Utah Valley University Women's Softball

Utah Valley softball head coach Cody Thomson has announced the hiring of former BYU standout and Utah Tech assistant Marissa Chavez to his coaching staff. "I'm excited to add coach Marissa Chavez to my coaching staff," said Thomson. "She's going to bring a wealth of knowledge in the infield and as a hitting coach. She is also going to bring great energy and culture to the locker room." Chavez spent the last two seasons in St. George as an assistant coach with the Trailblazers. Prior to Utah Tech, Chavez began her coaching career as a graduate assistant at D-III Fairleigh Dickinson-Florham in New Jersey during the 2023 season.  In 2025, Chavez helped coach a potent Trailblazer lineup that had eight players hit .300 or better — including second team All-WAC selection LB Kahahawai-Kekona — and averaged 5.16 runs per game, the third-best in the WAC. Chavez returns to Utah County after a highly successful collegiate playing career just up the road at BYU. Chavez was a three-time All-WCC selection — twice as first team and once as second team — and appeared in 162 games over her five-year playing career. As a Cougar, Chavez posted a career .306 batting average with 12 home runs, 24 doubles, and 65 RBIs.  A native of Covina, Calif., Chavez graduated from BYU in 2022 with a Bachelors degree in Public Health, and received Masters degrees in Public Administration and Public Health from Fairleigh Dickinson earlier this year.

Utah Valley head softball coach Cody Thomson has announced the hiring of former Utah standout Haley Denning Brown as an assistant coach on his staff. “I couldn’t be more excited for Haley Brown to come and be part of my coaching staff,” said Thomson. “I saw her growth as a player and can’t wait to see what she can do in the coaching world.” Denning Brown, who spent the first three years of her collegiate career under Thomson at the University of Utah, brings a wealth of experience playing softball on some of the biggest stages, including a trip to the 2023 Women’s College World Series with the Utes. "I am more than excited to be working with Coach T,” said Denning Brown. “I had a great time playing for him at Utah and I am excited to learn from him now as a staff member. What an amazing opportunity, I cannot wait to get started! Go Wolverines!" A five-year starter with the Utes, Denning Brown received All-PAC-12 honors in each of her completed campaigns, and was an All-Pacific region selection in three of those seasons. At the end of her illustrious playing career, Denning Brown ranked as the Utah program leader in hits, runs scored, at-bats, and career batting average. Denning Brown played a pivotal part in Utah's historic run to a PAC-12 Tournament title and a berth in the WCWS in 2023, posting at least one hit in each of the Utes’ final 10 games. A native of Phoenix, Ariz., Denning Brown married her husband Trevor in 2024. She earned a Bachelor’s degree in Emergency Management and a certificate in Applied Positive Psychology from Utah.

Chad Blackhurst is entering his second season on staff at Utah Valley.  In his first season in 2025, Blackhurst helped lead the Wolverines to their second-straight WAC Tournament semifinal berth. Blackhurst helped coach first team All-WAC shortstop Britney Moreno and third team All-Region utility player Avery Sapp. Prior to Utah Valley, Blackhurst spent seven seasons (2017-23) as an assistant coach at junior college USU-Eastern in Price, Utah, where he helped establish the softball program and build it into a perennial contender in the tough Scenic West Athletic Conference. At USUE, Blackhurst also served as the team’s recruiting coordinator, helping broaden the program’s recruiting reach beyond the state of Utah. Before coaching at USUE, Blackhurst was an assistant coach from 2014-17 at Pleasant Grove HS just north of Orem, where he had the opportunity to coach two of his daughters and three of his nieces. Blackhurst helped revitalize the program, with the team qualifying for the state tournament each of his seasons there.  Prior to his coaching days, Blackhurst played 15 years in several men’s fastpitch leagues, including seasons playing both with and against head coach Cody Thomson, as well as one team that was composed almost entirely of family members.  Blackhurst graduated from UVU with a bachelor’s degree in Business Management and a minor in Marketing. Blackhurst served a two-year mission in Chile for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and enjoys speaking with recruits and their families in Spanish.  Blackhurst and his wife, Pamela, have been married for more than 25 years, and the two have three children and one grandchild. The family owns a small farm where they grow alfalfa, raise horses and chickens, and have a large vegetable and fruit garden. They enjoy hosting the team and their families for gatherings on their property and taking them on horse rides.