BYU Roundup: Miller Park gets new hitting facility, VIP hosting area
-
- An artist’s rendering of the new baseball and softball hitting cage at Miller Park, which also includes a VIP hosting area.
-
- An artist’s rendering of the new baseball and softball hitting cage facility to be built at Miller Park.
-
- BYU cornerbacks coach Jernaro Gilford (left) talks to sophomore cornerback Zion Allen during practice in Provo on Monday, March 4, 2024.
BYU Athletics announced on Thursday plans for a new hitting facility at Miller Park for its baseball and softball programs. Construction on the new indoor facility is underway with completion projected by summer 2025.
The 6,000-square foot facility will be located down the third base line at Larry H. Miller Field between the current stands and the baseball bullpen. The facility includes four batting cages with field turf, providing six total indoor cages for the two programs.
In addition to the hitting facility, the construction also includes a new baseball VIP hosting area above the facility with 200 field level seats just east of the BYU dugout.
“The new hitting facility is an important addition for our baseball and softball programs,” said BYU director of athletics Tom Holmoe. “This facility will enhance both programs and provide new opportunities for our student-athletes to improve and be successful. We would like to express our appreciation to the BYU Board of Trustees, the central administration and the donors who helped make this project a reality.”
The new Miller Park hitting facility is being funded through generous private donations.
“The facility is a major commitment to our program.” said BYU baseball head coach Trent Pratt. “It will enhance recruiting, the student-athlete experience and the development of our players. We want to thank the BYU administration and donors who made the project possible.”
“We are grateful to all those who worked together to make the new hitting facility a reality,” said BYU softball head coach Gordon Eakin. “It will provide important resources to further develop our student-athletes and better prepare them to achieve their goals.”
The new facility was designed by CORE Architecture of Pleasant Grove with the project construction by Big D Construction of Salt Lake City.
Miller Park has been home to BYU baseball and softball since it opened in 2001. Designed as an innovative and unique baseball-softball back-to-back complex, baseball plays on Larry H. Miller Field facing the east, while softball plays on Gail Miller Field facing west. The Miller family, owners of the Larry H. Miller Company with its diversified portfolio of businesses and investments, were the major donor of the original facility.
Located at the base of the Wasatch Mountains, Miller Park’s unique blend of engineering ingenuity and scenic beauty are regularly featured in a variety of publications and social media platforms as one of the best settings in collegiate baseball and softball.
Gilford promoted to defensive passing game coordinator
BYU defensive coordinator and associate head coach Jay Hill today announced the promotion of Jernaro Gilford to defensive passing game coordinator on the defensive staff.
Gilford will continue to coach cornerbacks in addition to his new responsibilities as the defensive passing game coordinator.
“Jernaro has proved to be one of the top secondary coaches in the country,” said Hill. “Last year he helped us be one of the best pass defenses in the nation and lead the country in interceptions. He deserves everything in coaching that comes to him. I love having him on our staff. Jernaro makes our team better every day.”
Gilford, a star cornerback for BYU from 1999-2003, enters his 10th season on head coach Kalani Sitake’s coaching staff in 2025 after returning to his alma mater as the cornerbacks coach in 2016. Before coming to BYU, Gilford was the cornerbacks coach at Southern Utah from 2014-15 after beginning his coaching career as a graduate assistant cornerbacks and special team coach at Whittier College from 2012-13.
“First and foremost, I’d like to acknowledge my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ for none of this is possible without him, and I’d like to thank my family and friends for always believing in me and keeping me on the right path,” said Gilford. “I’ve been fortunate to have the chance to work under the best head coach in college football in Kalani Sitake and would like to thank him for taking a chance on me 10 years ago. These last two years have been a major blessing to be under the tutelage of the best defensive coordinator in the country in Coach Hill and prepare me for this opportunity, along with a great defensive staff that works well together.”
This past season BYU boasted the top-rated defense in the Big 12 finishing the season ranked No. 13 nationally in total defense, allowing just 308.8 yards per game–the fewest yards per game allowed in the Sitake era and fewest since 2012 (266.1) and No. 4 in the last 25 seasons at BYU.
Gilford earned a bachelor’s degree in sociology from BYU in 2004 and a master’s degree in education from Whittier College in 2014. He and his wife Brittany have a son, Jernaro Jr., and a daughter, Jru.
The Cougars recently made a scholarship offer to Jernaro Jr., a rising junior defensive back at Skyridge High School in Lehi.
