SUU joined the Western Athletic Conference (WAC), already home to regional rival Utah Tech, in 2022. He also spent 2016 as the tight ends coach at Florida International, where he mentored NFL tight end Jonu Smith. Bemiy, alongside Frostburg State transfer Zach Strand, should be two difference-makers along the defensive line. 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. 1/11/2022 4:36:00 PM. Who is new Runnin Ute Keba Keita and how is Utahs 2022-23 roster shaping up? 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. "I am happy with the way our coaching staff came together," Fitzgerald said. The Southern Utah Thunderbirds football (also referred to as the SUU Thunderbirds) program is a college football team that represents Southern Utah University (SUU). Thanks to the departure of Kobe Singleton, Fitzgerald will need to find another lockdown corner. Claude Edward Lamb III [1] (born March 4, 1974) is an American college football coach and former player. [3] History [ edit] The use of software that blocks ads hinders our ability to serve you the content you came here to enjoy. The Thunderbird football program got longer, stronger and faster today.". 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. Before BYU, Peterson was an offensive quality control assistant at Rice for two seasons. Griffiths was named the 4A Defensive Player of the Year as a linebacker and earned First Team All-State honors. The Official Facebook Page for Southern Utah University Football #FocusFightFinish #TBirdNation After his playing career, Brunson spent one season coaching the offensive line under Fitzgerald's leadership. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania / Penn Treaty HS. CEDAR CITY - Southern Utah University and head football coach Demario Warren announced recently that they have mutually agreed to part . McClure coached the Trailblazers from. We asked each of our five candidates to take 90 minutes and tell us what they would do with the program, Corum said, referring to the final group of applicants. The American Samoa native also spent time coaching at Western Oregon, Eastern Oregon and Humboldt State. 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. After working with the defense for his first four years coach Fernandez made the jump to the offensive side of the ball in 2013 where he coached the Tight Ends and Coordinated the Special Teams for two years. 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. Lynch was a First Team All-CIF Southern selection in 2021, and First Team All-Palomares League in 2019, 20 and 21. With Davis, Duckett, and Moore III all off the 2022 roster, the door is open for Williams to become the go-to option. Gardner, a redshirt freshman, was Fitzgeralds biggest surprise along the offensive line. 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. Southern Utah Football @SUUFB_ Jan 11 Introducing your SUU football coaching staff Hit the link to see which new coaches will be leading our Thunderbirds in 2022 suutbirds.com/news/2022/1/11 # StormTheSky 3 replies 23 retweets 157 likes Tyler Smith Retweeted Nick Lober @LoberNick Jan 11 They also have three young grandsons. Robison, listed at 6-foot-1, 195 pounds, flashed his ability to extend plays and make good reads in the RPO game. Another Utah native, Kelley was the 6A Co-Defensive Player of the Year and First Team All-State selection as a defensive end. Fitzgeralds staff at Frostburg consistently led D-II in tackles for loss and sacks, which should only drive up Bemiys potential. 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. And not promising national titles and not promising conference titles and stuff here today, but were going to be extremely competitive. [4] After 1985, Southern Utah moved up to NCAA Division II and joined the Western Football Conference (WFC). New head coach DeLane Fitzgerald addresses his team following Wednesday's practice. Fitzgerald spoke of the multiplicity of offensive tactics he likes to employ, which he said will typically evolve depending on the players. They were an independent for eight years,[8] then became a charter conference member again in 2004 with the Great West Conference (GWC). Jones was a 2x All-Big Sky First Team Selection and was an Associated Press FCS First Team All-American. 13 talking about this. 11/15/2021 9:23:00 AM. [10], The Thunderbirds won their first Big Sky championship in 2015, defeating Northern Arizona 4941 in the regular season finale at Cedar City. 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. Before meeting coach Fitzgerald in Maryland, Kelling coached at the University of Mary in North Dakota for two seasons in various roles. More:Demario Warren out as Southern Utah head football coach after six seasons. Copyright 2023 Southern Utah University. After his remarks, Fitzgerald also fielded several questions from the media and football players. 0:24 Southern Utah University football has announced the hiring of former Dixie State head coach Shay McClure as the team's linebackers coach. April 16, 2022 - by Chevy Blackburn. A native of Erda, Utah, he is a graduate of Tooele High School, where he was an all-state and all-region performer. Copyright 2023 Southern Utah University. 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. Jeff and his family enjoy swimming, camping, sightseeing, reading, and taking pictures. In their absence, junior Dallin Brown provided one of the highlights with a one-handed grab during 11-on-11 drills. 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. His best season came in 2021 when he led the team with 694 yards. aaronmicha700@gmail.com. All rights reserved. A nationwide search for Southern Utah's new head football coach will begin immediately. . 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. 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. 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. The now-redshirt junior threw for 2,416 yards and nine touchdowns to go along with 13 interceptions. Like Magginson, Brunson comes to Southern Utah by way of Frostburg State as both a player and coach. BYU wide receiver Kody Epps is reportedly heading to the transfer portal, No. At the beginning of his remarks, Fitzgerald joked how his luggage hadnt arrived in time, due to a flight cancellation. SUU football enters the 2022 season coming off a disappointing year that saw the Thunderbirds finish 1-10 in 2021. 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. Rosser played his college football at James Madison from 2000-01 and earned his bachelor's degree in kinesiology from JMU in 2003. 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. Kelling coached the defensive backs in his first two seasons before becoming the team's co-defensive coordinator in 2006. As for the rest of the roster, very few notable players are returning. [2] Lamb served as the head football coach at Southern Utah University (SUU) from 2007 to 2015. 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. The defense is undergoing a lot of change as well with redshirt junior Francis Bemiy being the most productive returning player. 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. The move comes as SUU is just 1-10 this season, including 0-8 in Big Sky Conference play. The 2021 running back position was a revolving door for Southern Utah. Griffiths prepped just down the road from SUU at Crimson Cliffs High School in Washington, Utah. The use of software that blocks ads hinders our ability to serve you the content you came here to enjoy. Before joining the Thunderbird coaching staff, Tapasa served as defensive line coach at Sacramento State. 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. 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. Blair Peterson- Offensive Coordinator/Quarterbacks Coach. The program will enter the WAC next season. Language links are at the top of the page across from the title. The secondary will see the most change, returning practically none of the major contributors from 2021. The program has been in steady decline over the past few years under Warren in terms of on-field results. The SUU head coach feels that redshirt senior punter Jake Gerardi could be another NFL-bound player. Redshirt sophomore Aubrey Nellems notched 48 tackles as well and looks to see an increased role as the most experienced returning linebacker. 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 new T-Birds are made up of 15 signees straight from high school and eight transferring from previous colleges. 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.". We have four or five good players on each side of the ball. The use of software that blocks ads hinders our ability to serve you the content you came here to enjoy. Theres a lot of players in this room. "That's our deepest group right there in terms of talent, Fitzgerald said. Miller is now joined in the quarterback room by redshirt freshmen Jackson Berry and Rand Jensen, and Western Kentucky transfer Grady Robison. Rosser also worked with the defensive backs at the University of Virginia-Wise from 2016-19. The Southern Utah University football team is a team in transition. Before his brief stint at LHU, Kelling served as defensive coordinator and linebackers coach at Frostburg State University under coach Fitzgerald. The intersquad scrimmage is set for Saturday, April 16, at 1 p.m and is free to the public. [5] The Thunderbirds were members of the RMAC from 1969 to 1985, with an overall record of 86733 (.540) during that time. From 2004-11, Kelling coached at the University of North Dakota where he faced the Thunderbirds on multiple occasions. Iglesias was a three-year starter for Orange. Since then, Tapasa has transitioned into a role as assistant coach overseeing the linebackers for Southern Utah. The Thunderbirds, however, get a fresh start in 2022 when a new era begins under recently hired head coach DeLane Fitzgerald in the schools first season in the Western Athletic Conference. 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. Thats because Fitzgerald is no stranger to turning programs around. Though a newcomer at the school, he comes to Cedar City with plenty of coaching experience and high expectations. Copyright St. George News, SaintGeorgeUtah.com LLC, 2021, all rights reserved. He led a Southern Virginia team to its second-ever winning season in 2013 with an 8-2 record. Bates joins Southern Utah after serving one season as the strength and conditioning coach for Hampton University. Hes going to play safety and hes going to run around and make 40-60 tackles for us,Fitzgerald said. The junior running back brings physicality and size to the backfield at 6-foot-1, 220 pounds. 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. Main Phone (435) 865-8355 Fax (435) 865-8078. 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. 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 2022 staff includes four coaches retained from the previous staff, and six new additions to SUU. Fitzgerald is also high on the groundwork he and his staff have laid with the incoming freshmen. A big part of spring ball is the learning and getting a feel for what we want. Brunson played quarterback for the Bobcats in 2019, throwing for 2,067 yards and 18 touchdowns while adding three more touchdowns on the ground. In fact, the 2022 roster is slated to have about 40 freshmen. The new faces for the Thunderbirds are Tye Hiatt, Ryan Payne, and Brandon Perkins. Copyright 2010 - 2023 StGeorgeUtah.com LLC, all rights reserved. Hunt's responsibilities in 2022 will be changed to coaching the interior of the defensive line in addition to serving as the program's director of football operations. Anything we do, were going to finish what we start accountability, punctuality, discipline, all those things are really important to me.. 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. I'm excited to build a great college football program with them.". Follow Sean on Twitter @SeanEllertson. The team began spring practices on Monday, March 21, and the Spring Game allows a preview into what can be expected for next season. Coach Fernandez also served as the team's recruiting coordinator for 5 years. 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.. 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. 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.. The win-loss record doesnt matter to me right now, he said. The 2022 staff includes four coaches retained from the previous staff, and six new additions to SUU. The Thunderbirds have appeared in the FCS playoffs three times with an overall record of 03. The intersquad scrimmage is set for Saturday, April 16, at 1 p.m and is free to the public. Each one of today's signees brings a physical skill set and a mentality that our coaching staff is looking for. 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. The only thing thats going to stop Isaiah Williams is Isaiah Williams, Fitzgerald said. 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. Davis led the pack with 71 carries and 313 yards. TicketSmarter: Official Ticket Resale Partner, George S. Eccles Sports Performance Center, Video Platform powered by CBS Sports Digital, 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. After going 9-3 in Warrens second season in 2017 (6-5 in his first) and winning the Big Sky title, SUU has gone a paltry 6-34 since. Copyright 2023 Deseret News Publishing Company. 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. What theyve done in the past does not affect them now. Information on each individual coach can be readbelow. Ryan Hunt- Interior Defensive Line Coach/Director of Football Operations. Karris Davis, Isaiah Williams, Thomas Duckett, and David Moore III all received over 40 touches on the ground. What Utah college football players have entered the transfer portal this spring? All Rights Reserved, In a new league with a new coach, SUU embracing fresh start. The T-birds lost to rival Weber State last Saturday 62-0 to conclude their 2021 campaign. Overall, the T-Birds went 21-42 under Warren. Top 5 stories on St. George News for Labor Day weekend. Magginson spent four years as a coach on the FSU staff, working with the entirety of the defensive line. Weve revamped our roster, he said. Halewas named Second Team All-Trinity League for his work on the field and Scholar Athlete of the Year in the classroom with a 4.29 GPA. 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 Guys, well not be 1-10 again, OK, he said. Williams added another four scores on just 32 attempts for 206 yards. 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. 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. Southern Utah. Football 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 Well have a football program thats based on a culture of competitiveness and competitive greatness.. Ashby projects to play wide receiver for the Thunderbirds. [6] While in the WFC from 1986 to 1992, the Thunderbirds' overall record was 41341 (.546). 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. In 2021, Justin Miller lined up under center for SUU. Commitment to student-athletes and their academic success, as well as athletic . The roster itself is seeing a lot of fluctuation as well with old faces entering the transfer portal and a lot of new players coming in. We still have a long way to go but were better. The Southern Utah University Thunderbirds will be looking for a new head football coach. Our right guard and right tackle can play with the best of em, Fitzgerald said. Bates went to Jacksonville after a two-year stint at Marshall University. 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. The WAC already includes two other Utah teams, namely Dixie State University and Utah Valley University. Well, about halfway through his presentation, all I can think of is, I would give anything in the world right now if I could become an 18-year-old man and come play for him. And thats when I knew we had the right person that we were interviewing.. Iglesiaswas named First Team All-Orange County after leading the state of California in sacks during the regular season. We ask that you consider turning off your ad blocker so we can deliver you the best experience possible while you are here. After one season with the Lobos, he transferred to Towson where he played quarterback from 2008-09. 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. (He) played for us last year at Frostburg and had 20 or 30 tackles as a true freshman, Fitzgerald said. Acord comes to Cedar City by way of Northridge High School in North Salt Lake, Utah. With a new coaching staff working to establish a winning culture, veteran players are expected to lead by example. 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. We ask that you consider turning off your ad blocker so we can deliver you the best experience possible while you are here. 351 W. University Blvd, Cedar City, Utah 84720 Peterson played three years of college football, starting as a quarterback for the University of New Mexico in 2007. He runs around at safety and outside linebacker and hes 6-212 and can run like a deer.. Assistant Wide Receivers Coach. And then after we show up, were going to work our rear ends off to be really, really good while were there., He said he promised SUU, Cedar City and Southern Utah that everything they do is going to be done at an extremely high rate., Were going to finish what we start. The Dolphins won 10 conference championships across multiple sports during Bates' tenure. The Thunderbirds are one of five new teams being added to the WAC, which will have 13 teams after the expansion. Cox participated in multiple high school all-star events, including the Crab Bowl and Eastern Shore Bowl Game in Maryland. 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 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. Also showing flashes at left guard is redshirt junior Artese Gregory. 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. Corum said that throughout the hiring process, because we had such great candidates, I just kept hoping that somebody would separate themselves. 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. 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. Moore had four touchdowns on 48 carries, while Duckett had 179 yards on 54 touches. Were going to show up for things. He has elevated the football program in many ways and has positively impacted the lives of hundreds of young men. All rights reserved. Southern Utah University football helmet, Cedar City, Utah, Dec. 14, 2022 | Photo by Jeff Richards, St. George News / Cedar City News . The signees were: Elijah Burns / RB / 5-11 / 205 / William & Mary, Brandon Dillard / OL / 6-4 / 260 / Frostburg State, Micah Pettit / K / 6-1 / 175 / Lafayette College, Mitchell Price / DB / 6-0 / 195 / Brigham Young, Jackson Rigby / TE / 6-4 / 230 / Utah State, Grady Robison / QB / 6-1 / 195 / Western Kentucky, Zach Strand / DL / 5-10 / 250 / Frostburg State. Theyre going to be very, very good in four or five years.. Theyve been winners in college and now theyre graduate transfers, so they bring some much-needed leadership.. After playing on the varsity squad for four seasons, Lynch was honored as both the Offensive MVP and Team MVP. His impact on Frostburg State was unprecedented. 4 Year Degree. He also said he plans to actively recruit top athletes from Arizona, Nevada and Southern California. The team began spring practices on Monday, March 21, and the . 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. [9], In November 2010, Southern Utah announced its admission to the Big Sky Conference, effective in 2012. 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. All rights reserved. His first head coaching job was at Southern Virginia from 2009-13, after which he became the head coach of Frostburg State. In 2015 he moved to the offensive line. Before the regular season rolls around in late summer, Southern Utah University football will host its Spring Game to culminate the spring training season. Offensively, starting quarterback Justin Miller is returning alongside his leading receivers Ethan Bolingbroke and Brandon Schenks. 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. 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. "We have a coaching staff that can coach and recruit with anyone in the country. The thing with him and Zach Strand is theyve always won. 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. Aaron Brown. On the offensive line, right guard Lyle Santos is the only current player who started all 11 games last season. SUU averaged just 2.9 yards per carry on the ground. In three years with the Rebels he amassed 1,159 receiving yards. Fitzgerald is less focused on the outcomes of games than he is on his team competing. Copyright 2023 Southern Utah University. Jenkins transferred to Southern Utah and will help bolster the Thunderbirds receiving corps in 2022. All rights reserved. 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.
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