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. Fitzgerald believes that this team will be just the beginning of something great at SUU. Rancho Cucamonga, California / Alta Loma HS. 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. After his remarks, Fitzgerald also fielded several questions from the media and football players. Magginson spent four years as a coach on the FSU staff, working with the entirety of the defensive line. Like Magginson, Brunson comes to Southern Utah by way of Frostburg State as both a player and coach. I know you guys are coming off a 1-10 season. In three years with the Rebels he amassed 1,159 receiving yards. Peterson is originally from San Antonio, Texas, and is joined in Cedar City by his wife, Camille, and daughter, Brooklyn. 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. 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 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.. Information on each signee, along with a link to the announcement of their signing, can be viewed below. Coach Hunt has worked with both the offensive and defensive sides of the ball. In December 2022, he was named as the head football coach at the University of Northern Colorado. 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. He led a Southern Virginia team to its second-ever winning season in 2013 with an 8-2 record. Each one of today's signees brings a physical skill set and a mentality that our coaching staff is looking for. Smith comes to TSU after two seasons as the wide receivers coach and recruiting coordinator at Southern Utah. Its what I do.. Rosser also worked with the defensive backs at the University of Virginia-Wise from 2016-19. The now-redshirt junior threw for 2,416 yards and nine touchdowns to go along with 13 interceptions. Acord also played wide receiver during high school and was a First Team All-Region performer. Southern Utah University coaches and sports staff members surround new SUU athletic director Doug Knuth after news conference announcing his hiring, Cedar City, Utah, Dec. 14, 2022 | Photo by Jeff Richards . Southern Utah University Aug 31 // football Arizona State University Sep 09 // football Brigham Young University Sep 16 // football UC Davis Sep 23 // football Western Illinois University Sep 30 // football University of Central Arkansas Oct 07 // football Tarleton State University Oct 21 // football Austin Peay State University Oct 28 // football [6] While in the WFC from 1986 to 1992, the Thunderbirds' overall record was 41341 (.546). The Dolphins won 10 conference championships across multiple sports during Bates' tenure. 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. All rights reserved. The Thunderbirds are one of five new teams being added to the WAC, which will have 13 teams after the expansion. The Thunderbird football program got longer, stronger and faster today.". Price was out of Wednesdays practice due to his wedding on Thursday. Gardner, a redshirt freshman, was Fitzgeralds biggest surprise along the offensive line. Southern Utah. 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. sports@suunews.net 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. Your California Privacy Rights / Privacy Policy. 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 new T-Birds are made up of 15 signees straight from high school and eight transferring from previous colleges. Anything we do, were going to finish what we start accountability, punctuality, discipline, all those things are really important to me.. All Rights Reserved, This Utah college football team is now looking for a new head coach. 2023 Football Roster - Southern Utah University Athletics. The Southern Utah University football team is a team in transition. Before BYU, Peterson was an offensive quality control assistant at Rice for two seasons. 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. 11/15/2021 9:23:00 AM. Fernandez joined the staff as an undergraduate assistant in 2009 following a stellar career as a Thunderbird player. CEDAR CITY - Southern Utah University and head football coach Demario Warren announced recently that they have mutually agreed to part . [3] History [ edit] John Kelling- Defensive Coordinator/Safeties Coach. 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. He also said he plans to actively recruit top athletes from Arizona, Nevada and Southern California. From there, he took over at Frostburg State, where he guided the Bobcats from 18 wins during the eight years before his arrival to 62 over the next eight, including four seasons with 10 or more wins. The only thing thats going to stop Isaiah Williams is Isaiah Williams, Fitzgerald said. 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. 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. Football Fitzgerald spoke of the multiplicity of offensive tactics he likes to employ, which he said will typically evolve depending on the players. However, Millers subpar 2,416 yards, nine touchdowns and 13 interceptions on 61% completion means his job might not necessarily be a lock. 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 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. "That's our deepest group right there in terms of talent, Fitzgerald said. His first head coaching job was at Southern Virginia from 2009-13, after which he became the head coach of Frostburg State. As for the rest of the roster, very few notable players are returning. Copyright 2023 Southern Utah University. 13 talking about this. 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. Karris Davis, Isaiah Williams, Thomas Duckett, and David Moore III all received over 40 touches on the ground. Ahead of the 2016 season Tapasa was brought to Cedar City to serve as SUU's Co-Defensive Coordinator and coach the linebacking unit. 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.. 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. Fitzgerald has a knack for turning around struggling programs, and the Thunderbirds fit that bill. 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 Southern Utah Thunderbirds football (also referred to as the SUU Thunderbirds) program is a college football team that represents Southern Utah University (SUU). 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. A 2003 graduate of SUU, Coach Hunt was a three-year starter at offensive tackle for the Thunderbirds before joining the staff. While playing for the Thunderbirds, Hunt started 33 straight games from his sophomore to senior seasons, never missing a game during his career. 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. Who is new Runnin Ute Keba Keita and how is Utahs 2022-23 roster shaping up? Fitzgeralds staff at Frostburg consistently led D-II in tackles for loss and sacks, which should only drive up Bemiys potential. Miller is now joined in the quarterback room by redshirt freshmen Jackson Berry and Rand Jensen, and Western Kentucky transfer Grady Robison. Overall, the T-Birds went 21-42 under Warren. 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.". CEDAR CITY, Utah - The Southern Utah Thunderbirds have announced three new additions to Coach DeLane Fitzgerald's coaching staff for the upcoming year.. Moore had four touchdowns on 48 carries, while Duckett had 179 yards on 54 touches. During his prep career, Purcell was an All-State Honorable Mention and two-time First Team All-Region selection. CEDAR CITY, Utah Southern Utah University head football coach DeLane Fitzgerald has announced his coaching staff for the upcoming season. aaronmicha700@gmail.com. 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. 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. Bates joins Southern Utah after serving one season as the strength and conditioning coach for Hampton University. In 2015 he moved to the offensive line. Being competitive 11 straight games will be successful for me.. 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. As per usual, the school said a nationwide search for Warrens replacement will begin immediately. Warren was named head coach in 2016 after spending the two previous seasons as defensive coordinator. [9], In November 2010, Southern Utah announced its admission to the Big Sky Conference, effective in 2012. Fitzgerald is less focused on the outcomes of games than he is on his team competing. Coming off a 1-10 season and led by an overhauled coaching staff, foundational pieces for the rebuild may be starting to take shape. The secondary will see the most change, returning practically none of the major contributors from 2021. Copyright 2010 - 2023 StGeorgeUtah.com LLC, all rights reserved. CEDAR CITY Southern Utah Universitys newly hired football coach received a warm welcome from players, fans and university officials on Thursday afternoon. On the offensive line, right guard Lyle Santos is the only current player who started all 11 games last season. Miller has started 17 consecutive contests for SUU, giving Fitzgerald a seasoned quarterback. SUU will see how its crop of newcomers and returning players will mesh during their spring game on April 15. Bemiy totaled 48 total tackles in 2021 and paced SUU in sacks (4) and TFLs (12.5). Before his brief stint at LHU, Kelling served as defensive coordinator and linebackers coach at Frostburg State University under coach Fitzgerald. Warren leaves SUU with an overall record of 21-42, and led the T-Birds to a Big Sky Conference championshipin2017 during his tenure as head coach. After playing on the varsity squad for four seasons, Lynch was honored as both the Offensive MVP and Team MVP. A native of Virginia, Fitzgerald played college football for James Madison University then started working as an assistant coach in 2000. Davis led the pack with 71 carries and 313 yards. The Thunderbirds new coach is confident that he and his staff can make thenecessary changes to turn things around. As NFL Draft hopeful Braxton Jones continues to prepare for his professional career, Southern Utah must find a new blindside protector for whoever takes snaps under center. Kelling was named Football Gazette's Division II National Defensive Player of the Year in 1991 during his playing days. 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. 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. "Coach Warren has been a cherished. 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 The successful candidate will be responsible for managing all aspects of an NCAA Division III athletic program. The use of software that blocks ads hinders our ability to serve you the content you came here to enjoy. (He) played for us last year at Frostburg and had 20 or 30 tackles as a true freshman, Fitzgerald said. 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. What Utah college football players have entered the transfer portal this spring? Jones was a 2x All-Big Sky First Team Selection and was an Associated Press FCS First Team All-American. Theres a lot of players in this room. Starting with the 2022-23 school year, SUU will be exiting the Big Sky Conference and joining the Western Athletic Conference. Lesa was named Second Team All-State two times and First Team All-Region three times after being a four-year starter for the Bulldogs. 351 W. University Blvd, Cedar City, Utah 84720 Though a newcomer at the school, he comes to Cedar City with plenty of coaching experience and high expectations. Before joining the Thunderbird coaching staff, Tapasa served as defensive line coach at Sacramento State. 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. 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. 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. 2023 www.thespectrum.com. 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 . He has elevated the football program in many ways and has positively impacted the lives of hundreds of young men. [4] After 1985, Southern Utah moved up to NCAA Division II and joined the Western Football Conference (WFC). Iglesiaswas named First Team All-Orange County after leading the state of California in sacks during the regular season. He runs around at safety and outside linebacker and hes 6-212 and can run like a deer.. Spring practices have been without the top two receiving targets, Ethan Bolingbroke and Brandon Schenks, who are both recovering from injuries. "I am happy with the way our coaching staff came together," Fitzgerald said. 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. 225-771-3171. We have to find the other half and then we have to find some depth., More:Southern Utah announces first signing class under coach DeLane Fitzgerald. The spring game will offer a glimpse into what the quarterback situation may look like. 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. 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. 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. Most important, though, on top of being good coaches and good recruiters, we have a coaching staff made up of good people. Redshirt sophomore Aubrey Nellems notched 48 tackles as well and looks to see an increased role as the most experienced returning linebacker. Well have a football program thats based on a culture of competitiveness and competitive greatness.. 0:24 Southern Utah University football has announced the hiring of former Dixie State head coach Shay McClure as the team's linebackers coach. Sean Ellertson is a sports reporter for the St. George Spectrum & Daily News. 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. Top 5 stories on St. George News for Labor Day weekend. One of those positives is UNLV transfer Steve Jenkins at wide receiver. [4], In 1993, Southern Utah moved up to Division I-AA and joined the American West Conference (AWC) as a charter member. I'm excited to build a great college football program with them.". 2023 www.thespectrum.com. Fairchild was a two-time First Team All-League football and basketball player, and holds multiple school records in track and field. The T-birds lost to rival Weber State last Saturday 62-0 to conclude their 2021 campaign. The Thunderbirds have appeared in the FCS playoffs three times with an overall record of 03. More:Southern Utah University tabs DeLane Fitzgerald as next head football coach, We have some pieces, continued Fitzgerald. SUU is hopeful Fitzgerald can produce similar results in Cedar City. Joining Fitzgerald from Frostburg State, Magginson will work as the defensive ends coach at SUU. 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. His impact on Frostburg State was unprecedented. We ask that you consider turning off your ad blocker so we can deliver you the best experience possible while you are here. "We have a coaching staff that can coach and recruit with anyone in the country. 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. Cox participated in multiple high school all-star events, including the Crab Bowl and Eastern Shore Bowl Game in Maryland. Hunt will be in his 18th season when the T-Birds kickoff the 2022 schedule. The new faces for the Thunderbirds are Tye Hiatt, Ryan Payne, and Brandon Perkins. All rights reserved. Were going to show up on time. 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. 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. Since then, Tapasa has transitioned into a role as assistant coach overseeing the linebackers for Southern Utah. All rights reserved. Main Phone (435) 865-8355 Fax (435) 865-8078. . Southern Utah Football Spring Recap - Southern Utah University Athletics CEDAR CITY, Utah - Coach DeLane Fitzgerald sat down Wednesday morning to discuss Spring Camp, the roster, the 2023 spring game, and the transfer portal. Commitment to student-athletes and their academic success, as well as athletic . A nationwide search for Southern Utah's new head football coach will begin immediately. And this man did.. The junior running back brings physicality and size to the backfield at 6-foot-1, 220 pounds. He graduated from SUU with a master's of accountancy in 2018. Magginson was a four-year player for the Bobcat football team and appeared in all 13 games and made two starts as a senior. Griffiths was named the 4A Defensive Player of the Year as a linebacker and earned First Team All-State honors. Thanks to the departure of Kobe Singleton, Fitzgerald will need to find another lockdown corner. We have four or five good players on each side of the ball. Also showing flashes at left guard is redshirt junior Artese Gregory. A 62-0 loss at the hands of Weber State was the final blow for head coach Demario Warren. He also spent 2016 as the tight ends coach at Florida International, where he mentored NFL tight end Jonu Smith. The Southern Utah University Thunderbirds will be looking for a new head football coach. 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 . He was also a dedicated student in the classroom, earning Academic All-Region honors. 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). 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. We ask that you consider turning off your ad blocker so we can deliver you the best experience possible while you are here. The 2021 running back position was a revolving door for Southern Utah. 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. 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. The use of software that blocks ads hinders our ability to serve you the content you came here to enjoy. In addition to his degree from MSU Mankato, he holds a master's degree in recreation and sports science from Ohio University. More:Demario Warren out as Southern Utah head football coach after six seasons. 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. 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.. 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.
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