It has been a long, up-and-down journey for Jon Judkins in his college basketball coaching career. Though his name may not draw national headlines, the 61-year-old coach has quietly built one of the most stable programs in the West. Entering the 2025–26 season, Judkins owns 326 career wins as a collegiate head coach and remains the face of Utah Tech basketball.
The past few seasons have been challenging. Since transitioning to Division I and joining the Western Athletic Conference, the Trailblazers have faced the steep learning curve that comes with competing against more established programs. Utah Tech enters its fourth season in the WAC with a 14–40 conference record and an overall mark of 32–65 since the name change from Dixie State.
From Division II Power to Division I Challenger
Before the jump to Division I, Judkins had built a powerhouse at the Division II level. As the Dixie State Rebels, his teams reached the NCAA Division II Tournament eight times in nine seasons from 2006 to 2018, winning seven conference titles along the way.
The 2010–11 campaign remains one of the best in program history, with the Rebels advancing to the NCAA Division II Regional Final as members of the Pacific West Conference. When the school moved to the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference in 2018, the team didn’t miss a beat, going 41–16 across two seasons as the newly named Dixie State Trailblazers before stepping up to the Division I level.
Building a Foundation for the Future
Despite the tougher competition, Utah Tech has stayed loyal to Judkins, whose leadership and deep connection to the program have guided it through constant change. A native of Salt Lake City and a former Dixie State player himself, Judkins understands the heart of the program better than anyone.
Over his career, he’s collected six Pacific West Conference regular-season titles, two tournament championships, and one RMAC regular-season crown. More importantly, he’s built a culture of accountability and effort that continues to define the Trailblazers as they chase greater consistency at the Division I level.
A Challenging Road Ahead
The Trailblazers begin their exhibition slate on October 18, hosting West Coast Baptist College at Burns Arena in St. George. Their official season opener comes November 3 on the road at South Dakota, followed by their home debut two days later against Bethesda.
It’s a tough start to the season, with road trips to Arizona, Arizona State, Hawaii, Santa Clara, and Creighton all on the non-conference schedule. But for Judkins, that’s nothing new. He’s spent his career embracing challenges, building programs from the ground up, and proving that steady leadership can withstand the toughest competition.