Every football football program needs a good coaching tree. Southern Utah University football head coach Demarrio Warren is part of an Thunderbird coaching tree that has left a legacy to follow. Many former SUU coaches have gone on to bigger and better opportunities. Here’s a look at where they are now:
Ed Lamb: 2008-2015
Lamb led the Thunderbirds from the now defunct Great West Conference and into the Big Sky in 2012. After only three season in the Big Sky, Lamb helped lead the Thunderbirds to their first conference championship in 2015. His success was noticed by several Division I schools and helped him earn the assistant head coach job at BYU, where he currently coaches. Lamb ranks third all-time wins at SUU with 45.
Gary Anderson: 2003
Anderson was only with SUU for one season as head coach, and it was uneventful. As a Division I-AA independent team, the T-birds were 4-7. After originally being hired away from the University of Utah, Anderson returned to the Utes after 2003. Eventually, he became the head coach at Utah State and helped lead the Aggies to a school record 11 wins in 2012. Anderson later went on to coach at Wisconsin, leading them to a Big 10 Championship game appearance, and later to Oregon State. Anderson is back in Logan as the head coach at Utah State again and currently has his team at 1-1.
Paul Peterson: 2008-2011
Peterson was a position coach and passing game coordinator during his time at SUU. After SUU, Peterson went on to be the offensive coordinator at Sacramento State and the head coach at Snow College in Ephraim. His success at the junior college ranks garnered interest from BYU for an offensive coordinator position. Peterson ended up being hired as the Dixie State head coach last season and is expected to help lead the Trailblazers into the FCS in 2020. Currently, DSU holds a 0-1 record in Division Two.
Kalani Sitake: 2003-2004
Sitake coached the running backs, tight ends, and offensive linemen during his time at SUU. After SUU, Sitake went on to be the defensive coordinator at Utah, helping create “Sack Lake City.” Sitake then reunited with Anderson at Oregon State as his defensive coordinator in 2015, but left the next season to take the head coaching position at BYU. Over his three seasons at BYU, Sitake holds a 21-20 record, including 1-1 in 2019.
Aaron Roderick: 2003-2004
Roderick coached with Anderson and Sitake, but focused his time as the offensive coordinator during his time in Cedar City. Roderick has never had a head coaching position. After SUU, Roderick coached at Utah and was the co-offensive coordinator in 2010 with Brian Johnson and again from 2015-16. He was let go after 2016 and took a year off of coaching before becoming an offensive consultant for BYU. Roderick now works for BYU as the passing game coordinator and quarterbacks coach.
Story by: Kurt Meacham
kurtleymeacham@gmail.com
Photo courtesy of SUU Athletics Strategic Communication.
