Utah Valley University track & field and cross-country coach Scott Houle has announced the hiring of Hannah Branch as a distance coach on his staff in January of 2023. Branch completed her career as a student-athlete at UVU in the fall of 2022.
Branch is one of the most decorated student-athletes in program history at Utah Valley, which includes an All-American honor after competing in the 10,000-meter race at the NCAA Outdoor Championships last June in Eugene, Oregon.
“Five years ago, she made the decision to come here and join our program and become a Wolverine. During that time, she did some wonderful things on the track and course, and in the classroom,” said Houle. “I’ve watched her grow and mature and have seen her knowledge of this sport grow. She’s extremely intelligent and her communication skills are impeccable and she’s ready for this opportunity. I love that she’s a Wolverine and someone who is so familiar with our program and she’s ready to hit the ground running.”
Branch was a part of the groundbreaking duo—along with Everlyn Kemboi—that became the first-ever female student-athletes at UVU to compete at the NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships. She earned her All-America status after competing in the 10k in Eugene in 2022. Her final season of competition, with cross country in 2022, Branch was part of the first-ever team to qualify for the National Cross-Country Championship, which was held in Stillwater, Oklahoma.
“UVU was the only school that believed in me as an athlete, so it means a lot to be able to give back to this school and program that I love and that has given me so much. I’m grateful to Coach Houle for believing in me as an athlete and now as an assistant coach,” Branch said. “I just want to help keep the ball rolling. I’ve gone through the training, and I know the ins and outs of the program like the back of my hand. I want to be able to relate to the athletes and be a friend and mentor.”
Branch was a five-time All-WAC honoree in cross country, was a part of the WAC Championship team, while also earning first-team All-WAC in 2021. She posted 11 first-place finishes during her career including five individual WAC Championships. She was named Academic All-WAC every semester and season of competition; a total of 14 times, including five times each in both cross country and indoor track.
As a freshman, Branch was named the WAC Freshman of the Year in each of the three seasons of competition: cross country, indoor, and outdoor track.
Branch hails from Draper, Utah, and attended Corner Canyon High School. She graduated from Utah Valley University with a bachelor’s degree in business management and with an MBA. Branch and her husband, Thomas Pickford, were married in July of 2022.
