Dixie State names Justin Decker head men’s and women’s cross-country coach

ST. GEORGE, UT – Dixie State College Director of Athletics Jason Boothe announced that Justin Decker has been hired as the new head men’s and women’s cross-country coach.

The announcement came on Tuesday, May 3, from St. George, UT.

Decker is filling the vacancy of LaNay Larson, the former head coach who left to take the head women’s basketball coaching position at Academy of Art University. Decker served as the assistant coach for the cross-country program this past season.

“We are thrilled to be able to elevate Justin from assistant to head coach with the departure of LaNay." Boothe said. "It will be a seamless transition. Justin brings a wealth of experience and knowledge of cross country with him.”

“This is an exciting opportunity for me and I look forward to helping the program, I believe it has a great deal of potential,” Decker said. “I believe that we have some of the top runners in the state at our local high schools and you combine that with a young talented team and we have great potential.”

Decker raced collegiately for Dixie State in 2007 and 2008. Prior to college he was a cross country, track & field and football star at Pine View High School. He is the second Decker to hold the head coaching position for DSC - his father Ross was the coach in 2008.

Boothe continued, “I'm excited to see the continued growth of the program this fall under Justin.”

Decker earned his bachelor of science degree in business administration from Dixie State in the fall of 2008. He married Kelli Huddleston in September of 2010.