For all the latest on Southern Utah football, follow @SUUFB_ on Twitter, @SUUFB on Instagram, and like the Southern Utah Football Facebook page. 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 SUU head coach feels that redshirt senior punter Jake Gerardi could be another NFL-bound player. During his prep career, Purcell was an All-State Honorable Mention and two-time First Team All-Region selection. 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. (He) played for us last year at Frostburg and had 20 or 30 tackles as a true freshman, Fitzgerald said. Warren was named head coach in 2016 after spending the two previous seasons as defensive coordinator. "We have a coaching staff that can coach and recruit with anyone in the country. Southern Utah University and head football coach Demario Warren have mutually agreed to part ways, per a press release from the school on Monday. 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 In fact, the 2022 roster is slated to have about 40 freshmen. After his remarks, Fitzgerald also fielded several questions from the media and football players. Jeff is a longtime journalist and secondary school teacher. Bates joins Southern Utah after serving one season as the strength and conditioning coach for Hampton University. Before BYU, Peterson was an offensive quality control assistant at Rice for two seasons. 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. Lynch was a First Team All-CIF Southern selection in 2021, and First Team All-Palomares League in 2019, 20 and 21. They also have three young grandsons. Magginson spent four years as a coach on the FSU staff, working with the entirety of the defensive line. One of those positives is UNLV transfer Steve Jenkins at wide receiver. The Thunderbirds feature a first-time Division I head coach in DeLane Fitzgerald, who moved across the country from D-II Frostburg State (Md.) Kelling coached the defensive backs in his first two seasons before becoming the team's co-defensive coordinator in 2006. The successful candidate will be responsible for managing all aspects of an NCAA Division III athletic program. The spring game will offer a glimpse into what the quarterback situation may look like. Davis led the pack with 71 carries and 313 yards. Next season will bring a lot of change for SUU football as they move from the Big Sky Conference to the Western Athletic Conference. Focus and consistency, if he can get those two down, hes going to be fine.. 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. 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.. Fernandez joined the staff as an undergraduate assistant in 2009 following a stellar career as a Thunderbird player. All rights reserved. Collin Gardner has played really well at the center and tackle position, Fitzgerald said. 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. Williams added another four scores on just 32 attempts for 206 yards. He led the Knights to the state championship game where they defeated Utah powerhouse Corner Canyon, 49-42. Hunt will be in his 18th season when the T-Birds kickoff the 2022 schedule. Coach Fernandez also served as the team's recruiting coordinator for 5 years. Southern Utah. The Thunderbirds new coach is confident that he and his staff can make thenecessary changes to turn things around. Bemiy totaled 48 total tackles in 2021 and paced SUU in sacks (4) and TFLs (12.5). The use of software that blocks ads hinders our ability to serve you the content you came here to enjoy. 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. 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. Southern Utah football spring practices: Thunderbirds rebuilding on the Illinois Tech, an NCAA Division III program located in Chicago, is actively searching for a Head Coach Men's & Women's Swimming and Diving. The secondary will see the most change, returning practically none of the major contributors from 2021. 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. Director of Football Operations / Player Personnel. He and his wife Penny are the parents of five daughters. The intersquad scrimmage is set for Saturday, April 16, at 1 p.m and is free to the public. (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.. 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 (@SUUFB_) / Twitter 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. "He has elevated the football program in many ways and has positively impacted the lives of hundreds of young men. [3] History [ edit] CEDAR CITY Southern Utah Universitys newly hired football coach received a warm welcome from players, fans and university officials on Thursday afternoon. That number was good for fifth on the team. A nationwide search for Southern Utah's new head football coach will begin immediately. The Southern Utah University Thunderbirds will be looking for a new head football coach. Information on each individual coach can be readbelow. 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. In 2015 he moved to the offensive line. Sean Ellertson is a sports reporter for the St. George Spectrum & Daily News. 4 Year Degree. Top 5 stories on St. George News for Labor Day weekend. Griffiths was named the 4A Defensive Player of the Year as a linebacker and earned First Team All-State honors. From 2004-11, Kelling coached at the University of North Dakota where he faced the Thunderbirds on multiple occasions. 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. 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. The T-birds lost to rival Weber State last Saturday 62-0 to conclude their 2021 campaign. [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]. The Southern Utah Thunderbirds football (also referred to as the SUU Thunderbirds) program is a college football team that represents Southern Utah University (SUU). What a move to the WAC means for Southern Utah athletics UNLV wide receiver Steve Jenkins runs after a catch during game against San Diego State, Friday, Nov. 19, 2021, in Las Vegas. Claude Edward Lamb III [1] (born March 4, 1974) is an American college football coach and former player. The use of software that blocks ads hinders our ability to serve you the content you came here to enjoy. The use of software that blocks ads hinders our ability to serve you the content you came here to enjoy. 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.. 2023 Football Roster - Southern Utah University Athletics. . Corum said that throughout the hiring process, because we had such great candidates, I just kept hoping that somebody would separate themselves. 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. BYU wide receiver Kody Epps is reportedly heading to the transfer portal, No. 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. CEDAR CITY, Utah - The Southern Utah Thunderbirds have announced three new additions to Coach DeLane Fitzgerald's coaching staff for the upcoming year.. He graduated from SUU with a master's of accountancy in 2018. Coming off a 1-10 season and led by an overhauled coaching staff, foundational pieces for the rebuild may be starting to take shape. We ask that you consider turning off your ad blocker so we can deliver you the best experience possible while you are here. Language links are at the top of the page across from the title. Starting with the 2022-23 school year, SUU will be exiting the Big Sky Conference and joining the Western Athletic Conference. The junior running back brings physicality and size to the backfield at 6-foot-1, 220 pounds. He finished fourth on the team with 46 tackles, including four tackles for loss and 1.5 sacks. Singleton transferred to Liberty following the departure of Demario Warren. Another Utah native, Kelley was the 6A Co-Defensive Player of the Year and First Team All-State selection as a defensive end. Davis led. Demario Warren, SUU mutually agree to part ways - Deseret News What theyve done in the past does not affect them now. I know you guys are coming off a 1-10 season. On the offensive line, right guard Lyle Santos is the only current player who started all 11 games last season. We completely revamped the safety position, the wide receiver position, the running back position and got some things going there that are pretty positive.. In addition to his degree from MSU Mankato, he holds a master's degree in recreation and sports science from Ohio University. [2] Lamb served as the head football coach at Southern Utah University (SUU) from 2007 to 2015. The Southern Utah University Thunderbirds will be looking for a new head football coach. 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. 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 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. Story by: Christian Esparza He left the school as the winningest coach in program history. Jones was a 2x All-Big Sky First Team Selection and was an Associated Press FCS First Team All-American. The Official Facebook Page for Southern Utah University Football #FocusFightFinish #TBirdNation 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. He was named First Team All-State by the Deseret News as well as First Team All-Region. Also showing flashes at left guard is redshirt junior Artese Gregory. All Rights Reserved, This Utah college football team is now looking for a new head coach. Football - Southern Utah University Athletics The Thunderbirds feature a first-time Division I head coach in DeLane Fitzgerald, who moved across the country from D-II Frostburg State (Md.) Who is new Runnin Ute Keba Keita and how is Utahs 2022-23 roster shaping up? The school announced Monday that SUU and Demario Warren have mutually agreed to part ways after six seasons. [6] While in the WFC from 1986 to 1992, the Thunderbirds' overall record was 41341 (.546). With the success, head coach Ed Lamb joined the staff at Brigham Young in Provo and defensive coordinator Demario Warren was promoted.[11]. While playing for the Thunderbirds, Hunt started 33 straight games from his sophomore to senior seasons, never missing a game during his career. The win-loss record doesnt matter to me right now, he said. Being competitive 11 straight games will be successful for me.. SUU joined the Western Athletic Conference (WAC), already home to regional rival Utah Tech, in 2022. Southern Utah head coach Demario Warren shouts to his team during game against Utah Thursday, Sept. 1, 2016, in Salt Lake City. Offensively, starting quarterback Justin Miller is returning alongside his leading receivers Ethan Bolingbroke and Brandon Schenks. Like Magginson, Brunson comes to Southern Utah by way of Frostburg State as both a player and coach. [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). What Utah college football players have entered the transfer portal this spring? 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. Hes going to play safety and hes going to run around and make 40-60 tackles for us,Fitzgerald said. Our right guard and right tackle can play with the best of em, Fitzgerald said. Now what weve got to do is find the other five or six pieces on each side of the football. Acord comes to Cedar City by way of Northridge High School in North Salt Lake, Utah. aaronmicha700@gmail.com. McClure coached the Trailblazers from. 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. Bolingbroke and Schenks are slated to come back in the fall but both will miss the Spring Game due to injuries. However, Millers subpar 2,416 yards, nine touchdowns and 13 interceptions on 61% completion means his job might not necessarily be a lock. And not promising national titles and not promising conference titles and stuff here today, but were going to be extremely competitive. Rosser played his college football at James Madison from 2000-01 and earned his bachelor's degree in kinesiology from JMU in 2003. And this man did.. Tye Hiatt will be the offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach, Ryan Payne will be the new offensive line coach, and Brandon Perkins is set to be the . Francis Bemiy is on every teams radar for the 2023 draft, said Fitzgerald. The Sammamish, Washington native led Eastlake High School to a 9-2 record as a senior under center. Andrew Bates- Strength & Conditioning Coach. Bates went to Jacksonville after a two-year stint at Marshall University. and will lead SUU in their first year in WAC play. 1/11/2022 4:36:00 PM. CEDAR CITY, Utah - Southern Utah University head football coach DeLane Fitzgerald has announced his coaching staff for the upcoming season. The only thing thats going to stop Isaiah Williams is Isaiah Williams, Fitzgerald said. Peterson played three years of college football, starting as a quarterback for the University of New Mexico in 2007. In their absence, junior Dallin Brown provided one of the highlights with a one-handed grab during 11-on-11 drills. Robison, listed at 6-foot-1, 195 pounds, flashed his ability to extend plays and make good reads in the RPO game. 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. Football Coaches - University of Utah Athletics A native of Virginia, Fitzgerald played college football for James Madison University then started working as an assistant coach in 2000. 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. We have four or five good players on each side of the ball. The new T-Birds are made up of 15 signees straight from high school and eight transferring from previous colleges. 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 Southern Utah University. SUU football enters the 2022 season coming off a disappointing year that saw the Thunderbirds finish 1-10 in 2021. Well have a football program thats based on a culture of competitiveness and competitive greatness.. He also added one interception, one forced fumble and one recovered fumble. "These 23 young men are the foundation on which we are going to build a great FCS football program. 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. Brunson played quarterback for the Bobcats in 2019, throwing for 2,067 yards and 18 touchdowns while adding three more touchdowns on the ground. 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. 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. A big part of spring ball is the learning and getting a feel for what we want. 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. Williams led the Thunderbirds averaging 6.2 yards per carry. The now-redshirt junior threw for 2,416 yards and nine touchdowns to go along with 13 interceptions. Fitzgerald spoke of the multiplicity of offensive tactics he likes to employ, which he said will typically evolve depending on the players. We ask that you consider turning off your ad blocker so we can deliver you the best experience possible while you are here. Theres a lot of players in this room. 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. 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. Hatitio will look to help bolster the SUU offensive line after a successful high school career at Juan Diego Catholic High School in Draper. Griffiths prepped just down the road from SUU at Crimson Cliffs High School in Washington, Utah. All rights reserved. He was also a dedicated student in the classroom, earning Academic All-Region honors. He also spent 2016 as the tight ends coach at Florida International, where he mentored NFL tight end Jonu Smith. [10], The Thunderbirds won their first Big Sky championship in 2015, defeating Northern Arizona 4941 in the regular season finale at Cedar City. Our players have a better understanding of the offense, defense, and special teams (schemes). He also said he plans to actively recruit top athletes from Arizona, Nevada and Southern California. Its what I do.. Anything we do, were going to finish what we start accountability, punctuality, discipline, all those things are really important to me.. "Coach Warren has been a cherished member of this institution and community for the last 14 years," Corumsaid. Copyright 2023 Southern Utah University. Fitzgerald joked that part of Price's recruitment was that Price would hold off his honeymoon until after the spring season. Iglesiaswas named First Team All-Orange County after leading the state of California in sacks during the regular season. The Thunderbirds are one of five new teams being added to the WAC, which will have 13 teams after the expansion. Thunderbirds. 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. BYU transfer Mitchell Price should have a big impact on the secondary for Fitzgerald. [9], In November 2010, Southern Utah announced its admission to the Big Sky Conference, effective in 2012. Jeff and his family enjoy swimming, camping, sightseeing, reading, and taking pictures. SUU football: New league, new coach T-birds look get to back on track We ask that you consider turning off your ad blocker so we can deliver you the best experience possible while you are here. A 62-0 loss at the hands of Weber State was the final blow for head coach Demario Warren. 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. We are aiming to build a solid foundation.. Guys, well not be 1-10 again, OK, he said. Copyright 2023 Southern Utah University. His best season came in 2021 when he led the team with 694 yards. Information on each signee, along with a link to the announcement of their signing, can be viewed below. 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..
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