southern utah university football coaches
With the success, head coach Ed Lamb joined the staff at Brigham Young in Provo and defensive coordinator Demario Warren was promoted.[11]. He was also a dedicated student in the classroom, earning Academic All-Region honors. In their absence, junior Dallin Brown provided one of the highlights with a one-handed grab during 11-on-11 drills. All rights reserved. . Moore had four touchdowns on 48 carries, while Duckett had 179 yards on 54 touches. Jeff and his family enjoy swimming, camping, sightseeing, reading, and taking pictures. Andrew Bates- Strength & Conditioning Coach. BYU transfer Mitchell Price should have a big impact on the secondary for Fitzgerald. His first head coaching job was at Southern Virginia from 2009-13, after which he became the head coach of Frostburg State. The school announced Monday that SUU and Demario Warren have mutually agreed to part ways after six seasons. Smith worked with a receiving corps which was a part of the 11th ranked passing offense in the FCS averaging 294.2 yards per game. More:Demario Warren out as Southern Utah head football coach after six seasons. The program will enter the WAC next season. Would you like to have the day's news stories delivered right to your inbox every evening? The Pac-12 and SEC commissioners will be bringing NIL issues to lawmakers, High school girls golf: 3A region recaps, Richfield, Morgan, Union and Judge Memorial claim region titles, High school boys soccer: 3A/2A second round recap from Wednesdays games, It reportedly wont be long until the Mountain West Conference eliminates divisions, Change may be on the way for the transfer portal and college football recruiting. Following a successful career as a member of the Thunderbird football team, Measom joined the coaching staff at SUU in January of 2017 as a graduate assistant and worked his way into the position of director of operations before being named wide receivers coach. The American Samoa native also spent time coaching at Western Oregon, Eastern Oregon and Humboldt State. CEDAR CITY Southern Utah Universitys newly hired football coach received a warm welcome from players, fans and university officials on Thursday afternoon. April 16, 2022 - by Chevy Blackburn. In the 2000-2001 school year, SUU's Coaching Factory Hall of Fame was established and will be erected on a wall within the new building. SUU's newest signing class includes 12 signees from the state of Utah, four from California, three from Maryland, two from Virginia and one from Washington and Pennsylvania. Fitzgerald spoke of the multiplicity of offensive tactics he likes to employ, which he said will typically evolve depending on the players. Kelling coached the defensive backs in his first two seasons before becoming the team's co-defensive coordinator in 2006. Peterson served as an offensive quality control assistant at Texas from 2010-12, and served as the team's interim running backs coach in the 2012 Alamo Bowl. Each one of today's signees brings a physical skill set and a mentality that our coaching staff is looking for. New head coach DeLane Fitzgerald addresses his team following Wednesday's practice. Were going to show up on time. Prior to his time at Wise, Rosser was a defensive quality control coach at James Madison, where he helped the Dukes to a CAA Championship and FCS playoff appearance. Ahead of the 2016 season Tapasa was brought to Cedar City to serve as SUU's Co-Defensive Coordinator and coach the linebacking unit. Outside of my wife and kids, my three beautiful daughters I dont think about anything else but football, he said. Southern Utah University Aug 31 // football Arizona State University Sep 09 // football Brigham Young University Sep 16 // football UC Davis Sep 23 // football Western Illinois University Sep 30 // football University of Central Arkansas Oct 07 // football Tarleton State University Oct 21 // football Austin Peay State University Oct 28 // football Coach Tapasa played college football at Portland State and graduated with a bachelor's degree in pre-law before going on to receive his master's degree in health education from Western Oregon in 2006. Before the regular season rolls around in late summer, Southern Utah University football will host its Spring Game to culminate the spring training season. The use of software that blocks ads hinders our ability to serve you the content you came here to enjoy. The team began spring practices on Monday, March 21, and the . SUU will see how its crop of newcomers and returning players will mesh during their spring game on April 15. Jones was a 2x All-Big Sky First Team Selection and was an Associated Press FCS First Team All-American. The move comes as SUU is just 1-10 this season, including 0-8 in Big Sky Conference play. He led a Southern Virginia team to its second-ever winning season in 2013 with an 8-2 record. He graduated from SUU with a master's of accountancy in 2018. Thanks to the departure of Kobe Singleton, Fitzgerald will need to find another lockdown corner. The Southern Utah University Thunderbirds will be looking for a new head football coach. We ask that you consider turning off your ad blocker so we can deliver you the best experience possible while you are here. Southern Utah. "These 23 young men are the foundation on which we are going to build a great FCS football program. All Rights Reserved, In a new league with a new coach, SUU embracing fresh start. The intersquad scrimmage is set for Saturday, April 16, at 1 p.m and is free to the public. Peterson is originally from San Antonio, Texas, and is joined in Cedar City by his wife, Camille, and daughter, Brooklyn. Copyright 2010 - 2023 StGeorgeUtah.com LLC, all rights reserved. Southern Utah Football Spring Recap - Southern Utah University Athletics CEDAR CITY, Utah - Coach DeLane Fitzgerald sat down Wednesday morning to discuss Spring Camp, the roster, the 2023 spring game, and the transfer portal. Well have a football program thats based on a culture of competitiveness and competitive greatness.. The Thunderbirds play their home games on campus at Eccles Coliseum in Cedar City, Utah, and have been led by head coach DeLane Fitzgerald since 2021. The T-Birds also signed a number of players as transfers, including a number of former Utah high schoolers and in-state transfers from BYU and elsewhere. What theyve done in the past does not affect them now. Southern Utah head coach Demario Warren shouts to his team during game against Utah Thursday, Sept. 1, 2016, in Salt Lake City. He has a chance to be as good as he wants to be. SUU averaged just 2.9 yards per carry on the ground. Bates went to Jacksonville after a two-year stint at Marshall University. Tapasa and his wife, Joanna, reside in St. George and have five daughters. Miller is now joined in the quarterback room by redshirt freshmen Jackson Berry and Rand Jensen, and Western Kentucky transfer Grady Robison. The defensive end led the team with four sacks and added 48 tackles last season. Southern Utah University 0:03 0:24 DeLane Fitzgerald announced his first signing class as head football coach at Southern Utah University on Wednesday, as the Thunderbirds inked 23. He served as team captain of the track and field team and won his school's Student-Athlete Leadership Award and Community Service Award. The new faces for the Thunderbirds are Tye Hiatt, Ryan Payne, and Brandon Perkins. What Utah college football players have entered the transfer portal this spring? 2023 Southern Utah Thunderbirds football team, National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics, "Branding & Creative - Marketing Communication", "NCAA Sports Sponsorship: Southern Utah University", "DeLane Fitzgerald Named Head Football Coach at Southern Utah", "Southern Utah now part of American West", "Great West football conference announces formation", "SUU football: T-Birds earn program's first Big Sky championship", "WAC Announces Expansion, Plans to Reinstate Football", "ASUN And WAC Unveil 2023 Football Schedule", "ASUN-WAC Football Partnership Formally Rebrands as the United Athletic Conference", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Southern_Utah_Thunderbirds_football&oldid=1150979373, American football teams established in 1963, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, This page was last edited on 21 April 2023, at 05:17. The team began spring practices on Monday, March 21, and the Spring Game allows a preview into what can be expected for next season. They had an 83 regular season, with losses to Utah State, South Dakota State, and Portland State; their eight wins were by mostly large margins. It marked the fourth-straight losing season for the school and the second time in as many seasons that it finished with just one win. Also showing flashes at left guard is redshirt junior Artese Gregory. We ask that you consider turning off your ad blocker so we can deliver you the best experience possible while you are here. Hatitio will look to help bolster the SUU offensive line after a successful high school career at Juan Diego Catholic High School in Draper. The move comes as SUU is just 1-10 this season, including 0-8 in Big Sky Conference play. TicketSmarter: Official Ticket Resale Partner, George S. Eccles Sports Performance Center, Gerardi Earns Spot at Kansas City Chiefs Rookie Mini-Camp, ASUN-WAC Football Partnership Formally Rebrands As The United Athletic Conference, Southern Utah Football Spring Game Preview, Thunderbirds Football Signs Big '23 Class, Video Platform powered by CBS Sports Digital. and will lead SUU in their first year in WAC play. "I am happy with the way our coaching staff came together," Fitzgerald said. Ryan Hunt- Interior Defensive Line Coach/Director of Football Operations. A 2003 graduate of SUU, Coach Hunt was a three-year starter at offensive tackle for the Thunderbirds before joining the staff. Like other coaches on the staff, Rosser follows Fitzgerald from Frostburg State to Southern Utah after serving as the Bobcats' cornerbacks coach for two seasons. Kelling joins the Southern Utah staff after serving as head coach at Lock Haven University since January of 2020. Strand was named Mountain East Conference Defensive Player of the Year in 2020, while Bemiy, who made the All-WAC preseason defensive team, has the tools to play in the NFL, according to Fitzgerald. Its what I do.. Southern Utah University College Football Sports In a new league with a new coach, SUU embracing fresh start After successful run as Frostburg State, coach DeLane Fitzgerald arrives in Cedar City with high expectations and with a number of his former players By Tom Ripplinger Sept 1, 2022, 9:00am PDT SHARE Demario Warren out as Southern Utah head football coach after six seasons, Southern Utah University tabs DeLane Fitzgerald as next head football coach, Southern Utah announces first signing class under coach DeLane Fitzgerald, Your California Privacy Rights / Privacy Policy. Corum, along with SUU Interim President Mindy Benson, Senior Associate Athletic Director Jeff Tukuafu and the rest of the hiring committee, and said hes looking forward to getting started right away on the process of building his staff by hiring coordinators and assistant coaches. Always putting the program ahead of his own desires, he has made a decision that it is time to step aside and make room for another coach to lead the team, and I support him in this decision. He was named First Team All-State by the Deseret News as well as First Team All-Region. Before Fitzgeralds remarks, SUU Athletic Director Debbie Corum talked about the hiring process and said Fitzgerald had been chosen from a nationwide field of more than 100 applicants. The thing with him and Zach Strand is theyve always won. The Southern Utah University football team is a team in transition. They also have three young grandsons. The coaches from last year's staff staying in Cedar City include offensive line coach Aaron Fernandez, wide receivers coach Brady Measom, linebackers coach Solomona Tapasa and defensive line coach Ryan Hunt. Claude Edward Lamb III [1] (born March 4, 1974) is an American college football coach and former player. 2022 will mark Fernandez's 14th season at Southern Utah, and 11th as a full-time assistant. Fitzgerald thanked Corum, along with SUU Interim President Mindy Benson, Senior Associate Athletic Director Jeff Tukuafu and the rest of the hiring committee, and said hes looking forward to getting started right away on the process of building his staff by hiring coordinators and assistant coaches. (The offensive line) will have as big an impact, or bigger, than anybody else, just nobody will know that theyre doing it because theyre playing offensive line.. Copyright 2023 Southern Utah University. A big part of spring ball is the learning and getting a feel for what we want. [12] After the 2022 season, the WAC fully merged its football league with that of the ASUN Conference, creating what eventually became the United Athletic Conference, and SUU accordingly moved its football team to the new league.[13][14]. As for the rest of the roster, very few notable players are returning. While playing for the Thunderbirds, Hunt started 33 straight games from his sophomore to senior seasons, never missing a game during his career. Iglesias was a three-year starter for Orange. CEDAR CITY - Southern Utah University and head football coach Demario Warren announced recently that they have mutually agreed to part . The hiring of Fitzgerald has brought a mass exodus of many familiar faces from last years team, leaving Fitzgerald building through his incoming freshman class and transfer portal. In 2021, Justin Miller lined up under center for SUU. [email protected] Acord also played wide receiver during high school and was a First Team All-Region performer. With a new coaching staff working to establish a winning culture, veteran players are expected to lead by example. In his time at WKU, Robison was on the practice squad and learned under record-setting quarterback Bailey Zappe. Information on each signee, along with a link to the announcement of their signing, can be viewed below. During his prep career, Purcell was an All-State Honorable Mention and two-time First Team All-Region selection. Magginson spent four years as a coach on the FSU staff, working with the entirety of the defensive line. He also spent 2016 as the tight ends coach at Florida International, where he mentored NFL tight end Jonu Smith. CEDAR CITY, Utah Southern Utah University head football coach DeLane Fitzgerald has announced his coaching staff for the upcoming season. Before transferring to FSU, Brunson played quarterback at the University of Albany where he threw for 2,334 yards with 10 touchdowns in three seasons. The use of software that blocks ads hinders our ability to serve you the content you came here to enjoy. Spring practices have been without the top two receiving targets, Ethan Bolingbroke and Brandon Schenks, who are both recovering from injuries. As per usual, the school said a nationwide search for Warrens replacement will begin immediately. Bates joins Southern Utah after serving one season as the strength and conditioning coach for Hampton University. Cox participated in multiple high school all-star events, including the Crab Bowl and Eastern Shore Bowl Game in Maryland. At the beginning of his remarks, Fitzgerald joked how his luggage hadnt arrived in time, due to a flight cancellation. The Thunderbirds are one of five new teams being added to the WAC, which will have 13 teams after the expansion. In the classroom, he was an AP Scholar and Commended Scholar for the 2022 National Merit Scholarship Program. After playing on the varsity squad for four seasons, Lynch was honored as both the Offensive MVP and Team MVP. On the defensive side of the ball, the Thunderbirds will be anchored by senior defensive ends Zach Strand, who also followed Fitzgerald from Frostburg State, and Francis Bemiy. The junior running back brings physicality and size to the backfield at 6-foot-1, 220 pounds. New faces on the staff for the upcoming season include offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach Blair Peterson, defensive coordinator and safeties coach John Kelling, defensive ends coach Shawn Magginson, tight ends coach Will Brunson, cornerbacks coach Nick Rosser and Andrew Bates, who will serve as the football team's strength and conditioning coach. In addition to his degree from MSU Mankato, he holds a master's degree in recreation and sports science from Ohio University. In three years with the Rebels he amassed 1,159 receiving yards. Lesa was named Second Team All-State two times and First Team All-Region three times after being a four-year starter for the Bulldogs. The OFFICIAL YouTube account for Southern Utah University. The Southern Utah University Thunderbirds will be looking for a new head football coach. Copyright 2023 Southern Utah University. Redshirt sophomore Aubrey Nellems notched 48 tackles as well and looks to see an increased role as the most experienced returning linebacker. [email protected]: Jeff Rudy: Associate A.D. for Football Administration 801-581-8563 801-581-8563: [email protected]: Adam Fry: Director of Football Operations [email protected]: Doug Elisaia: Director of Strength and Conditioning for Football 801-581-4548 801-581-4548: [email protected]: Robert Blechen Forty percent of Utah's high school football coaches are from SUU; that's twice as much as the University of Utah and BYU combined. Thunderbirds. Thats because Fitzgerald is no stranger to turning programs around. The Sammamish, Washington native led Eastlake High School to a 9-2 record as a senior under center. Assistant Wide Receivers Coach. Miller has started 17 consecutive contests for SUU, giving Fitzgerald a seasoned quarterback. Photo courtesy of SUU Athletics, SUU students protest HB0011 in support of transgender athletes, SPB ends Sunfest week with Most Fun Friday, Art Challis: The voice of the Thunderbirds, Raising the bar: The legacy of SUU Gymnastics, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZnR7Qpa9dTk&ab_channel=SUTV-9News. He also added one interception, one forced fumble and one recovered fumble. [3], Southern Utah fielded its inaugural team in 1963 with Bruce Osborne as head coach,[4] remained an NAIA independent through 1968, then became a charter member of the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference (RMAC). The defense is undergoing a lot of change as well with redshirt junior Francis Bemiy being the most productive returning player. He led the Knights to the state championship game where they defeated Utah powerhouse Corner Canyon, 49-42. The seven football members include Dixie State and Tarleton State, who both moved up to the Division I level last summer, Southern Utah and the other four schools joining the league Texas schools Abilene Christian, Lamar, Sam Houston State and Stephen F. Austin, which are all moving over from the Southland Conference. The win-loss record doesnt matter to me right now, he said. DeLane Fitzgerald announced his first signing class as head football coach at Southern Utah University on Wednesday, as the Thunderbirds inked 23 recruits to national letters of intent. Coach Warren has been a cherished member of this institution and community for the last 14 years, SUU athletic director Debbie Corum said in a statement. Language links are at the top of the page across from the title. [7] The AWC folded after the 1995 season, and the Thunderbirds were 9231 (.288) overall in those three years. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania / Penn Treaty HS. [2] Lamb served as the head football coach at Southern Utah University (SUU) from 2007 to 2015. Southern Utah University football spring game photo gallery. On the other side of the defensive line, Strand was a 2x First Team Mountain East selection and Mountain East Defensive Player of the Year under Fitzgerald at Frostburg State. A 62-0 loss at the hands of Weber State was the final blow for head coach Demario Warren. Kelling started his coaching career at his alma mater, Minnesota State Mankato, from 1992-95, and spent the following two seasons at Augustana College in South Dakota. Starting with the 2022-23 school year, SUU will be exiting the Big Sky Conference and joining the Western Athletic Conference. Fitzgeralds confidence doesnt stop with his defense and offense, however, believing he has a great group of specialists going into the season as well. To continue to support his work, please subscribe to The Spectrum. From 2004-11, Kelling coached at the University of North Dakota where he faced the Thunderbirds on multiple occasions. We have to find the other half and then we have to find some depth., More:Southern Utah announces first signing class under coach DeLane Fitzgerald. McClure coached the Trailblazers from. Weve revamped our roster, he said. I know you guys are coming off a 1-10 season. The Thunderbirds play their home games on campus at Eccles Coliseum in Cedar City, Utah, and have been led by head coach DeLane Fitzgerald since 2021. Corum said the other members of the hiring committee also expressed similar sentiments, stating that they agreed he was the right person for the job. We ask that you consider turning off your ad blocker so we can deliver you the best experience possible while you are here. "We have a coaching staff that can coach and recruit with anyone in the country. More:Southern Utah University tabs DeLane Fitzgerald as next head football coach, We have some pieces, continued Fitzgerald. In Wednesday's practice, redshirt senior cornerback JT Thomas made a nice play on a deflected pass for an interception in 11 on 11 drills. No stranger to the state of Utah, Peterson comes to Southern Utah by way of Brigham Young University where he has worked with quarterbacks as an offensive analyst since 2019. All rights reserved. The Dolphins won 10 conference championships across multiple sports during Bates' tenure. "Coach Warren has been a cherished member of this institution and community for the last 14 years," Corumsaid. Most important, though, on top of being good coaches and good recruiters, we have a coaching staff made up of good people. Football The use of software that blocks ads hinders our ability to serve you the content you came here to enjoy. The SUU head coach feels that redshirt senior punter Jake Gerardi could be another NFL-bound player. Fitzgerald joked that part of Price's recruitment was that Price would hold off his honeymoon until after the spring season. The 2022 staff includes four coaches retained from the previous staff, and six new additions to SUU. The team will also be led by new Head Coach DeLane Fitzgerald who made the jump to the FCS level from NCAA Division II powerhouse Frostburg State University. SUU joined the Western Athletic Conference (WAC), already home to regional rival Utah Tech, in 2022. Our right guard and right tackle can play with the best of em, Fitzgerald said. With a history dating back to 1963, SUU currently competes in the NCAA Football Championship Subdivision[2] as a member of the United Athletic Conference. SUU parting ways with head football coach Demario Warren, Southern Utah University, return of football included in Western Athletic Conference expansion, SUU football conference schedule moved to spring 2021 after Big Sky announcement, Men's advocacy group, others put on high heels for sexual assault awareness walk in St. George, Getting to know your chakras: A guide for health and well-being. He and his wife Penny are the parents of five daughters. Fitzgerald is also high on the groundwork he and his staff have laid with the incoming freshmen. Robison, listed at 6-foot-1, 195 pounds, flashed his ability to extend plays and make good reads in the RPO game. I'm excited to build a great college football program with them.". John Kelling- Defensive Coordinator/Safeties Coach. Story by: Christian Esparza His best season came in 2021 when he led the team with 694 yards. Prior to that, he had been a coach in various capacities in the program since 2007. TicketSmarter: Official Ticket Resale Partner, George S. Eccles Sports Performance Center, Gerardi Earns Spot at Kansas City Chiefs Rookie Mini-Camp, ASUN-WAC Football Partnership Formally Rebrands As The United Athletic Conference, Southern Utah Football Spring Game Preview, Thunderbirds Football Signs Big '23 Class, Video Platform powered by CBS Sports Digital. The now-redshirt junior threw for 2,416 yards and nine touchdowns to go along with 13 interceptions. Needing to plug multiple gaps along the line has left spots open for competition. Ashby projects to play wide receiver for the Thunderbirds. Copyright 2023 Southern Utah University. Rosser played his college football at James Madison from 2000-01 and earned his bachelor's degree in kinesiology from JMU in 2003. Rosser also worked with the defensive backs at the University of Virginia-Wise from 2016-19. And this man did.. Aaron Brown. Athletic Director: Football Coaching Staff Will Brunson Tight Ends Aaron Fernandez Offensive Line DeLane Fitzgerald Head Coach Ryan Hunt Interior Defensive Line John Kelling Defensive Coordinator/Safeties Shawn Magginson Defensive Ends Shay McClure Linebackers Brady Measom Wide Receivers Blair Peterson Offensive Coordinator/Quarterbacks
