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. SUU had just five wins in Warrens final three seasons. 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 lost to rival Weber State last Saturday 62-0 to conclude their 2021 campaign. I'm excited to build a great college football program with them.". The team began spring practices on Monday, March 21, and the Spring Game allows a preview into what can be expected for next season. He also said he plans to actively recruit top athletes from Arizona, Nevada and Southern California. Fitzgerald has a knack for turning around struggling programs, and the Thunderbirds fit that bill. Copyright 2023 Southern Utah University. Demario has laid a strong foundation, Corum said in her statement, and we will begin work immediately to find the right person to continue building a successful program as we enter the Western Athletic Conference.. We completely revamped the safety position, the wide receiver position, the running back position and got some things going there that are pretty positive.. Southern Utah University coaches and sports staff members surround new SUU athletic director Doug Knuth after news conference announcing his hiring, Cedar City, Utah, Dec. 14, 2022 | Photo by Jeff Richards . Linebackers Coach and Special Teams Coordinator 435-586-5470 435-586-5470: shaymcclure@suu.edu: Shawn Magginson: Defensive Ends Coach 435-586-5470 435-586-5470: shawnmagginson@suu.edu: Ryan Hunt: Interior Defensive Line Coach/Director of Football Operations 435-586-5470 435-586-5470: hunt@suu.edu: Will Brunson: Tight Ends Coach Demario has laid a strong foundation and we will begin work immediately to find the right person to continue building a successful program as we enter the Western Athletic Conference.". 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. Coach Hunt has worked with both the offensive and defensive sides of the ball. Before joining the Thunderbird coaching staff, Tapasa served as defensive line coach at Sacramento State. 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. On the offensive line, right guard Lyle Santos is the only current player who started all 11 games last season. Joining Fitzgerald from Frostburg State, Magginson will work as the defensive ends coach at SUU. Claude Edward Lamb III [1] (born March 4, 1974) is an American college football coach and former player. Bemiy, alongside Frostburg State transfer Zach Strand, should be two difference-makers along the defensive line. The successful candidate will be responsible for managing all aspects of an NCAA Division III athletic program. Lockett-Smith makes the long trip to Utah from Philadelphia, where he was recognized as an All-Public First Team All-Star in both 2019 and 2020. 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. Robison, listed at 6-foot-1, 195 pounds, flashed his ability to extend plays and make good reads in the RPO game. More:Southern Utah University tabs DeLane Fitzgerald as next head football coach, We have some pieces, continued Fitzgerald. "Coach Warren has been a cherished member of this institution and community for the last 14 years," Corum said. The Thunderbirds have appeared in the FCS playoffs three times with an overall record of 03. Illinois Tech, an NCAA Division III program located in Chicago, is actively searching for a Head Coach Men's & Women's Swimming and Diving. 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. 13 talking about this. "The Southern Utah Football coaching staff couldn't be more excited about this year's signing day class," Fitzgerald said. John Kelling- Defensive Coordinator/Safeties Coach. 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. The Thunderbirds will begin their 11-game 2022 season at home against St. Thomas before facing a tall task against Utah in Salt Lake City. Price was out of Wednesdays practice due to his wedding on Thursday. Most important, though, on top of being good coaches and good recruiters, we have a coaching staff made up of good people. Jeff and his family enjoy swimming, camping, sightseeing, reading, and taking pictures. Our right guard and right tackle can play with the best of em, Fitzgerald said. Story by: Christian Esparza SUU is a caring campus community where students come to explore their interests and prepare for meaningful careers and life experiences . All rights reserved. Football SUU bolstered its defense at the safety position this offseason through transfers Mitchell Price arriving from BYU, Tre Caine from UNLV and Josh Dunn from Frostburg State. The defense is undergoing a lot of change as well with redshirt junior Francis Bemiy being the most productive returning player. Iglesiaswas named First Team All-Orange County after leading the state of California in sacks during the regular season. A nationwide search for Southern Utah's new head football coach will begin immediately. Former coaches, alumni hope to reignite magic of junior college Measom was a team captain for the Thunderbirds during his tenure and served on the leadership committee, along with putting up impressive stats in the wide receiver position. A native of Virginia, Fitzgerald played college football for James Madison University then started working as an assistant coach in 2000. The secondary will see the most change, returning practically none of the major contributors from 2021. The 2021 running back position was a revolving door for Southern Utah. Fitzgerald is less focused on the outcomes of games than he is on his team competing. The now-redshirt junior threw for 2,416 yards and nine touchdowns to go along with 13 interceptions. SUU football enters the 2022 season coming off a disappointing year that saw the Thunderbirds finish 1-10 in 2021. The end of the 2021 season marked the conclusion of Warren's sixth year as head coach of the Thunderbirds, and 14th year with the program overall. 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. Each one of today's signees brings a physical skill set and a mentality that our coaching staff is looking for. The program has been in steady decline over the past few years under Warren in terms of on-field results. CEDAR CITY, Utah Southern Utah University head football coach DeLane Fitzgerald has announced his coaching staff for the upcoming season. Warren leaves SUU with an overall record of 21-42, and led the T-Birds to a Big Sky Conference championshipin2017 during his tenure as head coach. After his remarks, Fitzgerald also fielded several questions from the media and football players. 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 Freshman class shines, Miller rises to occasion in Southern Utah 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. "He has elevated the football program in many ways and has positively impacted the lives of hundreds of young men. 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 Southern Utah University Thunderbirds will be looking for a new head football coach. Southern Utah Football (@SUUFB_) / Twitter [4] After 1985, Southern Utah moved up to NCAA Division II and joined the Western Football Conference (WFC). In the classroom, he was an AP Scholar and Commended Scholar for the 2022 National Merit Scholarship Program. Purcell will play defensive line at Southern Utah after successfully doing so for Bountiful High School in Bountiful, Utah. Needing to plug multiple gaps along the line has left spots open for competition. Davis led the pack with 71 carries and 313 yards. Sophomore running back Isaiah Williams ran the ball 32 times last season for 206 yards and scored four touchdowns, but looks to be the lead back now. Copyright St. George News, SaintGeorgeUtah.com LLC, 2021, all rights reserved. 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. (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.. And not promising national titles and not promising conference titles and stuff here today, but were going to be extremely competitive. 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. The intersquad scrimmage is set for Saturday, April 16, at 1 p.m and is free to the public. Copyright 2023 Deseret News Publishing Company. Bates went to Jacksonville after a two-year stint at Marshall University. Bemiy totaled 48 total tackles in 2021 and paced SUU in sacks (4) and TFLs (12.5). The thing with him and Zach Strand is theyve always won. While playing for the Thunderbirds, Hunt started 33 straight games from his sophomore to senior seasons, never missing a game during his career. Karris Davis, Isaiah Williams, Thomas Duckett, and David Moore III all received over 40 touches on the ground. From 2004-11, Kelling coached at the University of North Dakota where he faced the Thunderbirds on multiple occasions. We are aiming to build a solid foundation.. Jones was a 2x All-Big Sky First Team Selection and was an Associated Press FCS First Team All-American. From there, he took over at Frostburg State, where he guided the Bobcats from 18 wins during the eight years before his arrival to 62 over the next eight, including four seasons with 10 or more wins. The 2022 staff includes four coaches retained from the previous staff, and six new additions to SUU. Spring practices have been without the top two receiving targets, Ethan Bolingbroke and Brandon Schenks, who are both recovering from injuries. aaronmicha700@gmail.com. He also added one interception, one forced fumble and one recovered fumble. The win-loss record doesnt matter to me right now, he said. Aaron Brown. After his playing career, Brunson spent one season coaching the offensive line under Fitzgerald's leadership. 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. . Griffiths prepped just down the road from SUU at Crimson Cliffs High School in Washington, Utah. Coming off a 1-10 season and led by an overhauled coaching staff, foundational pieces for the rebuild may be starting to take shape. After one season with the Lobos, he transferred to Towson where he played quarterback from 2008-09. Ahead of the 2016 season Tapasa was brought to Cedar City to serve as SUU's Co-Defensive Coordinator and coach the linebacking unit. The Official Facebook Page for Southern Utah University Football #FocusFightFinish #TBirdNation Information on each signee, along with a link to the announcement of their signing, can be viewed below. [6] While in the WFC from 1986 to 1992, the Thunderbirds' overall record was 41341 (.546). Southern Utah Announces Football Coaching Change He was a two-time letter winner playing college football at both Grand Rapids Community College and Wayne State University. Hatitio will look to help bolster the SUU offensive line after a successful high school career at Juan Diego Catholic High School in Draper. 2022 will mark Fernandez's 14th season at Southern Utah, and 11th as a full-time assistant. Redshirt sophomore Aubrey Nellems notched 48 tackles as well and looks to see an increased role as the most experienced returning linebacker. Peterson played three years of college football, starting as a quarterback for the University of New Mexico in 2007. His best season came in 2021 when he led the team with 694 yards. 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 2022 staff includes four coaches retained from the previous staff, and six new additions to SUU. He said they will do things the right way, adding that his players will be diligently attending class, weightlifting sessions, study hall, meetings and practices. Enter your email below to start! Weve revamped our roster, he said. The 45-year-old Fitzgerald also talked about how important football has been to him throughout his life, starting at about the age of 7. 4 Year Degree. They were an independent for eight years,[8] then became a charter conference member again in 2004 with the Great West Conference (GWC). Copyright 2010 - 2023 StGeorgeUtah.com LLC, all rights reserved. Main Phone (435) 865-8355 Fax (435) 865-8078. He served as team captain of the track and field team and won his school's Student-Athlete Leadership Award and Community Service Award. 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. Starting under center for the Thunderbirds is Justin Miller, whose 2,416 passing yards were one of the few bright spots in a tough 2021 season. "We have a coaching staff that can coach and recruit with anyone in the country. Next season will bring a lot of change for SUU football as they move from the Big Sky Conference to the Western Athletic Conference. DeLane Fitzgerald comes to SUU with 22 years of college football coaching experience, including 13 as head coach, most recently at Frostburg State University, an NCAA Division II school in Maryland. "I am happy with the way our coaching staff came together," Fitzgerald said. 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. Follow Sean on Twitter @SeanEllertson. SUU will see how its crop of newcomers and returning players will mesh during their spring game on April 15. Southern Utah quarterback Justin Miller throws a pass during game against Arizona State on Thursday, Sept. 2, 2021, in Tempe, Ariz. Miller was one of the few bright spots on a Thunderbird team that finished the 2021 season with a 1-10 record. The Southern Utah University football team is a team in transition. The use of software that blocks ads hinders our ability to serve you the content you came here to enjoy. 225-771-3171. Kenan Smith - Wide Receivers Coach - Football Coaches Defensive Graduate Assistant. We ask that you consider turning off your ad blocker so we can deliver you the best experience possible while you are here. Top 5 stories on St. George News for Labor Day weekend. Warren was named head coach in 2016 after spending the two previous seasons as defensive coordinator. Rancho Cucamonga, California / Alta Loma HS. Would you like to have the day's news stories delivered right to your inbox every evening? At the beginning of his remarks, Fitzgerald joked how his luggage hadnt arrived in time, due to a flight cancellation. Our recruiting class is the sleeper group in the country, he said. Fitzgerald Announces SUU Football Coaching Staff - Southern Utah "Coach Warren has been a cherished member of this institution and community for the last 14 years," Corumsaid. CEDAR CITY - Southern Utah University and head football coach Demario Warren announced recently that they have mutually agreed to part . 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. 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. SUU joined the Western Athletic Conference (WAC), already home to regional rival Utah Tech, in 2022. All Rights Reserved, This Utah college football team is now looking for a new head coach. SUU football to kick off 2022 season with Spring Game 16 Utah softball gets good measuring stick in series against No. Additionally, Fitzgerald said the teams hes coached have been among the top leaders in sacks and making other big plays. 0:24 Southern Utah University football has announced the hiring of former Dixie State head coach Shay McClure as the team's linebackers coach. [9], In November 2010, Southern Utah announced its admission to the Big Sky Conference, effective in 2012. Miller has started 17 consecutive contests for SUU, giving Fitzgerald a seasoned quarterback. Southern Utah Thunderbirds football - Wikipedia All rights reserved. The Thunderbirds are one of five new teams being added to the WAC, which will have 13 teams after the expansion. sports@suunews.net He has elevated the football program in many ways and has positively impacted the lives of hundreds of young men. In 2015 he moved to the offensive line. All Rights Reserved, In a new league with a new coach, SUU embracing fresh start. CEDAR CITY, Utah - Southern Utah University Director of Athletics Debbie Corum announced Monday that the university and head football coach Demario Warren have mutually agreed to part ways. Copyright 2023 Deseret News Publishing Company. [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). 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. What theyve done in the past does not affect them now. Fitzgerald spoke of the multiplicity of offensive tactics he likes to employ, which he said will typically evolve depending on the players. Well have a football program thats based on a culture of competitiveness and competitive greatness.. In his three years with the Cougars, Price only tallied five total tackles, but the Pleasant Grove native will be a key fixture with plenty of young faces in the Thunderbird secondary. 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. The use of software that blocks ads hinders our ability to serve you the content you came here to enjoy. Our players have a better understanding of the offense, defense, and special teams (schemes). Before his brief stint at LHU, Kelling served as defensive coordinator and linebackers coach at Frostburg State University under coach Fitzgerald. Your California Privacy Rights / Privacy Policy. Anything we do, were going to finish what we start accountability, punctuality, discipline, all those things are really important to me..
Hulu Unique Error Id Player 2,
Rescue Kanzin Door Won't Open,
Articles S