Utah Women’s Basketball Assistant Coach Jeff Judkins Has Retired
Oct 16, 2024, 4:18 PM
(Courtesy of BYU Photo)
(Courtesy of BYU Photo)
SALT LAKE CITY – Utah Women’s Basketball assistant coach of player development Jeff Judkins has retired from coaching after serving on head coach Lynne Roberts’ staff for the last year.
Judkins also served as a community ambassador over the last year. He is a former Runnin’ Utes student-athlete and member of the Utah Athletics Hall of Fame.
Jeff Judkins says goodbye after a historic coaching career
“I want to thank the University of Utah, Coach Roberts, the staff and players for the wonderful opportunity to get back into coaching this past year,” Judkins said in a statement. “I knew someday there would come a time that I wouldn’t be able to coach anymore and it came sooner than I planned, but it’s time for the next chapter in my life. I appreciate everything the game of basketball has done for me. Again, I want to thank Coach Roberts for believing in me and letting me be a part of her staff. I also want to thank all the fans and community here in the state of Utah for all the love and support throughout my entire career.”
When he was hired last September, he was brought on to serve as assistant coach of player development. Judkins was brought in to work on the court with players for individual skill development and team defense.
“I’d like to thank Juddy for his willingness to be on our staff the last year and a half,” said Roberts. “His experience, knowledge, sense of humor and friendship were a great asset to our program. He has had one of the most storied and successful careers in basketball in the history of our great state, and I’m honored that he was able to finish where he started – at the U.”
Judkins career extends beyond Utah
Prior to his return to Utah, Judkins was head women’s basketball coach at BYU. With a 454-204 overall record over 21 years, he remains the all-time winningest head coach in BYU basketball history, men or women.
Judkins was an assistant coach for Utah’s men’s basketball program for 10 seasons, from 1989-99. A member of the Runnin’ Utes from 1974-78, Judkins led Utah to one conference championship and two NCAA Tournament appearances. He was a second-team Academic All-American, a three-time District VII all-academic selection, and a three-time first-team All-WAC honoree. He sits at No. 8 in the Utah record books for all-time scoring with 1,740 points.
A member of the 1977 United States World Games team that captured the gold medal. He was selected in the second round of the NBA Draft by the Boston Celtics in 1978. He went on to play for the Celtics, Portland Trailblazers, Detroit Pistons and Utah Jazz over the course of his five-year NBA playing career.
