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. His first head coaching job was at Southern Virginia from 2009-13, after which he became the head coach of Frostburg State. 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. Guys, well not be 1-10 again, OK, he said. Jeff is a longtime journalist and secondary school teacher. The use of software that blocks ads hinders our ability to serve you the content you came here to enjoy. Thanks to the departure of Kobe Singleton, Fitzgerald will need to find another lockdown corner. Fitzgerald Announces SUU Football Coaching Staff - Southern Utah sports@suunews.net Now what weve got to do is find the other five or six pieces on each side of the football. CEDAR CITY - Southern Utah University and head football coach Demario Warren announced recently that they have mutually agreed to part . 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. The Southern Utah Thunderbirds football (also referred to as the SUU Thunderbirds) program is a college football team that represents Southern Utah University (SUU). The school announced Monday that SUU and Demario Warren have mutually agreed to part ways after six seasons. The win-loss record doesnt matter to me right now, he said. Next season will bring a lot of change for SUU football as they move from the Big Sky Conference to the Western Athletic Conference. All rights reserved. Griffiths prepped just down the road from SUU at Crimson Cliffs High School in Washington, Utah. Sean Ellertson is a sports reporter for the St. George Spectrum & Daily News. The Thunderbirds new coach is confident that he and his staff can make thenecessary changes to turn things around. With a new coaching staff working to establish a winning culture, veteran players are expected to lead by example. 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. 11/15/2021 9:23:00 AM. 2023 www.thespectrum.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. Before the regular season rolls around in late summer, Southern Utah University football will host its Spring Game to culminate the spring training season. Theyre going to be very, very good in four or five years.. 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. Warren was named head coach in 2016 after spending the two previous seasons as defensive coordinator. For all the latest on Southern Utah football, follow @SUUFB_ on Twitter, @SUUFB on Instagram, and like the Southern Utah Football Facebook page. Griffiths was named the 4A Defensive Player of the Year as a linebacker and earned First Team All-State honors. 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? Copyright 2023 Deseret News Publishing Company. Jeff and his family enjoy swimming, camping, sightseeing, reading, and taking pictures. 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. I'm excited to build a great college football program with them.". All rights reserved. Robison was graded as a three-star quarterback in the 2020 cycle, and the 73rd best dual-threat quarterback in the class. A native of Virginia, Fitzgerald played college football for James Madison University then started working as an assistant coach in 2000. Demario Warren, SUU mutually agree to part ways - Deseret News That number was good for fifth on the team. 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.. 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. The new T-Birds are made up of 15 signees straight from high school and eight transferring from previous colleges. Like Magginson, Brunson comes to Southern Utah by way of Frostburg State as both a player and coach. The signees were: Elijah Burns / RB / 5-11 / 205 / William & Mary, Brandon Dillard / OL / 6-4 / 260 / Frostburg State, Micah Pettit / K / 6-1 / 175 / Lafayette College, Mitchell Price / DB / 6-0 / 195 / Brigham Young, Jackson Rigby / TE / 6-4 / 230 / Utah State, Grady Robison / QB / 6-1 / 195 / Western Kentucky, Zach Strand / DL / 5-10 / 250 / Frostburg State. Fitzgeralds staff at Frostburg consistently led D-II in tackles for loss and sacks, which should only drive up Bemiys potential. The team began spring practices on Monday, March 21, and the Spring Game allows a preview into what can be expected for next season. Southern Utah Thunderbirds football - Wikipedia Andrew Bates- Strength & Conditioning Coach. 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. Football Coaches - Southern Utah University Athletics Former coaches, alumni hope to reignite magic of junior college The Thunderbirds have appeared in the FCS playoffs three times with an overall record of 03. [3] History [ edit] [4] After 1985, Southern Utah moved up to NCAA Division II and joined the Western Football Conference (WFC). . At the beginning of his remarks, Fitzgerald joked how his luggage hadnt arrived in time, due to a flight cancellation. The Dolphins won 10 conference championships across multiple sports during Bates' tenure. In 2015 he moved to the offensive line. 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. and will lead SUU in their first year in WAC play. The junior running back brings physicality and size to the backfield at 6-foot-1, 220 pounds. Redshirt sophomore Aubrey Nellems notched 48 tackles as well and looks to see an increased role as the most experienced returning linebacker. 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. The Southern Utah University football team is a team in transition. Acord comes to Cedar City by way of Northridge High School in North Salt Lake, Utah. [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]. Smith comes to TSU after two seasons as the wide receivers coach and recruiting coordinator at Southern Utah. Not just out at practice and in the weight room, but with everything. SUU parting ways with head football coach Demario Warren CEDAR CITY, Utah - Southern Utah University head football coach DeLane Fitzgerald has announced his coaching staff for the upcoming season. Copyright 2023 Southern Utah University. We have four or five good players on each side of the ball. 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. [7] The AWC folded after the 1995 season, and the Thunderbirds were 9231 (.288) overall in those three years. 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. 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.
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