and will lead SUU in their first year in WAC play. SUU is a caring campus community where students come to explore their interests and prepare for meaningful careers and life experiences . He runs around at safety and outside linebacker and hes 6-212 and can run like a deer.. Hunt will be in his 18th season when the T-Birds kickoff the 2022 schedule. He led the Knights to the state championship game where they defeated Utah powerhouse Corner Canyon, 49-42. Gardner, a redshirt freshman, was Fitzgeralds biggest surprise along the offensive line. Fitzgerald is less focused on the outcomes of games than he is on his team competing. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania / Penn Treaty HS. Copyright 2023 Southern Utah University. Ryan Hunt- Interior Defensive Line Coach/Director of Football Operations. Coach Fernandez also served as the team's recruiting coordinator for 5 years. [9], In November 2010, Southern Utah announced its admission to the Big Sky Conference, effective in 2012. With Davis, Duckett, and Moore III all off the 2022 roster, the door is open for Williams to become the go-to option. His first head coaching job was at Southern Virginia from 2009-13, after which he became the head coach of Frostburg State. 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.. 11/15/2021 9:23:00 AM. His impact on Frostburg State was unprecedented. A nationwide search for Southern Utah's new head football coach will begin immediately. 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. Football He also spent 2016 as the tight ends coach at Florida International, where he mentored NFL tight end Jonu Smith. Tapasa and his wife, Joanna, reside in St. George and have five daughters. 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. Can Weber State get back on top of the Big Sky? Price was out of Wednesdays practice due to his wedding on Thursday. He was a two-time letter winner playing college football at both Grand Rapids Community College and Wayne State University. Kelling coached the defensive backs in his first two seasons before becoming the team's co-defensive coordinator in 2006. Fitzgerald has a knack for turning around struggling programs, and the Thunderbirds fit that bill. 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.. 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. [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). For all the latest on Southern Utah football, follow @SUUFB_ on Twitter, @SUUFB on Instagram, and like the Southern Utah Football Facebook page. 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 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. Bates went to Jacksonville after a two-year stint at Marshall University. Another Utah native, Kelley was the 6A Co-Defensive Player of the Year and First Team All-State selection as a defensive end. The T-birds lost to rival Weber State last Saturday 62-0 to conclude their 2021 campaign. With a new coaching staff working to establish a winning culture, veteran players are expected to lead by example. He was also a dedicated student in the classroom, earning Academic All-Region honors. Theres a lot of players in this room. 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.. It is important to me that everybody in this program gets a clean slate, said Fitzgerald. aaronmicha700@gmail.com. Bolingbroke and Schenks are slated to come back in the fall but both will miss the Spring Game due to injuries. Singleton transferred to Liberty following the departure of Demario Warren. 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. Griffiths prepped just down the road from SUU at Crimson Cliffs High School in Washington, Utah. Anything we do, were going to finish what we start accountability, punctuality, discipline, all those things are really important to me.. For all the latest on Southern Utah football, follow @SUUFB_ on Twitter, @SUUFB on Instagram, and like the Southern Utah Football Facebook page. Not just out at practice and in the weight room, but with everything. 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. The intersquad scrimmage is set for Saturday, April 16, at 1 p.m and is free to the public. Before his brief stint at LHU, Kelling served as defensive coordinator and linebackers coach at Frostburg State University under coach Fitzgerald. Williams added another four scores on just 32 attempts for 206 yards. Before BYU, Peterson was an offensive quality control assistant at Rice for two seasons. Jenkins transferred to Southern Utah and will help bolster the Thunderbirds receiving corps in 2022. He graduated from SUU with a master's of accountancy in 2018. Jones was a 2x All-Big Sky First Team Selection and was an Associated Press FCS First Team All-American. and will lead SUU in their first year in WAC play. Purcell will play defensive line at Southern Utah after successfully doing so for Bountiful High School in Bountiful, Utah. 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 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. Top 5 stories on St. George News for Labor Day weekend. 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. Everything you see on me right now was first purchased at Christensens about 30 minutes ago, he said of his new suit. The Southern Utah University football team is a team in transition. 2023 www.thespectrum.com. 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. Before transferring to FSU, Brunson played quarterback at the University of Albany where he threw for 2,334 yards with 10 touchdowns in three seasons. He was also an Academic All-Region honoree. 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. He also added one interception, one forced fumble and one recovered fumble. 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. The move comes as SUU is just 1-10 this season, including 0-8 in Big Sky Conference play. Sean Ellertson is a sports reporter for the St. George Spectrum & Daily News. Karris Davis, Isaiah Williams, Thomas Duckett, and David Moore III all received over 40 touches on the ground. "Coach Warren has been a cherished. In 2015 he moved to the offensive line. 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. [3] History [ edit] Hatitio will look to help bolster the SUU offensive line after a successful high school career at Juan Diego Catholic High School in Draper. 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. Rancho Cucamonga, California / Alta Loma HS. SUU had just five wins in Warrens final three seasons. 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. In fact, the 2022 roster is slated to have about 40 freshmen. Also showing flashes at left guard is redshirt junior Artese Gregory. "I am happy with the way our coaching staff came together," Fitzgerald said. The use of software that blocks ads hinders our ability to serve you the content you came here to enjoy. However, Millers subpar 2,416 yards, nine touchdowns and 13 interceptions on 61% completion means his job might not necessarily be a lock. Rosser played his college football at James Madison from 2000-01 and earned his bachelor's degree in kinesiology from JMU in 2003. Assistant Wide Receivers Coach. We are aiming to build a solid foundation.. (He) played for us last year at Frostburg and had 20 or 30 tackles as a true freshman, Fitzgerald said. The WAC already includes two other Utah teams, namely Dixie State University and Utah Valley University. The 2021 running back position was a revolving door for Southern Utah. The junior running back brings physicality and size to the backfield at 6-foot-1, 220 pounds. 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. Acord also played wide receiver during high school and was a First Team All-Region performer. SUU will see how its crop of newcomers and returning players will mesh during their spring game on April 15. In the classroom, he was an AP Scholar and Commended Scholar for the 2022 National Merit Scholarship Program. To continue to support his work, please subscribe to The Spectrum. 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. All rights reserved. Most important, though, on top of being good coaches and good recruiters, we have a coaching staff made up of good people. McClure coached the Trailblazers from. Your California Privacy Rights / Privacy Policy. Iglesias was a three-year starter for Orange. New head coach DeLane Fitzgerald addresses his team following Wednesday's practice. sports@suunews.net 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. Griffiths was named the 4A Defensive Player of the Year as a linebacker and earned First Team All-State honors. (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.. 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. SUU joined the Western Athletic Conference (WAC), already home to regional rival Utah Tech, in 2022. Outside of my wife and kids, my three beautiful daughters I dont think about anything else but football, he said. 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. In addition to his degree from MSU Mankato, he holds a master's degree in recreation and sports science from Ohio University. . All Rights Reserved, In a new league with a new coach, SUU embracing fresh start. 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. The Southern Utah University football team is a team in transition. 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. Guys, well not be 1-10 again, OK, he said. 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. Thunderbirds. 4 Year Degree. Jeff is a longtime journalist and secondary school teacher. All rights reserved. 2023 www.thespectrum.com. Needing to plug multiple gaps along the line has left spots open for competition. 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. 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. 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.". He also spent time at Michigan State and Wayne State. Davis led the pack with 71 carries and 313 yards. 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. Blair Peterson- Offensive Coordinator/Quarterbacks Coach. High school girls golf: Week 8 region recap from some 6A, 5A, 4A and 3A regions. All Rights Reserved, This Utah college football team is now looking for a new head coach. 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 Follow Sean on Twitter @SeanEllertson. Our players have a better understanding of the offense, defense, and special teams (schemes). What theyve done in the past does not affect them now. The Thunderbirds are one of five new teams being added to the WAC, which will have 13 teams after the expansion. We still have a long way to go but were better. "Coach Warren has been a cherished member of this institution and community for the last 14 years," Corumsaid. Fitzgeralds staff at Frostburg consistently led D-II in tackles for loss and sacks, which should only drive up Bemiys potential. As for the rest of the roster, very few notable players are returning. 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. Fitzgerald is also high on the groundwork he and his staff have laid with the incoming freshmen. Kelling joins the Southern Utah staff after serving as head coach at Lock Haven University since January of 2020. Acord comes to Cedar City by way of Northridge High School in North Salt Lake, Utah. 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. Robison, listed at 6-foot-1, 195 pounds, flashed his ability to extend plays and make good reads in the RPO game. In three years with the Rebels he amassed 1,159 receiving yards. In his time at WKU, Robison was on the practice squad and learned under record-setting quarterback Bailey Zappe. "Coach Warren has been a cherished member of this institution and community for the last 14 years," Corum said. 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. 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. Overall, the T-Birds went 21-42 under Warren. We have four or five good players on each side of the ball. Spring practices have been without the top two receiving targets, Ethan Bolingbroke and Brandon Schenks, who are both recovering from injuries. We ask that you consider turning off your ad blocker so we can deliver you the best experience possible while you are here. Were going to show up for things. 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. The 2022 staff includes four coaches retained from the previous staff, and six new additions to SUU. Claude Edward Lamb III [1] (born March 4, 1974) is an American college football coach and former player. The intersquad scrimmage is set for Saturday, April 16, at 1 p.m and is free to the public. 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). BYU wide receiver Kody Epps is reportedly heading to the transfer portal, No. The OFFICIAL YouTube account for Southern Utah University. 2023 Football Roster - Southern Utah University 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. Before the regular season rolls around in late summer, Southern Utah University football will host its Spring Game to culminate the spring training season. 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. [2] Lamb served as the head football coach at Southern Utah University (SUU) from 2007 to 2015. Peterson is originally from San Antonio, Texas, and is joined in Cedar City by his wife, Camille, and daughter, Brooklyn. The Thunderbirds, however, get a fresh start in 2022 when a new era begins under recently hired head coach DeLane Fitzgerald in the schools first season in the Western Athletic Conference. SUU is hopeful Fitzgerald can produce similar results in Cedar City. Williams led the Thunderbirds averaging 6.2 yards per carry. All rights reserved. Commitment to student-athletes and their academic success, as well as athletic . The 2022 staff includes four coaches retained from the previous staff, and six new additions to SUU. 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. He finished fourth on the team with 46 tackles, including four tackles for loss and 1.5 sacks. CEDAR CITY Southern Utah Universitys newly hired football coach received a warm welcome from players, fans and university officials on Thursday afternoon. Smith comes to TSU after two seasons as the wide receivers coach and recruiting coordinator at Southern Utah. Copyright 2023 Deseret News Publishing Company. 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 Were going to show up on time. Starting with the 2022-23 school year, SUU will be exiting the Big Sky Conference and joining the Western Athletic Conference. In 2021, Justin Miller lined up under center for SUU. Fernandez joined the staff as an undergraduate assistant in 2009 following a stellar career as a Thunderbird player. 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. Well have a football program thats based on a culture of competitiveness and competitive greatness.. What Utah college football players have entered the transfer portal this spring? The school announced Monday that SUU and Demario Warren have mutually agreed to part ways after six seasons. "These 23 young men are the foundation on which we are going to build a great FCS football program. If you see me yell or make funny faces, its because the pins in these pants have stuck me.. 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. Sanders' work in the classroom was also recognized during high school with an Academic All-Region selection. CEDAR CITY, Utah - The Southern Utah Thunderbirds have announced three new additions to Coach DeLane Fitzgerald's coaching staff for the upcoming year.. Language links are at the top of the page across from the title. Southern Utah University and head football coach Demario Warren have mutually agreed to part ways, per a press release from the school on Monday. If we line up and we are competitive and we play well, well win our fair share of games. 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. While playing for the Thunderbirds, Hunt started 33 straight games from his sophomore to senior seasons, never missing a game during his career. Theyve been winners in college and now theyre graduate transfers, so they bring some much-needed leadership.. "I am happy with the way our coaching staff came together," 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. Before meeting coach Fitzgerald in Maryland, Kelling coached at the University of Mary in North Dakota for two seasons in various roles. He served as team captain of the track and field team and won his school's Student-Athlete Leadership Award and Community Service Award. The Thunderbird football program got longer, stronger and faster today.". Information on each individual coach can be readbelow. 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. During his prep career, Purcell was an All-State Honorable Mention and two-time First Team All-Region selection. Fairchild was a two-time First Team All-League football and basketball player, and holds multiple school records in track and field. He was named First Team All-State by the Deseret News as well as First Team All-Region. He led a Southern Virginia team to its second-ever winning season in 2013 with an 8-2 record. Thanks to the departure of Kobe Singleton, Fitzgerald will need to find another lockdown corner. The secondary will see the most change, returning practically none of the major contributors from 2021. On the offensive line, right guard Lyle Santos is the only current player who started all 11 games last season. 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.
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