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CEDAR CITY — It's a new era at Southern Utah football.
After ending the Thunderbirds' tenure at Eccles Coliseum as a member of the Big Sky Conference with a thumping loss to in-state rival Weber State, Southern Utah announced Monday that it has mutually agreed to part ways with head coach Demario Warren.
A graduate of UC Davis, Warren departs SUU after six seasons as head coach and 14 with the program overall. The former defensive coordinator under current BYU assistant head coach Ed Lamb, Warren was 21-42 during his time leading the Thunderbirds, including a Big Sky Conference championship in 2017.
The Thunderbirds were 1-10 in 2021, including a 62-0 thumping to Weber State in Saturday's season finale. It was the Wildcats' first Big Sky shutout since 2017, and tied for the ninth-most points scored in a game in Weber State history.
Southern Utah totaled just 76 yards of offense in the contest, with five first downs, going 1-of-12 on third-down opportunities. SUU also gave up four turnovers, including three interceptions, and three sacks.
Warren apologized for the performance after the game in a statement from the school.
"I apologize to the SUU football program and anybody who has been a part of it, and also to the SUU community and Cedar City," he said. "I've never made excuses before, and so I won't start now. I try to give this everything I've got and pour everything I have into it. I love SUU and Cedar City, and I'm sorry we couldn't give them more tonight."
The next time Southern Utah takes the field at Eccles Coliseum, it will do so as a member of the Western Athletic Conference, which the school will join in July 2022.
"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. "He has elevated the football program in many ways and has positively impacted the lives of hundreds of young men. 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.
"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."
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