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. Tyler Smith (@coach_tsmith17) | Twitter While playing for the Thunderbirds, Hunt started 33 straight games from his sophomore to senior seasons, never missing a game during his career. What Utah college football players have entered the transfer portal this spring? Iglesias was a three-year starter for Orange. One of those positives is UNLV transfer Steve Jenkins at wide receiver. 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. 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. Francis Bemiy is on every teams radar for the 2023 draft, said Fitzgerald. In the classroom, he was an AP Scholar and Commended Scholar for the 2022 National Merit Scholarship Program. 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. Freshman class shines, Miller rises to occasion in Southern Utah The move comes as SUU is just 1-10 this season, including 0-8 in Big Sky Conference play. The Coaching Factory - A History of SUU's PE program | SUU Fitzgerald is also high on the groundwork he and his staff have laid with the incoming freshmen. Rosser played his college football at James Madison from 2000-01 and earned his bachelor's degree in kinesiology from JMU in 2003. 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. 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. Copyright 2023 Southern Utah University. Sanders' work in the classroom was also recognized during high school with an Academic All-Region selection. and will lead SUU in their first year in WAC play. All Rights Reserved, This Utah college football team is now looking for a new head coach. Williams added another four scores on just 32 attempts for 206 yards. Language links are at the top of the page across from the title. 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. What theyve done in the past does not affect them now. Spring practices have been without the top two receiving targets, Ethan Bolingbroke and Brandon Schenks, who are both recovering from injuries. Moore had four touchdowns on 48 carries, while Duckett had 179 yards on 54 touches. Andrew Bates- Strength & Conditioning Coach. Thats because Fitzgerald is no stranger to turning programs around. He also spent 2016 as the tight ends coach at Florida International, where he mentored NFL tight end Jonu Smith. In three years with the Rebels he amassed 1,159 receiving yards. Bates joins Southern Utah after serving one season as the strength and conditioning coach for Hampton University. The Sammamish, Washington native led Eastlake High School to a 9-2 record as a senior under center. He was also an Academic All-Region honoree. Like Magginson, Brunson comes to Southern Utah by way of Frostburg State as both a player and coach. For all the latest on Southern Utah football, follow @SUUFB_ on Twitter, @SUUFB on Instagram, and like the Southern Utah Football Facebook page. 4 Year Degree. The 2021 running back position was a revolving door for Southern Utah. SUU joined the Western Athletic Conference (WAC), already home to regional rival Utah Tech, in 2022. The 2022 staff includes four coaches retained from the previous staff, and six new additions to SUU. They were an independent for eight years,[8] then became a charter conference member again in 2004 with the Great West Conference (GWC). On the offensive line, right guard Lyle Santos is the only current player who started all 11 games last season. Guys, well not be 1-10 again, OK, he said. 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.. In 2015 he moved to the offensive line. 2023 Football Roster - Southern Utah University Athletics Lynch was a First Team All-CIF Southern selection in 2021, and First Team All-Palomares League in 2019, 20 and 21. 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. 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.". What a move to the WAC means for Southern Utah athletics 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. BYU wide receiver Kody Epps is reportedly heading to the transfer portal, No. Hunt will be in his 18th season when the T-Birds kickoff the 2022 schedule. If you see me yell or make funny faces, its because the pins in these pants have stuck me.. Before the regular season rolls around in late summer, Southern Utah University football will host its Spring Game to culminate the spring training season. . Copyright 2023 Southern Utah University. 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. 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. However, Millers subpar 2,416 yards, nine touchdowns and 13 interceptions on 61% completion means his job might not necessarily be a lock. 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 . With a new coaching staff working to establish a winning culture, veteran players are expected to lead by example. Acord also played wide receiver during high school and was a First Team All-Region performer. Fitzgeralds confidence doesnt stop with his defense and offense, however, believing he has a great group of specialists going into the season as well. He left the school as the winningest coach in program history. 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. The intersquad scrimmage is set for Saturday, April 16, at 1 p.m and is free to the public. Bemiy totaled 48 total tackles in 2021 and paced SUU in sacks (4) and TFLs (12.5). Rosser also worked with the defensive backs at the University of Virginia-Wise from 2016-19. Fitzgerald believes Dunn might be the most talented player on his defense. SUU football enters the 2022 season coming off a disappointing year that saw the Thunderbirds finish 1-10 in 2021. Copyright St. George News, SaintGeorgeUtah.com LLC, 2021, all rights reserved. Price was out of Wednesdays practice due to his wedding on Thursday. Copyright 2010 - 2023 StGeorgeUtah.com LLC, all rights reserved. Jones was a 2x All-Big Sky First Team Selection and was an Associated Press FCS First Team All-American. The team began spring practices on Monday, March 21, and the . Iglesiaswas named First Team All-Orange County after leading the state of California in sacks during the regular season. Robison was graded as a three-star quarterback in the 2020 cycle, and the 73rd best dual-threat quarterback in the class. (He) played for us last year at Frostburg and had 20 or 30 tackles as a true freshman, Fitzgerald said. Jenkins transferred to Southern Utah and will help bolster the Thunderbirds receiving corps in 2022. Were going to show up on time. A big part of spring ball is the learning and getting a feel for what we want. 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 A 2003 graduate of SUU, Coach Hunt was a three-year starter at offensive tackle for the Thunderbirds before joining the staff. Theyve got a chance to prove themselves to a new coaching staff.. And this man did.. 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. Southern Utah Football | Cedar City UT - Facebook Football Gardner, a redshirt freshman, was Fitzgeralds biggest surprise along the offensive line. Main Phone (435) 865-8355 Fax (435) 865-8078. Staff Directory - Southern Utah University Athletics 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. 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. Southern Utah University and head football coach Demario Warren have mutually agreed to part ways, per a press release from the school on Monday. Singleton transferred to Liberty following the departure of Demario Warren. Hatitio will look to help bolster the SUU offensive line after a successful high school career at Juan Diego Catholic High School in Draper. After his playing career, Brunson spent one season coaching the offensive line under Fitzgerald's leadership. He has elevated the football program in many ways and has positively impacted the lives of hundreds of young men. CEDAR CITY, Utah - The Southern Utah Thunderbirds have announced three new additions to Coach DeLane Fitzgerald's coaching staff for the upcoming year.. Copyright 2023 Deseret News Publishing Company. Next season will bring a lot of change for SUU football as they move from the Big Sky Conference to the Western Athletic Conference. 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. Sanderswas a First Team All-Region performer for the Wasps at wide receiver. Who is new Runnin Ute Keba Keita and how is Utahs 2022-23 roster shaping up? Ed Lamb - Wikipedia 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. 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. Theres a lot of players in this room. Smith comes to TSU after two seasons as the wide receivers coach and recruiting coordinator at Southern Utah. Former coaches, alumni hope to reignite magic of junior college 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. 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. The new T-Birds are made up of 15 signees straight from high school and eight transferring from previous colleges. FOOTBALL Coaches - Southern University 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. Southern Utah University Football Scholarships Guide - NCSASports.org Southern Utah Football (@SUUFB_) / Twitter Though a newcomer at the school, he comes to Cedar City with plenty of coaching experience and high expectations. Offensively, starting quarterback Justin Miller is returning alongside his leading receivers Ethan Bolingbroke and Brandon Schenks. Sean Ellertson is a sports reporter for the St. George Spectrum & Daily News. His first head coaching job was at Southern Virginia from 2009-13, after which he became the head coach of Frostburg State. Additionally, Fitzgerald said the teams hes coached have been among the top leaders in sacks and making other big plays. The Thunderbird football program got longer, stronger and faster today.". His impact on Frostburg State was unprecedented. [3] History [ edit] 16 Utah softball gets good measuring stick in series against No. 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). All rights reserved. SUU football: New league, new coach T-birds look get to back on track Rancho Cucamonga, California / Alta Loma HS. The Southern Utah University Thunderbirds will be looking for a new head football coach. Assistant Wide Receivers Coach. Southern Utah Thunderbirds football - Wikipedia Starting with the 2022-23 school year, SUU will be exiting the Big Sky Conference and joining the Western Athletic Conference. The Official Facebook Page for Southern Utah University Football #FocusFightFinish #TBirdNation Fitzgerald joked that part of Price's recruitment was that Price would hold off his honeymoon until after the spring season. The Southern Utah Thunderbirds football (also referred to as the SUU Thunderbirds) program is a college football team that represents Southern Utah University (SUU). 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. Theyve been winners in college and now theyre graduate transfers, so they bring some much-needed leadership.. 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.. 2023 Southern Utah Thunderbirds football team, National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics, "Branding & Creative - Marketing Communication", "NCAA Sports Sponsorship: Southern Utah University", "DeLane Fitzgerald Named Head Football Coach at Southern Utah", "Southern Utah now part of American West", "Great West football conference announces formation", "SUU football: T-Birds earn program's first Big Sky championship", "WAC Announces Expansion, Plans to Reinstate Football", "ASUN And WAC Unveil 2023 Football Schedule", "ASUN-WAC Football Partnership Formally Rebrands as the United Athletic Conference", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Southern_Utah_Thunderbirds_football&oldid=1150979373, American football teams established in 1963, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, This page was last edited on 21 April 2023, at 05:17. Head Coach Men's & Women's Swimming and Diving in Chicago, IL for After one season with the Lobos, he transferred to Towson where he played quarterback from 2008-09. The defensive end led the team with four sacks and added 48 tackles last season. 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. More:Demario Warren out as Southern Utah head football coach after six seasons. 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.. Before the regular season rolls around in late summer, Southern Utah University football will host its Spring Game to culminate the spring training season. With Davis, Duckett, and Moore III all off the 2022 roster, the door is open for Williams to become the go-to option. 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. [10], The Thunderbirds won their first Big Sky championship in 2015, defeating Northern Arizona 4941 in the regular season finale at Cedar City. Well have a football program thats based on a culture of competitiveness and competitive greatness.. 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 Since then, Tapasa has transitioned into a role as assistant coach overseeing the linebackers for Southern Utah. Corum said that throughout the hiring process, because we had such great candidates, I just kept hoping that somebody would separate themselves. A native of Erda, Utah, he is a graduate of Tooele High School, where he was an all-state and all-region performer. Now what weve got to do is find the other five or six pieces on each side of the football. 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. Acord comes to Cedar City by way of Northridge High School in North Salt Lake, Utah. 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. The Thunderbirds are one of five new teams being added to the WAC, which will have 13 teams after the expansion. Director of Football Operations / Player Personnel. Focus and consistency, if he can get those two down, hes going to be fine.. I know you guys are coming off a 1-10 season. The OFFICIAL YouTube account for Southern Utah University. SUU is a caring campus community where students come to explore their interests and prepare for meaningful careers and life experiences . Prior to that, he had been a coach in various capacities in the program since 2007. All rights reserved. In their absence, junior Dallin Brown provided one of the highlights with a one-handed grab during 11-on-11 drills. He finished fourth on the team with 46 tackles, including four tackles for loss and 1.5 sacks. Football SUU football to kick off 2022 season with Spring Game Also showing flashes at left guard is redshirt junior Artese Gregory. All rights reserved. 2023 Football Roster - Southern Utah University Athletics. In fact, the 2022 roster is slated to have about 40 freshmen. "We have a coaching staff that can coach and recruit with anyone in the country. Copyright 2023 Southern Utah University. Ryan Hunt- Interior Defensive Line Coach/Director of Football Operations. aaronmicha700@gmail.com. SUU will see how its crop of newcomers and returning players will mesh during their spring game on April 15. Griffiths was named the 4A Defensive Player of the Year as a linebacker and earned First Team All-State honors. Follow Sean on Twitter @SeanEllertson. Miller has started 17 consecutive contests for SUU, giving Fitzgerald a seasoned quarterback. Information on each individual coach can be readbelow. 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. Claude Edward Lamb III [1] (born March 4, 1974) is an American college football coach and former player. 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. The thing with him and Zach Strand is theyve always won. The 2022 staff includes four coaches retained from the previous staff, and six new additions to SUU. 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. Our players have a better understanding of the offense, defense, and special teams (schemes). 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. Peterson is originally from San Antonio, Texas, and is joined in Cedar City by his wife, Camille, and daughter, Brooklyn. Before BYU, Peterson was an offensive quality control assistant at Rice for two seasons. The Southern Utah University football team is a team in transition. 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 Southern Utah University Thunderbirds will be looking for a new head football coach. 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. A nationwide search for Southern Utah's new head football coach will begin immediately. He also said he plans to actively recruit top athletes from Arizona, Nevada and Southern California. Davis led the pack with 71 carries and 313 yards. CEDAR CITY, Utah Southern Utah University head football coach DeLane Fitzgerald has announced his coaching staff for the upcoming season.
