'How great is that?' Andy Reid marvels at Utah's sporting expansion at annual State of Sport Awards

SALT LAKE CITY — Early in their respective careers, when Andy Reid was an offensive line coach at San Francisco State and Tom Holmoe was a cornerback across town with the NFL's 49ers, the eventual three-time Super Bowl champion tried to convince Holmoe to go into coaching.

Holmoe, a 1983 fourth-round pick out of BYU, wanted to be an athletic director — and in a lot of ways, both of them got their way.

Reid doesn't mind being a little wrong in that regard, though.

"He did well at that, but then he decided to get back into what he wanted to do — and he had a phenomenal career," Reid said Friday before the 13th annual Governor's State of Sport Awards at the Delta Center. "The things he's done for BYU are off the charts; I'm so glad he stuck around to guide them into that new phase, into a new conference."

Holmoe will retire in August at the end of his current contract, and after 20 years as the Cougars' athletic director.

Reid won't be replacing him — the university has already interviewed several candidates, and all signs point to Reid returning to Kansas City after the Chiefs' bid for an NFL-first three consecutive Super Bowl titles. After 33 years in the NFL, the 65-year-old former BYU offensive lineman who was a teammate of University of Utah coach Kyle Whittingham and a mentor to BYU coach Kalani Sitake still has plenty to prove.

That doesn't mean he doesn't appreciate his home away from home in the Beehive State. Reid, a native of Los Angeles, went to BYU at a time when the rivalry between the Utes and Cougars was the biggest thing in Utah's sports scene.

But 44 years after the Utah Jazz relocated from New Orleans, the state is now home to two pro soccer franchises in Real Salt Lake (MLS) and Utah Royals FC (NWSL), professional lacrosse (Utah Archers, PLL), pro rugby (Utah Warriors) and the brand-new Utah Hockey Club (NHL), in addition to a handful of minor-league affiliates.

Then there's the Winter Olympics, which Salt Lake City will host for the second time in 2034, in addition to national events in pro golf, combat sports and extreme sports, among others.

"How great is that? I think it's great for this city, and for the state," Reid said. "I can't put a negative at all on it. The hockey team is the latest addition, and it's unbelievable what they're got going. The future looks great.

"The basketball team has been great, and they'll continue on," he added of the Jazz. "But to have all the different venues is good for the fans, and the sports fanatics in Salt Lake City and in Utah."

Reid was among the keynote speakers at the 13th annual Governor's State of Sport Awards, hosted Friday at the Delta Center by the Utah Sports Commission.

"2024 was a landmark year for sport in our state, from the return of the Utah Royals and the debut of the Utah Hockey Club to the awarding of the 2034 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games," Gov. Spencer Cox said. "As governor, it's an honor to recognize Utah's incredible athletes at the State of Sport Awards."

Here are the 14 honorees recognized Friday by the state:

• Event of the Year: Utah Hockey Club's inaugural game
• Highlight of the Year: Winter Games return to Utah
• Team of the Year: Utah Archers (PLL)
• Coach of the Year: Diljeet Taylor (BYU)
• Professional Male Athlete of the Year: Diego Luna (RSL)
• Professional Female Athlete of the Year: Haley Batten (cycling)
• Olympic Male Athlete of the Year: Kenneth Rooks (track and field)
• Olympic Female Athlete of the Year: Winter Vinecki (aerials)
• Adaptive Male Athlete of the Year: David Blair (track and field)
• Adaptive Female Athlete of the Year: Alejandra Ibáñez (wheelchair basketball)
• Collegiate Male Athlete of the Year: JaQuavious Harris (SLCC)
• Collegiate Female Athlete of the Year: Maile O'Keefe (Utah)
• High School Male Athlete of the Year: Emerson Geilman (Bountiful)
• High School Female Athlete of the Year: Emilee Skinner (Ridgeline)

In addition to recognizing the 14 honorees with Reid as a special guest of the Utah Sports Commission, the event also featured a special homecoming for the Olympians and Paralympians who represented Utah at the Paris 2024 Summer Games.

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