Sammantha Maxwell was named head coach of the Southern Utah University Dance Team in May 2026, bringing a diverse background in collegiate dance, athlete development, business leadership, and performance training to the Thunderbird program.
Maxwell joins Southern Utah after founding and directing Baxter Dance Training in St. George, Utah. As owner and director, she has developed competitive dancers who have earned overall titles, scholarships, and top placements at regional and national competitions. In addition to overseeing training and curriculum development, Maxwell manages all aspects of studio operations, including staffing, budgeting, event production, travel logistics, marketing, and community engagement.
A decorated collegiate dancer, Maxwell spent six years as a member of the Weber State University Dance Team and served four years as head captain. During her time with the Wildcats, she helped lead the program to its first National Dance Alliance (NDA) National Championship. As a team leader, she played a significant role in choreography, practice planning, game-day operations, and competition preparation while performing at football, basketball, and volleyball events.
Maxwell's accomplishments as a student-athlete include five USA All-American selections, the prestigious NDA Top Gun Award, six Weber State Student-Athlete Scholar Awards, and recognition on the Presidential Honor Roll.
In addition to her coaching experience, Maxwell brings extensive expertise in branding, marketing, and social media strategy. She previously served as a Brand Manager for Bowmar Nutrition, helping oversee marketing initiatives, product launches, affiliate programs, e-commerce operations, and creative content production across multiple companies.
Her coaching philosophy emphasizes athlete development, team culture, and dancer wellness. With academic training in both Athletic Training and Athletic Therapy from Weber State University, Maxwell incorporates injury prevention, conditioning, and long-term athlete health into her approach. She is also Barre certified and is pursuing Pilates certification.
Maxwell has more than a decade of dance instruction experience and has worked extensively with advanced-level dancers in jazz, pom, hip-hop, and contemporary styles. She maintains strong relationships throughout the dance industry, regularly attending national conventions and collaborating with leading choreographers and instructors.
At Southern Utah, Maxwell oversees all aspects of the Dance Team program, including recruitment, auditions, choreography, game-day performances, community engagement, and student-athlete development.
