Champion BYU dance coach overcomes ovarian cancer with faith and determination
Retired BYU Cougarettes coach Jodi Maxfield, who guided the team to more than 20 national titles, announced she is cancer-free after battling stage 3 ovarian cancer.
After a distinguished career that produced 19 National Dance Alliance titles and two United Spirit Association championships, BYU Cougarettes coach Jodi Maxfield faced a stage 3 ovarian cancer diagnosis during a mission in England. She and her husband Scott left the mission early to seek care at Utah’s Huntsman Cancer Institute, where she underwent surgery and multiple rounds of chemotherapy. The treatment concluded with Maxfield ringing the institute’s bell, a symbolic end to her therapy.
She says the support of her husband, adult children, former athletes and her religious community helped her persevere. Now cancer-free, Maxfield plans weekend getaways, a family vacation to Mexico, temple service and a return to missionary work in England. Her story highlights the blend of competitive drive and spiritual faith that defined her coaching legacy.
Why it matters
It shows how a celebrated coach battled a serious illness and emerged cancer-free, inspiring fans and underscoring the role of community support.
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