Follow Sean on Twitter @SeanEllertson. 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. At the beginning of his remarks, Fitzgerald joked how his luggage hadnt arrived in time, due to a flight cancellation. Were going to show up for things. For all the latest on Southern Utah football, follow @SUUFB_ on Twitter, @SUUFB on Instagram, and like the Southern Utah Football Facebook page. 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. All rights reserved. Ashby projects to play wide receiver for the Thunderbirds. Fitzgerald believes that this team will be just the beginning of something great at SUU. Southern Utah. He runs around at safety and outside linebacker and hes 6-212 and can run like a deer.. "We have a coaching staff that can coach and recruit with anyone in the country. What theyve done in the past does not affect them now. Magginson was a four-year player for the Bobcat football team and appeared in all 13 games and made two starts as a senior. Information on each signee, along with a link to the announcement of their signing, can be viewed below. and will lead SUU in their first year in WAC play. "Coach Warren has been a cherished member of this institution and community for the last 14 years," Corumsaid. Its what I do.. DConti@huntsman.utah.edu: Jeff Rudy: Associate A.D. for Football Administration 801-581-8563 801-581-8563: jrudy@huntsman.utah.edu: Adam Fry: Director of Football Operations afry@huntsman.utah.edu: Doug Elisaia: Director of Strength and Conditioning for Football 801-581-4548 801-581-4548: delisaia@huntsman.utah.edu: Robert Blechen Rosser played his college football at James Madison from 2000-01 and earned his bachelor's degree in kinesiology from JMU in 2003. Who is new Runnin Ute Keba Keita and how is Utahs 2022-23 roster shaping up? As this goes on, getting these young men to buy in and we start running like a well-oiled machine, we will get more and more exciting.. Fitzgerald spoke of the multiplicity of offensive tactics he likes to employ, which he said will typically evolve depending on the players. Fitzgerald is also high on the groundwork he and his staff have laid with the incoming freshmen. Southern Utah University football helmet, Cedar City, Utah, Dec. 14, 2022 | Photo by Jeff Richards, St. George News / Cedar City News . 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. TicketSmarter: Official Ticket Resale Partner, George S. Eccles Sports Performance Center, Video Platform powered by CBS Sports Digital, Deputy Athletic Director for External Relations/COO, Senior Associate Athletic Director for Facilities and Events, Deputy Athletic Director for Finance & Administration, Senior Associate AD for Revenue Generation, Associate Athletic Director for Sports Medicine, Senior Associate Athletic Director for Development, Assistant Athletic Director for Sports Performance, Assistant Athletic Director for Sports Information and Communications (FB, GYM, SB), Director of Athletic Academic Performance, Orthopedic Surgery- Intermountain Healthcare, Assistant Director of Communications (SOC, MBB, M/WGOLF), General Manager-Van Wagner College-Southern Utah University Athletics, Offensive Coordinator/ Quarterbacks Coach, Running Backs Coach/Recruiting Coordinator, Linebackers Coach and Special Teams Coordinator, Interior Defensive Line Coach/Director of Football Operations, Graduate Assistant Strength and Conditioning, Assistant Coach (Multis, Hurdles, Pole Vault). [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). Since then, Tapasa has transitioned into a role as assistant coach overseeing the linebackers for Southern Utah. Copyright 2023 Southern Utah University. Rancho Cucamonga, California / Alta Loma HS. 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. In December 2022, he was named as the head football coach at the University of Northern Colorado. In his eight seasons at the helm of Frostburg State, Fitzgeralds teams had a combined record of 62-19, including 10-1 this year, when the Bobcats tied for first place in the Mountain East Conference. A big part of spring ball is the learning and getting a feel for what we want. 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. 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. Fitzgerald feels he has a strong offensive line, with top talent in redshirt sophomore Lyle Santos at right guard and Frostburg State transfer Brandon Dillard at right tackle. SOCCER SOFTBALL MEN'S TENNIS WOMEN'S TENNIS MEN'S/WOMEN'S TRACK & FIELD VOLLEYBALL 351 W. University Blvd, Cedar City, Utah 84720 Main Phone (435) 865-8355 Fax (435) 865-8078 Staff Directory Members By Category/Department Copyright 2023 Southern Utah University. 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. Would you like to have the day's news stories delivered right to your inbox every evening? Focus and consistency, if he can get those two down, hes going to be fine.. From 2004-11, Kelling coached at the University of North Dakota where he faced the Thunderbirds on multiple occasions. All rights reserved. "These 23 young men are the foundation on which we are going to build a great FCS football program. 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. In fact, the 2022 roster is slated to have about 40 freshmen. 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. Now what weve got to do is find the other five or six pieces on each side of the football. "I am happy with the way our coaching staff came together," Fitzgerald said. Tosh Wright and Jordan Jefferson each could add to the revamped backfield. In his time at WKU, Robison was on the practice squad and learned under record-setting quarterback Bailey Zappe. Williams added another four scores on just 32 attempts for 206 yards. 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. Coach Fernandez also served as the team's recruiting coordinator for 5 years. The Spring Game will start with a practice first at 1 p.m. and the intersquad game will start after an hour at the Eccles Coliseum and is free to attend. 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. The Thunderbirds feature a first-time Division I head coach in DeLane Fitzgerald, who moved across the country from D-II Frostburg State (Md.) 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. The use of software that blocks ads hinders our ability to serve you the content you came here to enjoy. Commitment to student-athletes and their academic success, as well as athletic . Speaking to players, students, alumni and members of the press and public during a half-hour introductory news conference inside SUUs student center, Fitzgerald promised to bring a culture of competitiveness to SUUs football program. UNLV wide receiver Steve Jenkins runs after a catch during game against San Diego State, Friday, Nov. 19, 2021, in Las Vegas. McClure coached the Trailblazers from. The defensive end led the team with four sacks and added 48 tackles last season. "I am happy with the way our coaching staff came together," Fitzgerald said. I'm excited to build a great college football program with them.". SUU will see how its crop of newcomers and returning players will mesh during their spring game on April 15. On the offensive line, right guard Lyle Santos is the only current player who started all 11 games last season. We have four or five good players on each side of the ball. SUU is a caring campus community where students come to explore their interests and prepare for meaningful careers and life experiences . 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. Smith comes to TSU after two seasons as the wide receivers coach and recruiting coordinator at Southern Utah. He served as team captain of the track and field team and won his school's Student-Athlete Leadership Award and Community Service Award. and will lead SUU in their first year in WAC play. Ahead of the 2016 season Tapasa was brought to Cedar City to serve as SUU's Co-Defensive Coordinator and coach the linebacking unit. [7] The AWC folded after the 1995 season, and the Thunderbirds were 9231 (.288) overall in those three years. 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. 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. The secondary will see the most change, returning practically none of the major contributors from 2021. In their absence, junior Dallin Brown provided one of the highlights with a one-handed grab during 11-on-11 drills. After his remarks, Fitzgerald also fielded several questions from the media and football players. He left the school as the winningest coach in program history. The move comes as SUU is just 1-10 this season, including 0-8 in Big Sky Conference play. Fitzgerald has a knack for turning around struggling programs, and the Thunderbirds fit that bill. It is important to me that everybody in this program gets a clean slate, said Fitzgerald. [4], In 1993, Southern Utah moved up to Division I-AA and joined the American West Conference (AWC) as a charter member. Kelling was named Football Gazette's Division II National Defensive Player of the Year in 1991 during his playing days. Football He has elevated the football program in many ways and has positively impacted the lives of hundreds of young men. Theyre going to be very, very good in four or five years.. In the classroom, he was an AP Scholar and Commended Scholar for the 2022 National Merit Scholarship Program. Copyright 2010 - 2023 StGeorgeUtah.com LLC, all rights reserved. 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 Claude Edward Lamb III [1] (born March 4, 1974) is an American college football coach and former player. Davis led the pack with 71 carries and 313 yards. Copyright St. George News, SaintGeorgeUtah.com LLC, 2021, all rights reserved. Davis led. 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. The program will enter the WAC next season. 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 Bemiy, alongside Frostburg State transfer Zach Strand, should be two difference-makers along the defensive line. The 2022 staff includes four coaches retained from the previous staff, and six new additions to SUU. His best season came in 2021 when he led the team with 694 yards. Thanks to the departure of Kobe Singleton, Fitzgerald will need to find another lockdown corner. Illinois Tech, an NCAA Division III program located in Chicago, is actively searching for a Head Coach Men's & Women's Swimming and Diving. In 2017, Southern Utah won their second Big Sky title, finishing the regular season at 92, with wins over four ranked (FCS) teams: Northern Iowa, Weber State, Eastern Washington, and NAU. 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. All rights reserved. He also said he plans to actively recruit top athletes from Arizona, Nevada and Southern California. During his prep career, Purcell was an All-State Honorable Mention and two-time First Team All-Region selection. [6] While in the WFC from 1986 to 1992, the Thunderbirds' overall record was 41341 (.546). Fitzgerald also said he plans to focus on the 15, meaning the Interstate 15 corridor that bisects Utah, as the starting geographic basis for the teams recruitment efforts. 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. Hes going to play safety and hes going to run around and make 40-60 tackles for us,Fitzgerald said. 225-771-3171. ricky.jackson@subr.edu. We are aiming to build a solid foundation.. USACollegiate football commissioner Mark Brady, far left, and co-founder Dave Arslanian, far right, at a press conference, St. George, Utah, April 18, 2023 | Photo by E. George Goold, St. George News The Southern Utah University football team is a team in transition. Thats because Fitzgerald is no stranger to turning programs around. The next time Southern Utah football takes the field at Eccles Coliseum, it will do so as a member of the Western Athletic Conference with the school set to join the new league in July of 2022. Along with its game against Utah, SUU will play two other in-state games, both against fellow WAC foe Utah Tech with the initial matchup coming at home and a second on the road. He finished fourth on the team with 46 tackles, including four tackles for loss and 1.5 sacks. He also added one interception, one forced fumble and one recovered fumble. With a new coaching staff working to establish a winning culture, veteran players are expected to lead by example. If we line up and we are competitive and we play well, well win our fair share of games. All Rights Reserved, This Utah college football team is now looking for a new head coach. The Southern Utah University football team is a team in transition. Southern Utah University and head football coach Demario Warren have mutually agreed to part ways, per a press release from the school on Monday. 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. We ask that you consider turning off your ad blocker so we can deliver you the best experience possible while you are here. The team began spring practices on Monday, March 21, and the . 2022 will mark Fernandez's 14th season at Southern Utah, and 11th as a full-time assistant. Joseph McWilliams. But if youre trying to break it down, were going to be 45% run, 45% pass, and then the jet sweep stuff and option will be about 10%, he said. 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. Being competitive 11 straight games will be successful for me.. Fairchild was a two-time First Team All-League football and basketball player, and holds multiple school records in track and field. Top 5 stories on St. George News for Labor Day weekend. Coach Fitzgerald even admitted that players sticking around on the roster may not have the same roles that they did in the fall last year. The 2022 staff includes four coaches retained from the previous staff, and six new additions to SUU. Robison was graded as a three-star quarterback in the 2020 cycle, and the 73rd best dual-threat quarterback in the class. Newly hired Southern Utah University football coach DeLane Fitzgerald is flanked by SUU Athletic Director Debbie Corum, SUU Interim President Mindy Benson and SUU cheerleaders, Cedar. We go into games trying to block a punt and trying to return a punt for a touchdown, he said, calling such plays the quickest way to win a football game., We will be exciting, he added. Thunderbirds. Also showing flashes at left guard is redshirt junior Artese Gregory. Weve revamped our roster, he said. Sanderswas a First Team All-Region performer for the Wasps at wide receiver. Blair Peterson- Offensive Coordinator/Quarterbacks Coach. 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. [2] Lamb served as the head football coach at Southern Utah University (SUU) from 2007 to 2015. Hunt will be in his 18th season when the T-Birds kickoff the 2022 schedule. 16 Utah softball gets good measuring stick in series against No. 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 averaged just 2.9 yards per carry on the ground. Sean Ellertson is a sports reporter for the St. George Spectrum & Daily News. Jones was a 2x All-Big Sky First Team Selection and was an Associated Press FCS First Team All-American. Griffiths prepped just down the road from SUU at Crimson Cliffs High School in Washington, Utah. Defensive Graduate Assistant. Price was out of Wednesdays practice due to his wedding on Thursday. Purcell will play defensive line at Southern Utah after successfully doing so for Bountiful High School in Bountiful, Utah. Coach Hunt has worked with both the offensive and defensive sides of the ball. 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 now-redshirt junior threw for 2,416 yards and nine touchdowns to go along with 13 interceptions. The Thunderbird football program got longer, stronger and faster today.". With Davis, Duckett, and Moore III all off the 2022 roster, the door is open for Williams to become the go-to option. Football Information on each individual coach can be readbelow. The successful candidate will be responsible for managing all aspects of an NCAA Division III athletic program. The Sammamish, Washington native led Eastlake High School to a 9-2 record as a senior under center. Robison, listed at 6-foot-1, 195 pounds, flashed his ability to extend plays and make good reads in the RPO game. Outside of my wife and kids, my three beautiful daughters I dont think about anything else but football, he said. The American Samoa native also spent time coaching at Western Oregon, Eastern Oregon and Humboldt State. (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.. He also spent 2016 as the tight ends coach at Florida International, where he mentored NFL tight end Jonu Smith. Your California Privacy Rights / Privacy Policy. More:Southern Utah University tabs DeLane Fitzgerald as next head football coach, We have some pieces, continued Fitzgerald. 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. We ask that you consider turning off your ad blocker so we can deliver you the best experience possible while you are here. Before joining the Thunderbird coaching staff, Tapasa served as defensive line coach at Sacramento State. 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. Copyright 2023 Deseret News Publishing Company. 2 UCLA, High school boys soccer: 4A/3A/2A state tournament scores and schedules, Utah States Logan Bonner has 2 tryout chances to earn himself an NFL contract. 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. Collin Gardner has played really well at the center and tackle position, Fitzgerald said. SUU is hopeful Fitzgerald can produce similar results in Cedar City. April 16, 2022 - by Chevy Blackburn. (He) played for us last year at Frostburg and had 20 or 30 tackles as a true freshman, Fitzgerald said. 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. 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 "The Southern Utah Football coaching staff couldn't be more excited about this year's signing day class," Fitzgerald said. A native of Virginia, Fitzgerald played college football for James Madison University then started working as an assistant coach in 2000. His impact on Frostburg State was unprecedented. Our recruiting class is the sleeper group in the country, he said. 13 talking about this. He also spent time at Michigan State and Wayne State. Theyve got a chance to prove themselves to a new coaching staff.. Lynch was a First Team All-CIF Southern selection in 2021, and First Team All-Palomares League in 2019, 20 and 21. The Thunderbirds earned the eighth seed in the FCS playoffs; Warren was the conference coach of the year and was a finalist for the Eddie Robinson Coach of the Year Award. The Thunderbirds have appeared in the FCS playoffs three times with an overall record of 03. The junior running back brings physicality and size to the backfield at 6-foot-1, 220 pounds. "Coach Warren has been a cherished. "That's our deepest group right there in terms of talent, Fitzgerald said. 4 Year Degree. [3] History [ edit] As per usual, the school said a nationwide search for Warrens replacement will begin immediately. The new faces for the Thunderbirds are Tye Hiatt, Ryan Payne, and Brandon Perkins. [4] After 1985, Southern Utah moved up to NCAA Division II and joined the Western Football Conference (WFC). [10], The Thunderbirds won their first Big Sky championship in 2015, defeating Northern Arizona 4941 in the regular season finale at Cedar City. 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.. 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. BYU wide receiver Kody Epps is reportedly heading to the transfer portal, No. Director of Football Operations / Player Personnel. The T-Birds went 1-10 and 0-8 in Big Sky play in 2021. Before his brief stint at LHU, Kelling served as defensive coordinator and linebackers coach at Frostburg State University under coach Fitzgerald. Story by: Christian Esparza 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. Before BYU, Peterson was an offensive quality control assistant at Rice for two seasons. 351 W. University Blvd, Cedar City, Utah 84720 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. sports@suunews.net Well have a football program thats based on a culture of competitiveness and competitive greatness.. Corum said that throughout the hiring process, because we had such great candidates, I just kept hoping that somebody would separate themselves. To continue to support his work, please subscribe to The Spectrum. Acord comes to Cedar City by way of Northridge High School in North Salt Lake, Utah. In addition to his degree from MSU Mankato, he holds a master's degree in recreation and sports science from Ohio University. The SUU head coach feels that redshirt senior punter Jake Gerardi could be another NFL-bound player. Southern Utah University football spring game photo gallery. . Us older guys just have to make sure we set the standard high and consistently do the right things everyday, said redshirt sophomore Lyle Santos. If you see me yell or make funny faces, its because the pins in these pants have stuck me.. SUU had just five wins in Warrens final three seasons. 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. Hatitio will look to help bolster the SUU offensive line after a successful high school career at Juan Diego Catholic High School in Draper. Joining Fitzgerald from Frostburg State, Magginson will work as the defensive ends coach at SUU. CEDAR CITY - Southern Utah University and head football coach Demario Warren announced recently that they have mutually agreed to part . The OFFICIAL YouTube account for Southern Utah University. 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.
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