Fitzgerald is less focused on the outcomes of games than he is on his team competing. Gardner, a redshirt freshman, was Fitzgeralds biggest surprise along the offensive line. The move comes as SUU is just 1-10 this season, including 0-8 in Big Sky Conference play. We ask that you consider turning off your ad blocker so we can deliver you the best experience possible while you are here. He was named First Team All-District on both offense and special teams during high school. 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 . 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. After his remarks, Fitzgerald also fielded several questions from the media and football players. Karris Davis, Isaiah Williams, Thomas Duckett, and David Moore III all received over 40 touches on the ground. 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. Acord also played wide receiver during high school and was a First Team All-Region performer. The use of software that blocks ads hinders our ability to serve you the content you came here to enjoy. Main Phone (435) 865-8355 Fax (435) 865-8078. He has elevated the football program in many ways and has positively impacted the lives of hundreds of young men. The Thunderbirds feature a first-time Division I head coach in DeLane Fitzgerald, who moved across the country from D-II Frostburg State (Md.) Brunson played quarterback for the Bobcats in 2019, throwing for 2,067 yards and 18 touchdowns while adding three more touchdowns on the ground. Since then, Tapasa has transitioned into a role as assistant coach overseeing the linebackers for Southern Utah. It is important to me that everybody in this program gets a clean slate, said Fitzgerald. For all the latest on Southern Utah football, follow @SUUFB_ on Twitter, @SUUFB on Instagram, and like the Southern Utah Football Facebook page. Our right guard and right tackle can play with the best of em, Fitzgerald said. Southern Utah Football (@SUUFB_) / Twitter 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. 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. 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. [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]. CEDAR CITY, Utah - Southern Utah University head football coach DeLane Fitzgerald has announced his coaching staff for the upcoming season. The now-redshirt junior threw for 2,416 yards and nine touchdowns to go along with 13 interceptions. Ed Lamb - Wikipedia Price was out of Wednesdays practice due to his wedding on Thursday. Southern Utah football names former Dixie State head coach as new SUU averaged just 2.9 yards per carry on the ground. 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. Coach Hunt has worked with both the offensive and defensive sides of the ball. 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. Rosser played his college football at James Madison from 2000-01 and earned his bachelor's degree in kinesiology from JMU in 2003. [9], In November 2010, Southern Utah announced its admission to the Big Sky Conference, effective in 2012. [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). He was a two-time letter winner playing college football at both Grand Rapids Community College and Wayne State University. [10], The Thunderbirds won their first Big Sky championship in 2015, defeating Northern Arizona 4941 in the regular season finale at Cedar City. [5] The Thunderbirds were members of the RMAC from 1969 to 1985, with an overall record of 86733 (.540) during that time. 225-771-3171. 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. Claude Edward Lamb III [1] (born March 4, 1974) is an American college football coach and former player. 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. High school girls golf: Week 8 region recap from some 6A, 5A, 4A and 3A regions. Iglesias was a three-year starter for Orange. April 16, 2022 - by Chevy Blackburn. 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 also worked with the defensive backs at the University of Virginia-Wise from 2016-19. 13 talking about this. [2] Lamb served as the head football coach at Southern Utah University (SUU) from 2007 to 2015. SUU had just five wins in Warrens final three seasons. The Thunderbirds feature a first-time Division I head coach in DeLane Fitzgerald, who moved across the country from D-II Frostburg State (Md.) The Official Facebook Page for Southern Utah University Football #FocusFightFinish #TBirdNation After his playing career, Brunson spent one season coaching the offensive line under Fitzgerald's leadership. Corum said the other members of the hiring committee also expressed similar sentiments, stating that they agreed he was the right person for the job. All Rights Reserved, In a new league with a new coach, SUU embracing fresh start. 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. Information on each signee, along with a link to the announcement of their signing, can be viewed below. Theyve been winners in college and now theyre graduate transfers, so they bring some much-needed leadership.. SUU football rebuilding on the fly under new coaching staff The move comes as SUU is just 1-10 this season, including 0-8 in Big Sky Conference play. I know you guys are coming off a 1-10 season. 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. 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. A native of Virginia, Fitzgerald played college football for James Madison University then started working as an assistant coach in 2000. 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. 0:24 Southern Utah University football has announced the hiring of former Dixie State head coach Shay McClure as the team's linebackers coach. CEDAR CITY, Utah - The Southern Utah Thunderbirds have announced three new additions to Coach DeLane Fitzgerald's coaching staff for the upcoming year.. We ask that you consider turning off your ad blocker so we can deliver you the best experience possible while you are here. Redshirt sophomore Aubrey Nellems notched 48 tackles as well and looks to see an increased role as the most experienced returning linebacker. UNLV wide receiver Steve Jenkins runs after a catch during game against San Diego State, Friday, Nov. 19, 2021, in Las Vegas. Coach Fernandez also served as the team's recruiting coordinator for 5 years. Being competitive 11 straight games will be successful for me.. All rights reserved. Bemiy totaled 48 total tackles in 2021 and paced SUU in sacks (4) and TFLs (12.5). The only thing thats going to stop Isaiah Williams is Isaiah Williams, Fitzgerald said. Each one of today's signees brings a physical skill set and a mentality that our coaching staff is looking for. For all the latest on Southern Utah football, follow @SUUFB_ on Twitter, @SUUFB on Instagram, and like the Southern Utah Football Facebook page. On the offensive line, right guard Lyle Santos is the only current player who started all 11 games last season. 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. "He has elevated the football program in many ways and has positively impacted the lives of hundreds of young men. 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 Kelling was named Football Gazette's Division II National Defensive Player of the Year in 1991 during his playing days. Assistant Wide Receivers Coach. Southern Utah University - YouTube He graduated from SUU with a master's of accountancy in 2018. The defense is undergoing a lot of change as well with redshirt junior Francis Bemiy being the most productive returning player. Joseph McWilliams. Copyright 2023 Southern Utah University. Thats because Fitzgerald is no stranger to turning programs around.