Softball | 9/30/2024 2:00:00 PM

(St. George, Utah - Sept. 30, 2024) - Trailblazer softball head coach Randy Simkins announced the addition of two new assistant coaches along with a player development coach on Monday with Alex Flores, Jared Anderson and Chris Norris officially joining the program.

"We are excited to welcome Alex, Jared, and Chris to our program," said Simkins. "Their extensive experience and great energy will be valuable additions to our team. Each of them brings a unique perspective and skill set that will make our staff even stronger!"

Alex Flores, originally from Sherwood, Oregon, has been a part of the softball community for 18 years. She played at Portland State University from 2013-2016 as a catcher/infielder. After her collegiate career, she transitioned into coaching travel softball, serving as the head coach and president of Oregon Thunder from 2016-2022. Flores has a strong commitment to helping student-athletes navigate college recruiting and prepare for the challenges of collegiate athletics. She has successfully assisted multiple players in securing positions at NCAA and NAIA institutions.

"I am truly grateful for the warm welcome I have received from everyone. We have a talented group of student-athletes who are poised to start the season strong. I am excited to collaborate with this coaching staff and believe that Coach Simkins serves as an excellent mentor for both the student-athletes and the coaches he has assembled this season. Our coaches demonstrate effective communication and bring a wealth of experience. I am thankful for this opportunity and look forward to embarking on this season together," said Flores.

In addition to her coaching at Oregon Thunder, Flores was the assistant pitching and catching coach for the WA Ladyhawks during the 2023 season. She has conducted lessons in her community for several years and had the opportunity to serve as a pitching coach at Mt. Hood Community College during the COVID season. Most recently, she was the head coach at Warner Pacific (NAIA) for one season before transitioning to high school coaching at Sherwood High School.

Jared Anderson joins the coaching staff for his inaugural year as a Trailblazer bringing 26 years of coaching experience, including 22 years as a head baseball coach. He and his wife, Heather, have been married for 25 years and reside in St. George, along with their five children. Anderson's extensive athletic background includes playing college baseball at Snow College and Southern Utah University.

Throughout his coaching career, Anderson has achieved significant success, winning four State Final Championships, a State Runner-up title, and securing 14 Region and Divisional Titles. His impressive overall record of 433 wins and 130 losses results in a winning percentage of .769%. He is committed to fostering a winning mindset among his athletes, believing it is crucial for them to reach their full potential.

Anderson's contributions to the sport have been recognized through several accolades, including being named the Baseball Coach of the Year for Utah in 2008 and receiving the NFHS Western US Sectional Coach of the Year award that same year. He was also honored with the 2012 UHSAA Distinguished Service Award for Coaching in Utah.

Additionally, Anderson spent four years with American Baseball Camps (ABC), where he traveled nationwide to teach youth baseball and softball fundamentals. His administrative experience includes five years as a high school athletic director and participation on the Athletic Director Executive Committee (ADEC) for UHSAA.

"I'm thrilled to be a part of the Utah Tech Softball Program.  I love being a part of a program that teaches and coaches the way the game is meant to be played both on and off the field," said Anderson.

Chris Norris, who grew up in Spanish Fork, Utah, before moving to Buckeye, Arizona, in 2020, where he spent three years before relocating to St. George in May 2023.

Chris is married to his wife, M'Lyn, and they have three children, daughter Marki, 14, who is a freshman at Desert Hills High School, and two sons, Jett, 11, and Chipper, 6, who both attend George Washington Academy.

Baseball and softball have been integral parts of Norris's life since he could hold a bat. At the age of 14, he began playing fastpitch softball against men from around the world and has continued to compete at that level for 20 years.

Over the last three years, he has coached high school softball at Verrado High in Buckeye, while also providing private lessons in his spare time.

"I am grateful to be a part of an amazing coaching staff and team, and I am excited to see the big things I believe our team can accomplish this year."

The Trailblazers continue their fall season this weekend with a pair of contests hosting doubleheaders against Yavapai College on Friday at 1 p.m. and Utah on Saturday at 11 a.m. at Karl Brooks Field.