Myndee Larsen Returns To SUU As New Athletic Director

Southern Utah University has selected a familiar face to lead its athletic department, naming former Thunderbird student-athlete Myndee Kay Larsen as the university’s next Athletic Director following a national search. Larsen will begin her new role in July as the university prepares for its transition into the Big Sky Conference.

SUU President Mindy Benson said in a press release that Larsen brings “a clear vision for the future of Thunderbirds Athletics” along with a commitment to student success and institutional stability during a period of change and growth for the university.

Former SUU Student Athlete Brings Wealth Of Experience

Larsen arrives with nearly 20 years of experience in intercollegiate athletics administration, including 17 years with The Summit League, where she currently serves as Deputy Commissioner. She also served as Interim Commissioner from 2021 to 2022. In her current position, Larsen oversees governance structures across all sports, supervises men’s and women’s basketball, and directs 19 conference championships annually. She has also managed one of the nation’s top-performing mid-major basketball tournaments, which has seen record-setting attendance growth, particularly in women’s basketball.

Larsen said she is honored to return to Southern Utah University and looks forward to helping elevate Thunderbirds Athletics both competitively and academically. She added that she is eager to work with coaches, staff and student-athletes as the university enters the Big Sky Conference and continues building programs the campus and community can support with pride.

TBA

Her experience extends beyond conference administration. Larsen currently serves on the NCAA Men’s Basketball Rules Committee through 2027 and is the first woman to hold that position. She has also participated on numerous NCAA committees focused on championships, legislation and sport operations.

The appointment also marks a homecoming for Larsen, who has deep ties to SUU and Cedar City. She graduated summa cum laude from Southern Utah University in 1998 with a degree in communication and has remained closely involved with the university through service on the Board of Trustees and as president of the SUU National Alumni Council.

Larsen is also one of the most accomplished athletes in school history. A former Thunderbird student-athlete on the women’s basketball team, she became the first women’s basketball player at SUU to have her jersey retired. She still holds the NCAA single-season field goal percentage record at 72.4 percent and remains the program’s all-time leader in field goal percentage and blocked shots.

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Search committee chair Stuart Jones said Larsen’s extensive athletics experience and personal connection to the university made her an outstanding choice to guide SUU Athletics into its next era. Southern Utah University sponsors 15 varsity athletic programs and officially joins the Big Sky Conference on July 1, 2026.