University of Utah Athletics

SALT LAKE CITY— Utah Athletics will be able to retain the talents of former women’s basketball star Jenna Johnson and gymnastics phenom Maile O’Keefe in post-graduate roles with their respective programs, thanks to the Anne Osborn Post-Graduate Internship Award. The department announced today that Johnson and O’Keefe are the award recipients for 2025-26.

This is the second year the prestigious award has been available to former female student-athletes who have exhausted their eligibility, but show the potential to be leaders within athletics careers.

Dasia Young of women’s basketball was the first recipient of the award for the 2024-25 competition season.

Johnson, who graduated in May with her bachelor’s degree in operations and supply chain and a minor in strategic communication, is slated to fill Young’s role from last year with women’s basketball as an assistant graduate coach.

O’Keefe, who graduated in 2023 with her degree in kinesiology, and has since added a certificate of applied positive psychology (2024) and an MRED certificate (2025) while working as a graduate assistant coach for gymnastics, will now move over to an operations specialist role as Grace McCallum takes over as the graduate assistant coach.

ABOUT THE ANNE OSBORN POST-GRADUATE INTERNSHIP AWARD

The Anne Osborn Post-Graduate Internship Award was created with the intent to invest in Utah female student-athletes who have expired their eligibility, but possess extraordinary potential to become leaders of their generation through careers in college athletics.

Endowed by University of Utah Distinguished Professor Emeritus Anne G. Osborn, MD, the award provides financial support for a full academic year as the recipients gain valuable insight, development, and real-world experience working in athletics. Osborn was a two-sport athlete herself, competing in swimming and basketball while completing her undergraduate degree at Stanford University.

“Even at the highest levels, only a few student-athletes will ever have a realistic chance to compete professionally in the sport they love,” stated Dr. Osborn. “This post-graduate internship will allow recipients the opportunity to explore the ever-growing spectrum of careers in collegiate athletics.”

All candidates for the award must be former female student-athletes who possess leadership potential, character, academic achievement, and athletic excellence.

Through the year, all recipients must be fully engaged with their assigned roles and mentorship programs through the Utah Athletics Department and its EmpowHer program, and be actively involved in professional development sessions and departmental duties. Recipients will also be asked to provide periodic updates on their experiences and achievements that will culminate in a final reflection to be given to the EmpowHer Board of Directors.

MORE ABOUT JENNA JOHNSON, UTAH WOMEN’S BASKETBALL (2021-25)

Johnson came to Salt Lake City in 2021 as the No. 7 forward in the nation according to ESPN, and immediately made her impact known, earning Pac-12 Freshman of the Week three times in her debut season while being a key cog in leading the Utes to their first NCAA Tournament appearance in 11 years.

That was only the start of Johnson’s journey, earning Pac-12 All-Conference Honorable Mentions in 2023 and 2024 while pushing Utah to new heights winning a Pac-12 Championship and earning a Sweet 16 berth in 2023.

“Jenna has cemented her legacy here at Utah as a WBB player,” said Utah Women’s Basketball coach Gavin Petersen. “As a team leader who always led by example, she was always prepared, dependable and was a fierce competitor on the floor. More than that, Jenna is an amazing human being that connected with people beyond basketball. Her maturity, spiritual faith and sense of humor are just some of the things that I am so thrilled to have stick around for another season with our program.”

Johnson finished her time at Utah ranked ninth in school history in career field goal percentage and a two-time team captain.

“The U gave me a platform to chase down my athletic dreams and develop me into a better student, woman, and member of our Salt Lake community,” said Johnson. “As I look forward to the future, my next goal is to be a Division I basketball coach.  This position will help me gain experience, confidence, and a space to continue to pursue my dreams. I think collegiate coaching is a difficult industry to break into, and this opportunity will allow me a ‘foot in the door’ to gain incredibly valuable experience while learning from a premier coaching staff, working with talented players, and being in an environment where I’m comfortable developing my skill-set as a coach.”

MORE ABOUT MAILE O’KEEFE, UTAH GYMNASTICS (2020-24)

O’Keefe established herself as one of the most decorated Red Rocks in program history, being crowned a national champion four times, a 2023 and 2024 finalist for the AAI award, a two-time NCAA Regional beam champion (2021, 2023), and earning 19 All-American nods throughout her career.

Additionally, O’Keefe smashed the record books for Utah Gymnastics, holding the school record for career 10.0s, (15), career 10.0s on beam (14), and single-season 10.0s on beam.

 

“Having been both her coach and now working alongside Maile, I can attest to her exceptional work ethic, leadership qualities, and unwavering commitment to this team,” said Utah Gymnastics head coach Carly Dockendorf. “Maile has consistently demonstrated maturity beyond her years, balancing her academic and athletic responsibilities with professionalism and enthusiasm. She has a natural ability to connect with others, making her a highly effective mentor to younger Red Rocks. Her approach is supportive, empathetic, and rooted in a genuine desire to help others grow.”

O’Keefe proved to be a force in the Pac-12, earning Gymnast of the Year in 2021, two Specialist of the Year awards (2021, 2023), 10 All-Pac-12 Conference honors, and a five-time Pac-12 Champion (2021, all-around, bars, beam, and floor; 2024, beam).

“I believe I bring a unique and valuable perspective to the program, having been in the athletes’ shoes just a year ago,” said O’Keefe. “As a former peer, I can relate to their experiences and provide guidance in a way that fosters trust and positivity. My ability to connect with athletes allows me to serve as a liaison between them and the coaches, helping to bridge any gaps and support their growth. I love Utah Gymnastics with my whole heart and I’m excited for the opportunity to contribute to their success in a different manner.”