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. Robison was graded as a three-star quarterback in the 2020 cycle, and the 73rd best dual-threat quarterback in the class. The win-loss record doesnt matter to me right now, he said. Fairchild was a two-time First Team All-League football and basketball player, and holds multiple school records in track and field. Southern Utah head coach Demario Warren shouts to his team during game against Utah Thursday, Sept. 1, 2016, in Salt Lake City. [4], In 1993, Southern Utah moved up to Division I-AA and joined the American West Conference (AWC) as a charter member. [9], In November 2010, Southern Utah announced its admission to the Big Sky Conference, effective in 2012. Demario Warren, SUU mutually agree to part ways - Deseret News Also showing flashes at left guard is redshirt junior Artese Gregory. SUU parting ways with head football coach Demario Warren 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. Lynch was a First Team All-CIF Southern selection in 2021, and First Team All-Palomares League in 2019, 20 and 21. 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 SUU is hopeful Fitzgerald can produce similar results in Cedar City. Sean Ellertson is a sports reporter for the St. George Spectrum & Daily News. Peterson is originally from San Antonio, Texas, and is joined in Cedar City by his wife, Camille, and daughter, Brooklyn. 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. Theyve got a chance to prove themselves to a new coaching staff.. 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. SUU announces first signing class under coach DeLane Fitzgerald - Yahoo! The Thunderbirds feature a first-time Division I head coach in DeLane Fitzgerald, who moved across the country from D-II Frostburg State (Md.) 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 program has been in steady decline over the past few years under Warren in terms of on-field results. The only thing thats going to stop Isaiah Williams is Isaiah Williams, Fitzgerald said. The intersquad scrimmage is set for Saturday, April 16, at 1 p.m and is free to the public. Southern Utah University Football Scholarships Guide - NCSASports.org He has a chance to be as good as he wants to be. Hes going to play safety and hes going to run around and make 40-60 tackles for us,Fitzgerald said. His impact on Frostburg State was unprecedented. Theres a lot of players in this room. Theyve been winners in college and now theyre graduate transfers, so they bring some much-needed leadership.. "These 23 young men are the foundation on which we are going to build a great FCS football program. The T-birds lost to rival Weber State last Saturday 62-0 to conclude their 2021 campaign. Doug Knuth named SUU's new athletic director - Cedar City News Language links are at the top of the page across from the title. Copyright 2023 Deseret News Publishing Company. After one season with the Lobos, he transferred to Towson where he played quarterback from 2008-09. More:Demario Warren out as Southern Utah head football coach after six seasons. 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. Fitzgeralds confidence doesnt stop with his defense and offense, however, believing he has a great group of specialists going into the season as well. Football
Kelling coached the defensive backs in his first two seasons before becoming the team's co-defensive coordinator in 2006. A nationwide search for Southern Utah's new head football coach will begin immediately. (He) played for us last year at Frostburg and had 20 or 30 tackles as a true freshman, Fitzgerald said. Football - Southern Utah University Athletics He was also a dedicated student in the classroom, earning Academic All-Region honors. 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. 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. "I am happy with the way our coaching staff came together," Fitzgerald said. Corum said that throughout the hiring process, because we had such great candidates, I just kept hoping that somebody would separate themselves. Now what weve got to do is find the other five or six pieces on each side of the football. Copyright St. George News, SaintGeorgeUtah.com LLC, 2021, all rights reserved. The team began spring practices on Monday, March 21, and the Spring Game allows a preview into what can be expected for next season. 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.. 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. 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.. The Thunderbird football program got longer, stronger and faster today.". Collin Gardner has played really well at the center and tackle position, Fitzgerald said. 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. Bates went to Jacksonville after a two-year stint at Marshall University. Acord comes to Cedar City by way of Northridge High School in North Salt Lake, Utah. The move comes as SUU is just 1-10 this season, including 0-8 in Big Sky Conference play. Our players have a better understanding of the offense, defense, and special teams (schemes). Copyright 2023 Deseret News Publishing Company. 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. "That's our deepest group right there in terms of talent, Fitzgerald said. Focus and consistency, if he can get those two down, hes going to be fine.. 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. Jenkins transferred to Southern Utah and will help bolster the Thunderbirds receiving corps in 2022. SUU football to kick off 2022 season with Spring Game Karris Davis, Isaiah Williams, Thomas Duckett, and David Moore III all received over 40 touches on the ground. 225-771-3171. ricky.jackson@subr.edu. Copyright 2023 Southern Utah University. The Thunderbirds are one of five new teams being added to the WAC, which will have 13 teams after the expansion. 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. Joining Fitzgerald from Frostburg State, Magginson will work as the defensive ends coach at SUU. The use of software that blocks ads hinders our ability to serve you the content you came here to enjoy. The Coaching Factory - A History of SUU's PE program | SUU The junior running back brings physicality and size to the backfield at 6-foot-1, 220 pounds. They had an 83 regular season, with losses to Utah State, South Dakota State, and Portland State; their eight wins were by mostly large margins. CEDAR CITY Southern Utah Universitys newly hired football coach received a warm welcome from players, fans and university officials on Thursday afternoon. 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 2023 Football Roster - Southern Utah University Athletics Additionally, Fitzgerald said the teams hes coached have been among the top leaders in sacks and making other big plays. SUU is a caring campus community where students come to explore their interests and prepare for meaningful careers and life experiences . 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. 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. Like Magginson, Brunson comes to Southern Utah by way of Frostburg State as both a player and coach. Southern Utah University - YouTube 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. Redshirt sophomore Aubrey Nellems notched 48 tackles as well and looks to see an increased role as the most experienced returning linebacker. 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. A 62-0 loss at the hands of Weber State was the final blow for head coach Demario Warren. [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). [5] The Thunderbirds were members of the RMAC from 1969 to 1985, with an overall record of 86733 (.540) during that time. 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. Southern Utah Thunderbirds football - Wikipedia Copyright 2010 - 2023 StGeorgeUtah.com LLC, all rights reserved. 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. High school girls golf: Week 8 region recap from some 6A, 5A, 4A and 3A regions. Tosh Wright and Jordan Jefferson each could add to the revamped backfield. He finished fourth on the team with 46 tackles, including four tackles for loss and 1.5 sacks. 2022 will mark Fernandez's 14th season at Southern Utah, and 11th as a full-time assistant. All rights reserved. The hiring of Fitzgerald has brought a mass exodus of many familiar faces from last years team, leaving Fitzgerald building through his incoming freshman class and transfer portal. The Thunderbirds new coach is confident that he and his staff can make thenecessary changes to turn things around. The American Samoa native also spent time coaching at Western Oregon, Eastern Oregon and Humboldt State. Price was out of Wednesdays practice due to his wedding on Thursday. Magginson spent four years as a coach on the FSU staff, working with the entirety of the defensive line. A 2003 graduate of SUU, Coach Hunt was a three-year starter at offensive tackle for the Thunderbirds before joining the staff. Cox participated in multiple high school all-star events, including the Crab Bowl and Eastern Shore Bowl Game in Maryland. Were much than we were two and a half weeks ago,Fitzgerald said on Wednesday, during which the team held a spring practice on campus. The spring game will offer a glimpse into what the quarterback situation may look like. 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. 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. We ask that you consider turning off your ad blocker so we can deliver you the best experience possible while you are here. Before the regular season rolls around in late summer, Southern Utah University football will host its Spring Game to culminate the spring training season. They also have three young grandsons. Warren was named head coach in 2016 after spending the two previous seasons as defensive coordinator. Coming off a 1-10 season and led by an overhauled coaching staff, foundational pieces for the rebuild may be starting to take shape. 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 From 2004-11, Kelling coached at the University of North Dakota where he faced the Thunderbirds on multiple occasions. "He has elevated the football program in many ways and has positively impacted the lives of hundreds of young men. John Kelling- Defensive Coordinator/Safeties Coach. While playing for the Thunderbirds, Hunt started 33 straight games from his sophomore to senior seasons, never missing a game during his career. Moore had four touchdowns on 48 carries, while Duckett had 179 yards on 54 touches. 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. In the classroom, he was an AP Scholar and Commended Scholar for the 2022 National Merit Scholarship Program. What a move to the WAC means for Southern Utah athletics The SUU head coach feels that redshirt senior punter Jake Gerardi could be another NFL-bound player. Information on each individual coach can be readbelow. Ahead of the 2016 season Tapasa was brought to Cedar City to serve as SUU's Co-Defensive Coordinator and coach the linebacking unit. "Coach Warren has been a cherished member of this institution and community for the last 14 years," Corum said. USACollegiate football commissioner Mark Brady, far left, and co-founder Dave Arslanian, far right, at a press conference, St. George, Utah, April 18, 2023 | Photo by E. George Goold, St. George News 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 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. All Rights Reserved, In a new league with a new coach, SUU embracing fresh start. Southern Utah football names former Dixie State head coach as new and will lead SUU in their first year in WAC play. His first head coaching job was at Southern Virginia from 2009-13, after which he became the head coach of Frostburg State. Top 5 stories on St. George News for Labor Day weekend. We ask that you consider turning off your ad blocker so we can deliver you the best experience possible while you are here. Being competitive 11 straight games will be successful for me.. Copyright 2023 Southern Utah University. Southern Utah football spring practices: Thunderbirds rebuilding on 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. We are aiming to build a solid foundation.. 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. 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 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. Offensively, starting quarterback Justin Miller is returning alongside his leading receivers Ethan Bolingbroke and Brandon Schenks. The WAC already includes two other Utah teams, namely Dixie State University and Utah Valley University. Spring practices have been without the top two receiving targets, Ethan Bolingbroke and Brandon Schenks, who are both recovering from injuries. 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. Aaron Brown. Singleton transferred to Liberty following the departure of Demario Warren. 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. McClure coached the Trailblazers from. 2023 www.thespectrum.com. He was a two-time letter winner playing college football at both Grand Rapids Community College and Wayne State University. All rights reserved. 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 . Bemiy, alongside Frostburg State transfer Zach Strand, should be two difference-makers along the defensive line. and will lead SUU in their first year in WAC play. A big part of spring ball is the learning and getting a feel for what we want. The 2022 staff includes four coaches retained from the previous staff, and six new additions to SUU. Purcell will play defensive line at Southern Utah after successfully doing so for Bountiful High School in Bountiful, Utah. Assistant Wide Receivers Coach. With the success, head coach Ed Lamb joined the staff at Brigham Young in Provo and defensive coordinator Demario Warren was promoted.[11]. Demario Warren out as Southern Utah head football coach - The Spectrum He and his wife Penny are the parents of five daughters. If we line up and we are competitive and we play well, well win our fair share of games. The Thunderbirds have appeared in the FCS playoffs three times with an overall record of 03. Before BYU, Peterson was an offensive quality control assistant at Rice for two seasons. SUU joined the Western Athletic Conference (WAC), already home to regional rival Utah Tech, in 2022. 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. 1/11/2022 4:36:00 PM. Everything you see on me right now was first purchased at Christensens about 30 minutes ago, he said of his new suit. In 2015 he moved to the offensive line. Rosser played his college football at James Madison from 2000-01 and earned his bachelor's degree in kinesiology from JMU in 2003. Southern Utah Announces Football Coaching Change