Utah Women’s Basketball Hires Assistant From BYU’s Staff
Jun 26, 2024, 4:48 PM
Utah Women's Basketball hired BYU assistant Morgan Bailey to join their staff. (Photo by Robert Johnson/Getty Images)
(Photo by Robert Johnson/Getty Images)
SALT LAKE CITY – Utah Women’s Basketball has hired an assistant away from its rival, BYU.
Former BYU assistant Morgan Bailey is joining Utah Women’s Basketball
On Tuesday, the Utes announced that Morgan Bailey, a former star player at BYU and assistant under Amber Whiting for the past two seasons, is now an assistant on Utah’s staff.
🚨 New Ute alert 🚨
Help us welcome our new Assistant Coach, Morgan Bailey to the Utah family! #goutes pic.twitter.com/f6ibi2TvPk
— Utah Women’s Basketball (@UTAHWBB) June 26, 2024
“I couldn’t pass up an opportunity like this,” Morgan Bailey said in a written statement. “Utah Women’s Basketball has some big goals, goals that I want to be a part of reaching. I hope to leave a lasting mark here while learning and growing from Coach Roberts and her staff. I’m humbled and thankful that they felt I was the right person for the job. I’ll never forget where I came from and will stay grateful to the programs that have trusted me and for the players I’ve had the privilege to coach. I’m excited for this new adventure and for the people I get to do it with.”
During Bailey’s two seasons at BYU, the Cougars posted a record of 32-34. This past year, BYU completed its first season as a member of the Big 12 Conference. Utah is now preparing for its first year in the Big 12.
Bailey is a niece to former Utah Jazz star Thurl Bailey.
She will join a Utah staff led by head coach Lynne Roberts, who earlier this week signed a contract extension that keeps her on the Hill until 2030.
Bailey reunites with former BYU head coach Jeff Judkins on the Utah bench
“I’m super excited to welcome Morgan Bailey to the U,” Utah women’s basketball head coach Lynne Roberts said. “Morgan was an unbelievable player at BYU and went on to play professionally. Since getting into coaching, she is widely respected as a great teacher of the game and a standout recruiter. She’ll be an instant impact on the court developing our post players. We are grateful that she has joined our program as we continue to strive to new heights.”
Adding Bailey to Utah’s bench reunites her with her former college coach, Jeff Judkins. Judkins is entering his second season as an assistant with the Utes. Bailey played for Judkins from 2010-2014.
Along with Judkins and Bailey, Utah’s staff also includes veteran Gavin Peterson, who is entering his 10th season with the program and Jordan Sullivan, who is entering her third.
BYU’s assistants under third-year head coach Amber Whiting include Lee Cummard and John Wardenburg.
Mitch Harper is a BYU Insider for sports.ksl.com and hosts the Cougar Tracks Podcast (SUBSCRIBE) and Cougar Sports Saturday (12–3 p.m.) on KSL Newsradio. Follow Mitch’s coverage of BYU in the Big 12 Conference on X: @Mitch_Harper.
