Utah

Longtime Utah volleyball coach Beth Launiere retires

Published

1 month ago

December 8, 2025

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Longtime Utah volleyball coach Beth Launiere retires

Beth Launiere, the longest-tenured volleyball coach in Utah history, has retired, the school announced Monday.

Over 36 years as Utah’s coach, Launiere amassed 689 wins and took Utah to the NCAA tournament 20 times.

With Launiere in charge, the Utes won six Mountain West titles and advanced to the Sweet 16 four times, most recently in 2019.

“After 36 years as the head volleyball coach at the University of Utah, I have made the difficult decision to announce my retirement,” Launiere said in a school press release.

“While it is not easy to walk away from a lifetime’s work, I am ready and excited to begin the next chapter of my life. Thank you to the hundreds of players whom I have had the privilege to coach, and the many assistant coaches, support staff and administrators who were my daily collaborators to build this program into what it is today.

“I will miss the daily interactions, but I know our relationships will last a lifetime. It has been an honor to represent one of the greatest universities in the country. I will forever love Utah and will always be a Ute!”

Utah was ranked in the AVCA Coaches Top 25 poll for 183 weeks under Launiere’s leadership, and the program produced 16 All-Americans.

During her 36-year career at Utah, Launiere was rewarded with three Mountain West Conference Coach of the Year awards and one Pac-12 Coach of the Year award in 2019.

In her final season, Launiere and the Utes made the NCAA Tournament, finishing the season with a 15-15 record with wins over No. 23 BYU and No. 13 Kansas before losing to the University of Northern Iowa in the first round of the NCAAs.

Launiere will leave a lasting legacy as the volleyball program’s greatest coach.

Utah athletic director Mark Harlan wasted no time naming her successor, appointing Alyssa D’Errico as the sixth head coach in program history.

“Alyssa D’Errico is a tremendous identifier of talent and is elite in developing student-athletes and building genuine relationships,” Harlan said. “With her championship pedigree, All-America playing experience, and the three years she has spent at the University of Utah as associate head coach, she is uniquely equipped to take over leadership of our volleyball program.

“I’m thrilled to appoint Alyssa as our new head coach, and excited to see her establish herself as this program’s leader, building on the legacy that Beth Launiere has built.”

D’Errico is a three-year assistant of Launiere’s, joining the program ahead of the 2023 season.

“I want to sincerely thank Mark Harlan, Charmelle Green and Jason Greco for their trust and support in giving me this opportunity to lead Utah volleyball,” said D’Errico in a press release.

“Of course, I also must thank Beth Launiere. I am deeply grateful to Beth for bringing me out here to be a part of this incredible volleyball program and athletic department. Her countless contributions to our sport, her care for the athletes, and the legacy she leaves behind are inspiring — truly leaving the program better than she found it.

“As I step into this role, I am honored and energized to help guide our program into the next era, with new heights in sight and a strong vision for sustained excellence. I look forward to building on our foundation, elevating our competitive standard, and fostering a culture where our student-athletes thrive on and off the court.”

Utah head coach Beth Launiere talks with her players between sets during the NCAA tournament match against Marquette at the Jon M. Huntsman Center on the campus of the University of Utah in Salt Lake City on Friday, Dec. 6, 2024. | Brice Tucker, Deseret News

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San Antonio visits Utah after George’s 43-point game

Published

2 hours ago

January 21, 2026

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San Antonio visits Utah after George’s 43-point game

San Antonio Spurs (30-14, second in the Western Conference) vs. Utah Jazz (15-29, 13th in the Western Conference)

Salt Lake City; Thursday, 9 p.m. EST

BOTTOM LINE: Utah hosts the San Antonio Spurs after Keyonte George scored 43 points in the Utah Jazz’s 127-122 victory against the Minnesota Timberwolves.

The Jazz are 9-21 against Western Conference opponents. Utah allows the most points in the league, giving up 127.4 points per game while allowing opponents to shoot 49.4%.

The Spurs have gone 17-12 against Western Conference opponents. San Antonio ranks sixth in the Western Conference with 25.9 assists per game led by Stephon Castle averaging 7.0.

The Jazz are shooting 46.7% from the field this season, 0.8 percentage points higher than the 45.9% the Spurs allow to opponents. The Spurs’ 47.2% shooting percentage from the field this season is 2.2 percentage points lower than the Jazz have allowed to their opponents (49.4%).

The teams meet for the third time this season. The Spurs won 123-110 in the last matchup on Jan. 19. Victor Wembanyama led the Spurs with 33 points, and George led the Jazz with 30 points.

TOP PERFORMERS: George is averaging 24.4 points and 6.7 assists for the Jazz. Brice Sensabaugh is averaging 16.3 points over the last 10 games.

De’Aaron Fox is averaging 20.2 points and six assists for the Spurs. Wembanyama is averaging 22.1 points and 7.8 rebounds while shooting 46.5% over the last 10 games.

LAST 10 GAMES: Jazz: 3-7, averaging 118.1 points, 43.3 rebounds, 30.6 assists, 8.4 steals and 3.0 blocks per game while shooting 48.3% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 129.7 points per game.

Spurs: 5-5, averaging 109.7 points, 46.8 rebounds, 25.8 assists, 7.1 steals and 4.8 blocks per game while shooting 43.9% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 107.5 points.

INJURIES: Jazz: Lauri Markkanen: day to day (illness), Georges Niang: day to day (foot), Brice Sensabaugh: day to day (illness), Kevin Love: day to day (rest), Walker Kessler: out for season (shoulder).

Spurs: Devin Vassell: out (thigh).

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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.

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Utah Jazz Announce Injury Report vs. Minnesota Timberwolves

Published

14 hours ago

January 20, 2026

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Utah Jazz Announce Injury Report vs. Minnesota Timberwolves

The Utah Jazz and Minnesota Timberwolves have each revealed their injury reports ahead of their upcoming matchup, where the Jazz in particular have some key names listed to be on the sidelines.

Here’s the full injury report outlook for both the Jazz and Timberwolves before tip-off:

Utah Jazz Injury Report

OUT – G Elijah Harkless (G League)

OUT – C Walker Kessler (left shoulder; injury recovery)

OUT – C Kevin Love (rest)

OUT – F Lauri Markkanen (illness)

OUT – F Georges Niang (left foot; fourth metatarsal stress reaction)

OUT – G Brice Sensabaugh (illness)

OUT – F John Tonje (G League)

OUT – C Oscar Tshiebwe (G League)

A few notable faces will be out of the mix for Utah, but the biggest will be none other than Lauri Markkanen, who continues his leave from a lingering illness, now forcing him out for a fifth consecutive game, and his 11th on the season thus far.

The illness has now made for Markkanen’s longest extended absence this season, putting a brief pause on his career-best campaign that’s even given him looks of being worthy for a second All-Star appearance.

In 33 games this season, Markkanen is leading the Jazz in scoring with 27.9 points a night, paired with 7.2 rebounds and 2.2 assists, shooting an efficient 48.3% from the field and 36.5% from three.

Within the 10 games that Markkanen has been forced out, Utah has struggled noticeably, now at an 0-10 record in games in which he doesn’t play, currently on a four-game losing streak to pair with his multiple-game absence. And with his status downgraded, it looks like Utah will have yet another chance to end that bothersome streak with a win.

Nov 10, 2025; Salt Lake City, Utah, USA; Minnesota Timberwolves guard Anthony Edwards (5) drives against Utah Jazz forward Lauri Markkanen (23) during the second half at Delta Center. Mandatory Credit: Rob Gray-Imagn Images | Rob Gray-Imagn Images

Along with Markkanen’s status labeled as out, the Jazz will also be down two key bench contributors in Brice Sensabaugh due to an illness, as well as Kevin Love due to rest—meaning Utah will be down their sixth man and leading scorer in the second unit, while also being without their primary backup big man to prevent them from having their typical size.

Expect to see extended minutes from Kyle Filipowski in the frontcourt to compensate for that size, as well as Taylor Hendricks and Cody Williams, who will both naturally fill in for the minutes leftover from Markkanen being out of the mix.

Minnesota Timberwolves Injury Report

QUESTIONABLE – C Naz Reid (left shoulder soreness)

OUT – F Terrence Shannon Jr feft foot abductor hallucis strain)

OUT – C Rocco Zikarsky (G League)

The Timberwolves don’t have many injuries to report on their end, with the most prominent being Naz Reid, who’s questionable to suit up with a minor shoulder injury. If he does wind up playing, that could pose even more trouble for the Jazz, that are already down a significant amount of size in their own frontcourt.

The Jazz will be on the second leg of a back-to-back following the end of a five-game road trip. Energy is probably hard to come by for Utah, especially without their star forward, Markkanen. However, if they can rebound from their prior loss on the road against the San Antonio Spurs, it’ll make for their first victory of the season without the services of the finisher.

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Edwards leads Minnesota against Utah after 55-point showing

Published

1 day ago

January 20, 2026

Press Room

Minnesota Timberwolves (27-16, fourth in the Western Conference) vs. Utah Jazz (14-29, 13th in the Western Conference)

Salt Lake City; Tuesday, 9 p.m. EST

BETMGM SPORTSBOOK LINE: Timberwolves -10.5; over/under is 245.5

BOTTOM LINE: Minnesota visits the Utah Jazz after Anthony Edwards scored 55 points in the Timberwolves’ 126-123 loss to the San Antonio Spurs.

The Jazz are 0-8 in division matchups. Utah has a 6-19 record against teams over .500.

The Timberwolves are 4-4 against the rest of their division. Minnesota ranks fifth in the Western Conference with 33.4 defensive rebounds per game led by Rudy Gobert averaging 7.5.

The Jazz score 119.1 points per game, 4.4 more points than the 114.7 the Timberwolves give up. The Jazz average 120.0 points per game, 7.5 fewer points than the 127.5 the Jazz allow.

The teams play for the third time this season. The Timberwolves won the last meeting 120-113 on Nov. 11, with Edwards scoring 35 points in the victory.

TOP PERFORMERS: Keyonte George is averaging 24 points and 6.8 assists for the Jazz. Brice Sensabaugh is averaging 17.5 points over the last 10 games.

Gobert is scoring 11.0 points per game and averaging 11.4 rebounds for the Timberwolves. Edwards is averaging 25.2 points and 3.7 rebounds over the last 10 games.

LAST 10 GAMES: Jazz: 2-8, averaging 116.8 points, 42.5 rebounds, 30.7 assists, 8.3 steals and 2.8 blocks per game while shooting 48.0% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 129.8 points per game.

Timberwolves: 6-4, averaging 122.6 points, 46.5 rebounds, 27.1 assists, 8.3 steals and 5.7 blocks per game while shooting 51.0% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 116.3 points.

INJURIES: Jazz: Lauri Markkanen: day to day (illness), Georges Niang: day to day (foot), Brice Sensabaugh: day to day (illness), Walker Kessler: out for season (shoulder).

Timberwolves: Terrence Shannon Jr.: out (foot), Naz Reid: day to day (shoulder).

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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.

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