Its what I do.. Purcell will play defensive line at Southern Utah after successfully doing so for Bountiful High School in Bountiful, Utah. Defensive Graduate Assistant. Fitzgerald Announces SUU Football Coaching Staff - Southern Utah Commitment to student-athletes and their academic success, as well as athletic . "I am happy with the way our coaching staff came together," Fitzgerald said. 'We will be exciting': SUU welcomes new head football coach In the 2000-2001 school year, SUU's Coaching Factory Hall of Fame was established and will be erected on a wall within the new building. The Southern Utah University Thunderbirds will be looking for a new head football coach. And not promising national titles and not promising conference titles and stuff here today, but were going to be extremely competitive. Brunson played quarterback for the Bobcats in 2019, throwing for 2,067 yards and 18 touchdowns while adding three more touchdowns on the ground. Williams added another four scores on just 32 attempts for 206 yards. Miller is now joined in the quarterback room by redshirt freshmen Jackson Berry and Rand Jensen, and Western Kentucky transfer Grady Robison. Southern Utah University College Football Sports In a new league with a new coach, SUU embracing fresh start After successful run as Frostburg State, coach DeLane Fitzgerald arrives in Cedar City with high expectations and with a number of his former players By Tom Ripplinger Sept 1, 2022, 9:00am PDT SHARE During his prep career, Purcell was an All-State Honorable Mention and two-time First Team All-Region selection. SUU had just five wins in Warrens final three seasons. Fernandez joined the staff as an undergraduate assistant in 2009 following a stellar career as a Thunderbird player. 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. 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. Strand was named Mountain East Conference Defensive Player of the Year in 2020, while Bemiy, who made the All-WAC preseason defensive team, has the tools to play in the NFL, according to Fitzgerald. He was named First Team All-State by the Deseret News as well as First Team All-Region. After one season with the Lobos, he transferred to Towson where he played quarterback from 2008-09. 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. Bemiy, alongside Frostburg State transfer Zach Strand, should be two difference-makers along the defensive line. Fitzgerald spoke of the multiplicity of offensive tactics he likes to employ, which he said will typically evolve depending on the players. "These 23 young men are the foundation on which we are going to build a great FCS football program. The team began spring practices on Monday, March 21, and the Spring Game allows a preview into what can be expected for next season. All rights reserved. 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. Southern Utah football names former Dixie State head coach as new 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. 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. SUU football enters the 2022 season coming off a disappointing year that saw the Thunderbirds finish 1-10 in 2021. [4], In 1993, Southern Utah moved up to Division I-AA and joined the American West Conference (AWC) as a charter member. Halewas named Second Team All-Trinity League for his work on the field and Scholar Athlete of the Year in the classroom with a 4.29 GPA. Story by: Christian Esparza Needing to plug multiple gaps along the line has left spots open for competition. Follow Sean on Twitter @SeanEllertson. The use of software that blocks ads hinders our ability to serve you the content you came here to enjoy. The SUU head coach feels that redshirt senior punter Jake Gerardi could be another NFL-bound player. 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. Southern Utah head coach Demario Warren shouts to his team during game against Utah Thursday, Sept. 1, 2016, in Salt Lake City. 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. He also spent time at Michigan State and Wayne State. Acord also played wide receiver during high school and was a First Team All-Region performer. Magginson spent four years as a coach on the FSU staff, working with the entirety of the defensive line. Our recruiting class is the sleeper group in the country, he said. All rights reserved. In the classroom, he was an AP Scholar and Commended Scholar for the 2022 National Merit Scholarship Program. Additionally, Fitzgerald said the teams hes coached have been among the top leaders in sacks and making other big plays. Southern Utah. 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. The move comes as SUU is just 1-10 this season, including 0-8 in Big Sky Conference play. Before the regular season rolls around in late summer, Southern Utah University football will host its Spring Game to culminate the spring training season. Jenkins transferred to Southern Utah and will help bolster the Thunderbirds receiving corps in 2022. One of those positives is UNLV transfer Steve Jenkins at wide receiver. (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.. The secondary will see the most change, returning practically none of the major contributors from 2021. Coach Fitzgerald even admitted that players sticking around on the roster may not have the same roles that they did in the fall last year. He finished fourth on the team with 46 tackles, including four tackles for loss and 1.5 sacks. 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. Weve revamped our roster, he said. Griffiths was named the 4A Defensive Player of the Year as a linebacker and earned First Team All-State honors. Hes going to play safety and hes going to run around and make 40-60 tackles for us,Fitzgerald said. Southern Utah Thunderbirds football - Wikipedia They also have three young grandsons. Most important, though, on top of being good coaches and good recruiters, we have a coaching staff made up of good people. He led the Knights to the state championship game where they defeated Utah powerhouse Corner Canyon, 49-42. Moore had four touchdowns on 48 carries, while Duckett had 179 yards on 54 touches. 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. Football - Southern Utah University Athletics Your California Privacy Rights / Privacy Policy. Peterson is originally from San Antonio, Texas, and is joined in Cedar City by his wife, Camille, and daughter, Brooklyn. Director of Football Operations / Player Personnel. Lynch was a First Team All-CIF Southern selection in 2021, and First Team All-Palomares League in 2019, 20 and 21. To continue to support his work, please subscribe to The Spectrum. Illinois Tech, an NCAA Division III program located in Chicago, is actively searching for a Head Coach Men's & Women's Swimming and Diving. Kelling was named Football Gazette's Division II National Defensive Player of the Year in 1991 during his playing days. Fitzgerald is less focused on the outcomes of games than he is on his team competing. A native of Virginia, Fitzgerald played college football for James Madison University then started working as an assistant coach in 2000. 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. Joseph McWilliams. SUU averaged just 2.9 yards per carry on the ground. "We have a coaching staff that can coach and recruit with anyone in the country. SUU will see how its crop of newcomers and returning players will mesh during their spring game on April 15. Robison was graded as a three-star quarterback in the 2020 cycle, and the 73rd best dual-threat quarterback in the class. He was named First Team All-District on both offense and special teams during high school. Smith worked with a receiving corps which was a part of the 11th ranked passing offense in the FCS averaging 294.2 yards per game. The Thunderbird football program got longer, stronger and faster today.". Sanderswas a First Team All-Region performer for the Wasps at wide receiver. He was a two-time letter winner playing college football at both Grand Rapids Community College and Wayne State University. 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. 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. Corum said that throughout the hiring process, because we had such great candidates, I just kept hoping that somebody would separate themselves. 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. aaronmicha700@gmail.com. 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. And this man did.. What Utah college football players have entered the transfer portal this spring? The Thunderbirds feature a first-time Division I head coach in DeLane Fitzgerald, who moved across the country from D-II Frostburg State (Md.) After playing on the varsity squad for four seasons, Lynch was honored as both the Offensive MVP and Team MVP. The school announced Monday that SUU and Demario Warren have mutually agreed to part ways after six seasons. All rights reserved. Peterson served as an offensive quality control assistant at Texas from 2010-12, and served as the team's interim running backs coach in the 2012 Alamo Bowl. The 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. Theres a lot of players in this room. Each one of today's signees brings a physical skill set and a mentality that our coaching staff is looking for. Copyright St. George News, SaintGeorgeUtah.com LLC, 2021, all rights reserved. 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 . Head Coach Men's & Women's Swimming and Diving in Chicago, IL for 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. Fitzgerald believes Dunn might be the most talented player on his defense. Southern Utah Announces Football Coaching Change Guys, well not be 1-10 again, OK, he said. and will lead SUU in their first year in WAC play. 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. Our players have a better understanding of the offense, defense, and special teams (schemes). More:Southern Utah University tabs DeLane Fitzgerald as next head football coach, We have some pieces, continued Fitzgerald. 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.". Sean Ellertson is a sports reporter for the St. George Spectrum & Daily News. CEDAR CITY, Utah Southern Utah University head football coach DeLane Fitzgerald has announced his coaching staff for the upcoming season. I'm excited to build a great college football program with them.". We completely revamped the safety position, the wide receiver position, the running back position and got some things going there that are pretty positive.. SUU joined the Western Athletic Conference (WAC), already home to regional rival Utah Tech, in 2022. That number was good for fifth on the team. He has a chance to be as good as he wants to be. The now-redshirt junior threw for 2,416 yards and nine touchdowns to go along with 13 interceptions. Offensively, starting quarterback Justin Miller is returning alongside his leading receivers Ethan Bolingbroke and Brandon Schenks. 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. Southern Utah Football | Cedar City UT - Facebook The thing with him and Zach Strand is theyve always won. Bolingbroke and Schenks are slated to come back in the fall but both will miss the Spring Game due to injuries. After his remarks, Fitzgerald also fielded several questions from the media and football players. sports@suunews.net The 2022 staff includes four coaches retained from the previous staff, and six new additions to SUU. 2022 will mark Fernandez's 14th season at Southern Utah, and 11th as a full-time assistant. 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 He graduated from SUU with a master's of accountancy in 2018. Redshirt sophomore Aubrey Nellems notched 48 tackles as well and looks to see an increased role as the most experienced returning linebacker. No stranger to the state of Utah, Peterson comes to Southern Utah by way of Brigham Young University where he has worked with quarterbacks as an offensive analyst since 2019. His best season came in 2021 when he led the team with 694 yards. CEDAR CITY Southern Utah Universitys newly hired football coach received a warm welcome from players, fans and university officials on Thursday afternoon. 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. "Coach Warren has been a cherished member of this institution and community for the last 14 years," Corum said. [3] History [ edit] 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. Collin Gardner has played really well at the center and tackle position, Fitzgerald said. Fitzgeralds confidence doesnt stop with his defense and offense, however, believing he has a great group of specialists going into the season as well. Demario Warren out as Southern Utah head football coach - The Spectrum In fact, the 2022 roster is slated to have about 40 freshmen. Freshman class shines, Miller rises to occasion in Southern Utah Before meeting coach Fitzgerald in Maryland, Kelling coached at the University of Mary in North Dakota for two seasons in various roles. Miller has started 17 consecutive contests for SUU, giving Fitzgerald a seasoned quarterback. Since then, Tapasa has transitioned into a role as assistant coach overseeing the linebackers for Southern Utah. 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 2022 staff includes four coaches retained from the previous staff, and six new additions to SUU. Gardner, a redshirt freshman, was Fitzgeralds biggest surprise along the offensive line. Smith comes to TSU after two seasons as the wide receivers coach and recruiting coordinator at Southern Utah. Kelling joins the Southern Utah staff after serving as head coach at Lock Haven University since January of 2020. Thats because Fitzgerald is no stranger to turning programs around. Southern Utah University football helmet, Cedar City, Utah, Dec. 14, 2022 | Photo by Jeff Richards, St. George News / Cedar City News . Copyright 2023 Southern Utah University. 225-771-3171. A big part of spring ball is the learning and getting a feel for what we want. Next season will bring a lot of change for SUU football as they move from the Big Sky Conference to the Western Athletic Conference. The T-birds lost to rival Weber State last Saturday 62-0 to conclude their 2021 campaign. Bates went to Jacksonville after a two-year stint at Marshall University. Kenan Smith - Wide Receivers Coach - Football Coaches Francis Bemiy is on every teams radar for the 2023 draft, said Fitzgerald. After his playing career, Brunson spent one season coaching the offensive line under Fitzgerald's leadership. Copyright 2023 Deseret News Publishing Company. In 2015 he moved to the offensive line. For all the latest on Southern Utah football, follow @SUUFB_ on Twitter, @SUUFB on Instagram, and like the Southern Utah Football Facebook page. Leausa will join his brother, Austin, as an offensive lineman for Southern Utah. We have four or five good players on each side of the ball. We ask that you consider turning off your ad blocker so we can deliver you the best experience possible while you are here. 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. From 2004-11, Kelling coached at the University of North Dakota where he faced the Thunderbirds on multiple occasions. The OFFICIAL YouTube account for Southern Utah University. 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. The Thunderbirds are one of five new teams being added to the WAC, which will have 13 teams after the expansion. Like Magginson, Brunson comes to Southern Utah by way of Frostburg State as both a player and coach. Fitzgerald joked that part of Price's recruitment was that Price would hold off his honeymoon until after the spring season. The Southern Utah University football team is a team in transition. Aaron Brown. All Rights Reserved, In a new league with a new coach, SUU embracing fresh start. We ask that you consider turning off your ad blocker so we can deliver you the best experience possible while you are here. Southern Utah football spring practices: Thunderbirds rebuilding on the Peterson played three years of college football, starting as a quarterback for the University of New Mexico in 2007. The school announced Monday that SUU and Demario Warren have mutually agreed to part ways after six seasons. 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. 2023 www.thespectrum.com. 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. (He) played for us last year at Frostburg and had 20 or 30 tackles as a true freshman, Fitzgerald said.
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