Women's Basketball | 8/15/2024 11:57:00 AM
Utah Tech head women's basketball coach
JD Gustin announced on Thursday the additions of former Trailblazer student-athlete
Taylia Stimpson and Corbin Bedke to his staff ahead of the 2024-25 season.
Stimpson returns to the Trailblazer program as its director of player development, while Bedke will serve as director of basketball operations.
Stimpson played in 45 career games over her two seasons at Utah Tech from 2021-23. She averaged 6.1 points and 2.1 rebounds in 18 games during her senior season in 2022-23, and was part of the Blazers' first NCAA Division I postseason victory, a 72-68 triumph over Utah Valley in the opening round of the 2023 WAC Tournament (3/6/23).
After earning her Bachelor's degree in Recreation and Sports Management at Utah Tech in 2023, Stimpson transferred to Utah State, where she appeared in five games for the Aggies, all while working on her Master's degree in instructional technology and learning sciences.
"We are excited to have Taylia return to our program in a coaching role," said Gustin. "She has a great perspective on what it takes to be college player and how to acknowledge and overcome the challenges that student-athletes may confront. Taylia has the potential to be a great coach."
Bedke played an integral role with the Utah Tech women's basketball program last season, including serving as a practice player and assisted in team travel and other capacities. All of which earned him the opportunity to return in a more official capacity this upcoming season.
"Corbin was amazing for us last year as he organized and directed our team travel operations," Gustin noted. "We are thankful that he has accepted to help us again in an enhanced position."
Utah Tech finished its fourth NCAA Division I season with an 18-14 overall record. The 18 wins are the second-most in the program's fourth and final NCAA Division-I transitional season (19 wins in 2022-23). The Trailblazers also finished fourth in the Western Athletic Conference (12-8) and advanced to the WAC Tournament quarterfinal round.
