by Dixie State women’s basketball head coach JD Gustin has announced the addition of Nicole Yazzie (Navajo) to his coaching staff.
Yazzie most recently served as women’s basketball assistant coach and sports information director at Montana State University-Northern from 2014-16. While at MSUN, Yazzie helped lead the Skylights to consecutive NAIA tournament appearances, including the Elite Eight in 2015. Yazzie coached the Frontier Conference MVP and Defensive MVP in both 2015 (A’jha Ewards, Taylor Cummings) and 2016 (Natalee Faupel, Jacy Thompson). Prior to MSUN, Yazzie served as a varsity assistant coach at Corner Canyon HS in Draper, Utah, during the 2013-14 season.
Before coaching, Yazzie played four seasons at Westminster College from 2009-13. She led the Griffins to four consecutive NAIA tournament appearances, on her way to becoming the all-time leader in 3-point field goals made and career free throw percentage at Westminster. She earned first team All-American honors as a senior and was a four-time All-Frontier Conference first team member.
Yazzie earned a Bachelor’s degree in psychology from Westminster in 2013.
“We are thankful that Nicole has joined our women’s basketball program,” Gustin said. “She was a prominent high school and college player in Utah and has established a number of good relationships in the state, which will help us with recruiting within our borders. She has also learned from some very good coaches that she played for and has coached with. Nicole is positive, energetic, has a passion for young people and basketball, and will be a great example to our student-athletes.”
