General | 3/30/2022 1:32:00 PM

Dixie State University President Dr. Richard B. Williams announced on Wednesday that Ken Beazer will become the permanent Executive Director of Intercollegiate Athletics.
 
Beazer has served as interim athletic director since mid-January when he was named to replace Dr. Jason Boothe, who stepped down on January 7, after serving as DSU athletic director since 2010. Beazer was selected to remain in the position following a national search.
 
Beazer will transition into his new role at the university after serving as Executive Director of Development in the Dixie State University Advancement Office since 2015.
 
"I am thrilled to introduce Ken as our new Executive Director of Intercollegiate Athletics," President Williams said. "He brings experience, energy, and great vision to Trailblazer Nation. I am excited for our future as we continue our transition to NCAA Division-I status.
 
"Ken will also provide great wisdom and intellect to our program," President Williams continued. "He has been here before and knows what we need to do to excel at this level. Ken has experience finding and mentoring great coaches. He relates to our student-athletes, he knows our community and has established relationships within the community. As I looked at the traits we needed in our next Athletics Director, Ken possesses them all. Our future is very bright with him leading the charge."
 
Prior to his time at DSU, Beazer was the Director of Intercollegiate Athletics at Southern Utah University from 2006-15. While at SUU, he led the university's move to the Big Sky Conference in 2012, and oversaw the addition of three sports (women's golf, women's volleyball and men's tennis). During Beazer's tenure, SUU won a Big Sky women's basketball title in 2013-14, while its football program made its first-ever NCAA D-I FCS playoff appearance in 2013.
 
Beazer, who was president of the FCS Athletic Directors Association in 2014-15, also served as director of athletic development at Utah State (2001-05), and was the athletic director at Snow College for six years (1995-2001).  
 
"I am grateful for the opportunity President Williams has entrusted in me to lead Trailblazer Athletics into the NCAA Division I era," Beazer said. "I look forward to working collaboratively with our student-athletes, coaches, staff and community to advance the University's mission through high level athletic competition.
 
"It is a privilege for me to build upon the solid foundation [former AD] Dr. Jason Boothe established," Beazer went on to say. "His positive impact upon Trailblazer Athletics is well-documented."
 
Beazer graduated with a Bachelor's degree in Communication at Weber State in 1989, and earned a Master's degree in Communication at Washington State in 1991. He and his wife, Cidnee, are the parents of four children - Rhett, Adrienne, Jadon and Harrison, and two grandchildren.
 
Dixie State University, which is home to 15 intercollegiate athletic programs, is currently in the second year of its transition to NCAA Division I status and is a competing member of the Western Athletic Conference.