SUU promotes defensive coordinator Warren to head coach

(Courtesy photo: SUU Athletics)


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CEDAR CITY — Southern Utah defensive coordinator Demario Warren will be the program's next head coach, the Thunderbirds announced Sunday evening.

Warren replaces former head coach Ed Lamb, who left Cedar City to take the assistant head coach job at BYU under new coach Kalani Sitake. Warren will be formally introduced as the 12th head coach in program history at a news conference Monday morning at SUU.

"My family and I are extremely excited for the opportunity to lead this special program," Warren said in a statement. "We are so grateful to (athletic director) Jason Butikofer, president Scott Wyatt and Eric Leavitt for choosing me to succeed my mentor and friend, Ed Lamb. I would like to thank everyone for their support throughout this process. I look forward to growing and expanding the relationships with the Cedar City, alumni and campus community."

A 2008 graduate of UC Davis, Warren came to Cedar City eight years ago to coach the Thunderbirds' running backs. He moved to the defensive side of the ball during spring camp in 2008 and helped coach SUU's secondary and linebackers, finally ascending to the defensive coordinator role for the past two years.

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During his tenure, Warren helped develop four NFL draft prospects, including first-team FCS All-American defensive end James Cowser, Miles Killebrew, LeShaun Sims and Dion Turner. His players have raked in 19 all-conference honors in eight years, including nine all-Big Sky honors during the Thunderbirds' first-ever Big Sky championship in 2015 and second trip to the FCS Playoffs in three years.

Warren's defense led the nation in turnover margin in 2015. The Thunderbirds return 17 of 22 starters for the 2016 campaign, and also add transfer players like former BYU quarterback McCoy Hill.

He was a three-year letterwinner as a running back at UC Davis, but his career was cut short due to injuries in his senior season. As a redshirt freshman in 2005, he quickly earned a starting spot with the Aggies and finished second on the team in rushing yards.

A native of Fairfield, California, Warren earned a bachelor's degree in Africa-American studies from UC Davis and finished an MBA through the University of Phoenix. He and his wife Amanda are the parents of three children.

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