Southern Utah University football spring game photo gallery. Additionally, Fitzgerald said the teams hes coached have been among the top leaders in sacks and making other big plays. The Southern Utah Thunderbirds football (also referred to as the SUU Thunderbirds) program is a college football team that represents Southern Utah University (SUU). 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. 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. Magginson was a four-year player for the Bobcat football team and appeared in all 13 games and made two starts as a senior. He was named First Team All-State by the Deseret News as well as First Team All-Region. Copyright 2023 Southern Utah University. Francis Bemiy is on every teams radar for the 2023 draft, said Fitzgerald. Andrew Bates- Strength & Conditioning Coach. 0:24 Southern Utah University football has announced the hiring of former Dixie State head coach Shay McClure as the team's linebackers coach. aaronmicha700@gmail.com. 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. Thats because Fitzgerald is no stranger to turning programs around. 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 Before his brief stint at LHU, Kelling served as defensive coordinator and linebackers coach at Frostburg State University under coach Fitzgerald. Bates joins Southern Utah after serving one season as the strength and conditioning coach for Hampton 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. 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. [5] The Thunderbirds were members of the RMAC from 1969 to 1985, with an overall record of 86733 (.540) during that time. The Sammamish, Washington native led Eastlake High School to a 9-2 record as a senior under center. 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. 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. Theyre going to be very, very good in four or five years.. The Thunderbirds have appeared in the FCS playoffs three times with an overall record of 03. Our right guard and right tackle can play with the best of em, Fitzgerald said. 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. Top 5 stories on St. George News for Labor Day weekend. The T-birds lost to rival Weber State last Saturday 62-0 to conclude their 2021 campaign. Rosser also worked with the defensive backs at the University of Virginia-Wise from 2016-19. Bemiy totaled 48 total tackles in 2021 and paced SUU in sacks (4) and TFLs (12.5). 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. 16 Utah softball gets good measuring stick in series against No. We ask that you consider turning off your ad blocker so we can deliver you the best experience possible while you are here. "That's our deepest group right there in terms of talent, Fitzgerald said. Tosh Wright and Jordan Jefferson each could add to the revamped backfield. Coach Hunt has worked with both the offensive and defensive sides of the ball. All Rights Reserved, This Utah college football team is now looking for a new head coach. Tapasa will start his seventh season at SUU in 2022. Williams led the Thunderbirds averaging 6.2 yards per carry. The successful candidate will be responsible for managing all aspects of an NCAA Division III athletic program. 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. 2023 Football Roster - Southern Utah University Athletics. The use of software that blocks ads hinders our ability to serve you the content you came here to enjoy. Coming off a 1-10 season and led by an overhauled coaching staff, foundational pieces for the rebuild may be starting to take shape. Were going to show up on time. 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. Karris Davis, Isaiah Williams, Thomas Duckett, and David Moore III all received over 40 touches on the ground. Fitzgerald has a knack for turning around struggling programs, and the Thunderbirds fit that bill. CEDAR CITY - Southern Utah University and head football coach Demario Warren announced recently that they have mutually agreed to part . Griffiths prepped just down the road from SUU at Crimson Cliffs High School in Washington, Utah. A native of Erda, Utah, he is a graduate of Tooele High School, where he was an all-state and all-region performer. Can Weber State get back on top of the Big Sky? 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. After his remarks, Fitzgerald also fielded several questions from the media and football players. 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. 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. He finished fourth on the team with 46 tackles, including four tackles for loss and 1.5 sacks. The intersquad scrimmage is set for Saturday, April 16, at 1 p.m and is free to the public. Thanks to the departure of Kobe Singleton, Fitzgerald will need to find another lockdown corner. Like Magginson, Brunson comes to Southern Utah by way of Frostburg State as both a player and coach. Southern Utah University football helmet, Cedar City, Utah, Dec. 14, 2022 | Photo by Jeff Richards, St. George News / Cedar City News . Information on each individual coach can be readbelow. 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. The Thunderbird football program got longer, stronger and faster today.". 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. 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 added one interception, one forced fumble and one recovered fumble. 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. He was named First Team All-District on both offense and special teams during high school. Copyright 2023 Deseret News Publishing Company. 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. The Thunderbirds feature a first-time Division I head coach in DeLane Fitzgerald, who moved across the country from D-II Frostburg State (Md.) Would you like to have the day's news stories delivered right to your inbox every evening? The Southern Utah University Thunderbirds will be looking for a new head football coach. He also spent 2016 as the tight ends coach at Florida International, where he mentored NFL tight end Jonu Smith. New head coach DeLane Fitzgerald addresses his team following Wednesday's practice. "I am happy with the way our coaching staff came together," Fitzgerald said. 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 Wednesday's practice, redshirt senior cornerback JT Thomas made a nice play on a deflected pass for an interception in 11 on 11 drills. Each one of today's signees brings a physical skill set and a mentality that our coaching staff is looking for. We have four or five good players on each side of the ball. I know you guys are coming off a 1-10 season. 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.". Outside of my wife and kids, my three beautiful daughters I dont think about anything else but football, he said. Southern Utah University and head football coach Demario Warren have mutually agreed to part ways, per a press release from the school on Monday. 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. Were going to show up for things. Acord comes to Cedar City by way of Northridge High School in North Salt Lake, Utah. Assistant Wide Receivers Coach. Kelling joins the Southern Utah staff after serving as head coach at Lock Haven University since January of 2020. In addition to his degree from MSU Mankato, he holds a master's degree in recreation and sports science from Ohio University. Jenkins transferred to Southern Utah and will help bolster the Thunderbirds receiving corps in 2022. [6] While in the WFC from 1986 to 1992, the Thunderbirds' overall record was 41341 (.546). Director of Football Operations / Player Personnel. All rights reserved. CEDAR CITY, Utah - Southern Utah University head football coach DeLane Fitzgerald has announced his coaching staff for the upcoming season. All rights reserved. 4 Year Degree. He has a chance to be as good as he wants to be. 225-771-3171. Defensive Graduate Assistant. 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.. Its what I do.. [12] After the 2022 season, the WAC fully merged its football league with that of the ASUN Conference, creating what eventually became the United Athletic Conference, and SUU accordingly moved its football team to the new league.[13][14]. 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. He has elevated the football program in many ways and has positively impacted the lives of hundreds of young men. Moore had four touchdowns on 48 carries, while Duckett had 179 yards on 54 touches. 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. The thing with him and Zach Strand is theyve always won. and will lead SUU in their first year in WAC play. [4], In 1993, Southern Utah moved up to Division I-AA and joined the American West Conference (AWC) as a charter member. After one season with the Lobos, he transferred to Towson where he played quarterback from 2008-09. Football After going 9-3 in Warrens second season in 2017 (6-5 in his first) and winning the Big Sky title, SUU has gone a paltry 6-34 since. Copyright 2023 Southern Utah University. 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 Singleton transferred to Liberty following the departure of Demario Warren. He graduated from SUU with a master's of accountancy in 2018. Miller is now joined in the quarterback room by redshirt freshmen Jackson Berry and Rand Jensen, and Western Kentucky transfer Grady Robison. Your California Privacy Rights / Privacy Policy. 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. Before meeting coach Fitzgerald in Maryland, Kelling coached at the University of Mary in North Dakota for two seasons in various roles. Leausa will join his brother, Austin, as an offensive lineman for Southern Utah. Needing to plug multiple gaps along the line has left spots open for competition. Most important, though, on top of being good coaches and good recruiters, we have a coaching staff made up of good people. Southern Utah head coach Demario Warren shouts to his team during game against Utah Thursday, Sept. 1, 2016, in Salt Lake City. A big part of spring ball is the learning and getting a feel for what we want. He and his wife Penny are the parents of five daughters. Illinois Tech, an NCAA Division III program located in Chicago, is actively searching for a Head Coach Men's & Women's Swimming and Diving. "Coach Warren has been a cherished. 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. A nationwide search for Southern Utah's new head football coach will begin immediately. All rights reserved. SUU football enters the 2022 season coming off a disappointing year that saw the Thunderbirds finish 1-10 in 2021. 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. 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. Hatitio will look to help bolster the SUU offensive line after a successful high school career at Juan Diego Catholic High School in Draper. I'm excited to build a great college football program with them.". We are aiming to build a solid foundation.. 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. In fact, the 2022 roster is slated to have about 40 freshmen. Jeff and his family enjoy swimming, camping, sightseeing, reading, and taking pictures. Claude Edward Lamb III [1] (born March 4, 1974) is an American college football coach and former player. He led a Southern Virginia team to its second-ever winning season in 2013 with an 8-2 record. They were an independent for eight years,[8] then became a charter conference member again in 2004 with the Great West Conference (GWC). The WAC already includes two other Utah teams, namely Dixie State University and Utah Valley University. During his prep career, Purcell was an All-State Honorable Mention and two-time First Team All-Region selection. Brunson played quarterback for the Bobcats in 2019, throwing for 2,067 yards and 18 touchdowns while adding three more touchdowns on the ground. Fernandez joined the staff as an undergraduate assistant in 2009 following a stellar career as a Thunderbird player. Well have a football program thats based on a culture of competitiveness and competitive greatness.. Kelling coached the defensive backs in his first two seasons before becoming the team's co-defensive coordinator in 2006. Miller has started 17 consecutive contests for SUU, giving Fitzgerald a seasoned quarterback. (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.. 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. More:Southern Utah University tabs DeLane Fitzgerald as next head football coach, We have some pieces, continued Fitzgerald. And this man did.. Copyright 2023 Southern Utah University. Jones was a 2x All-Big Sky First Team Selection and was an Associated Press FCS First Team All-American. His impact on Frostburg State was unprecedented. 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. 13 talking about this. Main Phone (435) 865-8355 Fax (435) 865-8078. SUU had just five wins in Warrens final three seasons. Tapasa and his wife, Joanna, reside in St. George and have five daughters. Follow Sean on Twitter @SeanEllertson. 351 W. University Blvd, Cedar City, Utah 84720 SUU's newest signing class includes 12 signees from the state of Utah, four from California, three from Maryland, two from Virginia and one from Washington and Pennsylvania. Bemiy, alongside Frostburg State transfer Zach Strand, should be two difference-makers along the defensive line. He also said he plans to actively recruit top athletes from Arizona, Nevada and Southern California. 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. Who is new Runnin Ute Keba Keita and how is Utahs 2022-23 roster shaping up? 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 Jeff is a longtime journalist and secondary school teacher. Cox participated in multiple high school all-star events, including the Crab Bowl and Eastern Shore Bowl Game in Maryland. The use of software that blocks ads hinders our ability to serve you the content you came here to enjoy. 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. A native of Virginia, Fitzgerald played college football for James Madison University then started working as an assistant coach in 2000. 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. That number was good for fifth on the team. The Dolphins won 10 conference championships across multiple sports during Bates' tenure. 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. "These 23 young men are the foundation on which we are going to build a great FCS football program. 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. 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. Before BYU, Peterson was an offensive quality control assistant at Rice for two seasons. The move comes as SUU is just 1-10 this season, including 0-8 in Big Sky Conference play. Theyve got a chance to prove themselves to a new coaching staff.. Ahead of the 2016 season Tapasa was brought to Cedar City to serve as SUU's Co-Defensive Coordinator and coach the linebacking unit. Copyright 2010 - 2023 StGeorgeUtah.com LLC, all rights reserved. Rosser played his college football at James Madison from 2000-01 and earned his bachelor's degree in kinesiology from JMU in 2003. Karris Davis, Isaiah Williams, Thomas Duckett, and David Moore III all received over 40 touches on the ground. He runs around at safety and outside linebacker and hes 6-212 and can run like a deer.. 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. 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. Ashby projects to play wide receiver for the Thunderbirds. 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. 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.. 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. Kelling was named Football Gazette's Division II National Defensive Player of the Year in 1991 during his playing days. 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. Griffiths was named the 4A Defensive Player of the Year as a linebacker and earned First Team All-State honors. We ask that you consider turning off your ad blocker so we can deliver you the best experience possible while you are here. The Southern Utah University football team is a team in transition. With Davis, Duckett, and Moore III all off the 2022 roster, the door is open for Williams to become the go-to option. If you see me yell or make funny faces, its because the pins in these pants have stuck me.. Copyright 2023 Southern Utah University. Our recruiting class is the sleeper group in the country, he said. After playing on the varsity squad for four seasons, Lynch was honored as both the Offensive MVP and Team MVP. Starting with the 2022-23 school year, SUU will be exiting the Big Sky Conference and joining the Western Athletic Conference. "The Southern Utah Football coaching staff couldn't be more excited about this year's signing day class," Fitzgerald said. The win-loss record doesnt matter to me right now, he said. Prior to that, he had been a coach in various capacities in the program since 2007. Joining Fitzgerald from Frostburg State, Magginson will work as the defensive ends coach at SUU. The 2022 staff includes four coaches retained from the previous staff, and six new additions to SUU. The team began spring practices on Monday, March 21, and the . For all the latest on Southern Utah football, follow @SUUFB_ on Twitter, @SUUFB on Instagram, and like the Southern Utah Football Facebook page. He served as team captain of the track and field team and won his school's Student-Athlete Leadership Award and Community Service Award. [7] The AWC folded after the 1995 season, and the Thunderbirds were 9231 (.288) overall in those three years. SUU will see how its crop of newcomers and returning players will mesh during their spring game on April 15. 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. 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 defense is undergoing a lot of change as well with redshirt junior Francis Bemiy being the most productive returning player. He was a two-time letter winner playing college football at both Grand Rapids Community College and Wayne State University. The OFFICIAL YouTube account for Southern Utah University. Our players have a better understanding of the offense, defense, and special teams (schemes). 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 . Ryan Hunt- Interior Defensive Line Coach/Director of Football Operations. The team began spring practices on Monday, March 21, and the Spring Game allows a preview into what can be expected for next season. Magginson spent four years as a coach on the FSU staff, working with the entirety of the defensive line. CEDAR CITY Southern Utah Universitys newly hired football coach received a warm welcome from players, fans and university officials on Thursday afternoon. Fitzgerald joked that part of Price's recruitment was that Price would hold off his honeymoon until after the spring season. Next season will bring a lot of change for SUU football as they move from the Big Sky Conference to the Western Athletic Conference. And not promising national titles and not promising conference titles and stuff here today, but were going to be extremely competitive. 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. 11/15/2021 9:23:00 AM.