC National Champions. 

Garoutte also spent a season as an assistant coach at Eastern Oregon University where he helped coach the team to a 2016 CCC Tournament and made an NAIA playoff appearance. He helped reduce EOU's pitching ERA from a 5.52 to a 3.61.

Before Eastern Oregon he spent several years coaching at Central Washington and Kalamazoo College with coaching, recruiting, and skill development responsibilities. He earned his Bachelor of Science degree at Central Washington University in Biology Education in 1998 and earned a Master of Science in Exercise Science from CWU in 2009. 

 "I chose Dixie State because I believe it's always about the student-athlete and the experiences and opportunities the program and Coach Simkins gives to each individual. The history of the program is unmatched. It is all about excellence in the classroom and on the diamond. Also, the St. George area is one of the most beautiful and unique places in the world and the community is awesome."