Southern Utah University 0:03 0:24 DeLane Fitzgerald announced his first signing class as head football coach at Southern Utah University on Wednesday, as the Thunderbirds inked 23. Copyright 2023 Southern Utah University. Kelling coached the defensive backs in his first two seasons before becoming the team's co-defensive coordinator in 2006. Fitzgerald Announces SUU Football Coaching Staff - Southern Utah 16 Utah softball gets good measuring stick in series against No. All rights reserved. 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. A native of Erda, Utah, he is a graduate of Tooele High School, where he was an all-state and all-region performer. [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). Tosh Wright and Jordan Jefferson each could add to the revamped backfield. Blair Peterson- Offensive Coordinator/Quarterbacks Coach. Southern Utah University - YouTube The Official Facebook Page for Southern Utah University Football #FocusFightFinish #TBirdNation Head Coach Men's & Women's Swimming and Diving in Chicago, IL for 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. 2022 will mark Fernandez's 14th season at Southern Utah, and 11th as a full-time assistant. Fitzgeralds confidence doesnt stop with his defense and offense, however, believing he has a great group of specialists going into the season as well. 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. Southern Utah head coach Demario Warren shouts to his team during game against Utah Thursday, Sept. 1, 2016, in Salt Lake City. Football Coaches - Southern Utah University Athletics [10], The Thunderbirds won their first Big Sky championship in 2015, defeating Northern Arizona 4941 in the regular season finale at Cedar City. 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. Main Phone (435) 865-8355 Fax (435) 865-8078. Corum said that throughout the hiring process, because we had such great candidates, I just kept hoping that somebody would separate themselves. With Davis, Duckett, and Moore III all off the 2022 roster, the door is open for Williams to become the go-to option. Jeff Richards, a native of Salt Lake City with family roots in Panguitch, lived in Moab for 20 years before joining St. George News in 2017. Gardner, a redshirt freshman, was Fitzgeralds biggest surprise along the offensive line. We ask that you consider turning off your ad blocker so we can deliver you the best experience possible while you are here. 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. That number was good for fifth on the team. Jeff is a longtime journalist and secondary school teacher. Tapasa will start his seventh season at SUU in 2022. Theyre going to be very, very good in four or five years.. FOOTBALL Coaches - Southern University Copyright 2023 Southern Utah University. 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. What theyve done in the past does not affect them now. Sean Ellertson is a sports reporter for the St. George Spectrum & Daily News. He also said he plans to actively recruit top athletes from Arizona, Nevada and Southern California. Coach Fernandez also served as the team's recruiting coordinator for 5 years. [6] While in the WFC from 1986 to 1992, the Thunderbirds' overall record was 41341 (.546). "We have a coaching staff that can coach and recruit with anyone in the country. 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 will be exciting': SUU welcomes new head football coach "These 23 young men are the foundation on which we are going to build a great FCS football program. A native of Virginia, Fitzgerald played college football for James Madison University then started working as an assistant coach in 2000. 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. Were going to show up on time. 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. More:Southern Utah University tabs DeLane Fitzgerald as next head football coach, We have some pieces, continued Fitzgerald. As per usual, the school said a nationwide search for Warrens replacement will begin immediately. He led a Southern Virginia team to its second-ever winning season in 2013 with an 8-2 record. The use of software that blocks ads hinders our ability to serve you the content you came here to enjoy. In the classroom, he was an AP Scholar and Commended Scholar for the 2022 National Merit Scholarship Program. Thunderbirds. 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. SUU announces first signing class under coach DeLane Fitzgerald - Yahoo! Now what weve got to do is find the other five or six pieces on each side of the football. The program will enter the WAC next season. 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. Fitzgerald joked that part of Price's recruitment was that Price would hold off his honeymoon until after the spring season. Magginson was a four-year player for the Bobcat football team and appeared in all 13 games and made two starts as a senior. The only thing thats going to stop Isaiah Williams is Isaiah Williams, Fitzgerald said. Football Coaches - University of Utah Athletics Leausa will join his brother, Austin, as an offensive lineman for Southern Utah. Theyve got a chance to prove themselves to a new coaching staff.. [3] History [ edit] The secondary will see the most change, returning practically none of the major contributors from 2021. 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. In addition to his degree from MSU Mankato, he holds a master's degree in recreation and sports science from Ohio University. Price was out of Wednesdays practice due to his wedding on Thursday. He has a chance to be as good as he wants to be. "He has elevated the football program in many ways and has positively impacted the lives of hundreds of young men. sports@suunews.net Freshman class shines, Miller rises to occasion in Southern Utah 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. Rosser played his college football at James Madison from 2000-01 and earned his bachelor's degree in kinesiology from JMU in 2003. Were going to show up for things. Theres a lot of players in this room. The move comes as SUU is just 1-10 this season, including 0-8 in Big Sky Conference play. The use of software that blocks ads hinders our ability to serve you the content you came here to enjoy. I'm excited to build a great college football program with them.". Director of Football Operations / Player Personnel. He also added one interception, one forced fumble and one recovered fumble. Before meeting coach Fitzgerald in Maryland, Kelling coached at the University of Mary in North Dakota for two seasons in various roles. 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.. Hunt will be in his 18th season when the T-Birds kickoff the 2022 schedule. Fitzgerald believes Dunn might be the most talented player on his defense. 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. Demario Warren, SUU mutually agree to part ways - Deseret News Before working with the Pirates, Bates was the head strength and conditioning coach at Jacksonville University for nine and a half years. Before joining the Thunderbird coaching staff, Tapasa served as defensive line coach at Sacramento State. Griffiths was named the 4A Defensive Player of the Year as a linebacker and earned First Team All-State honors. UNLV wide receiver Steve Jenkins runs after a catch during game against San Diego State, Friday, Nov. 19, 2021, in Las Vegas. 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. 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. In 2021, Justin Miller lined up under center for SUU. The 2021 running back position was a revolving door for Southern Utah. The Southern Utah University Thunderbirds will be looking for a new head football coach. CEDAR CITY, Utah - Southern Utah University head football coach DeLane Fitzgerald has announced his coaching staff for the upcoming season. Us older guys just have to make sure we set the standard high and consistently do the right things everyday, said redshirt sophomore Lyle Santos. Fitzgerald believes that this team will be just the beginning of something great at SUU. At the beginning of his remarks, Fitzgerald joked how his luggage hadnt arrived in time, due to a flight cancellation. 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. Football 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. 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. The T-Birds went 1-10 and 0-8 in Big Sky play in 2021. We ask that you consider turning off your ad blocker so we can deliver you the best experience possible while you are here. Fitzgerald spoke of the multiplicity of offensive tactics he likes to employ, which he said will typically evolve depending on the players. Jones was a 2x All-Big Sky First Team Selection and was an Associated Press FCS First Team All-American. After playing on the varsity squad for four seasons, Lynch was honored as both the Offensive MVP and Team MVP. 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. 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. Being competitive 11 straight games will be successful for me.. Kenan Smith - Wide Receivers Coach - Football Coaches 2023 www.thespectrum.com. 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.. 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. Lynch was a First Team All-CIF Southern selection in 2021, and First Team All-Palomares League in 2019, 20 and 21. 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. 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. Peterson is originally from San Antonio, Texas, and is joined in Cedar City by his wife, Camille, and daughter, Brooklyn. CEDAR CITY - Southern Utah University and head football coach Demario Warren announced recently that they have mutually agreed to part .