And despite showing great promise, Vangie said he didnt get the support he needed while playing at the middle school level. Coach loves his special teams, and, man, were learning a lot, Gillen says. The CSU Pueblo ThunderWolves finished in second place with an 84 overall record. . He recently sat down with NFL Draft Diamonds writer Jimmy Williams. Terms of Use We do not support Internet Explorer. Fort Lewis College on the RMAC Network | Live and On-Demand Video Streaming from Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference By submitting, you agree to receive personalized follow-up and marketing messages from NCSA by email, phone and automated text. The Orediggers' quarterback John Matocha was selected as the RMAC Offensive Player of the Year, and Brandon Moore of Colorado Mines was selected as the RMAC Coach of the Year. Now as times are changing, theres a possibility I could coach with my daughters. (Cody Olivas/Durango Herald), What Silvertons snowpocalypse teaches us about winter weather preparation in rural Colorado, Report a paper delivery issue/suspend delivery. Many of our other programs have reached the pinnacle of success at the national and regional levels. High school student-athletes have a discoverability problem. When you give people an opportunity and they do well, it opens the door for the next person, Cox said. I'm just thankful that they've provided me the opportunity to do this. "I am very honored to take over as the head football coach of Fort Lewis College," said Rifilato. Coach Smith navigated our football program through one of the toughest two-year stretches weve ever seen due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and I wish him all the best as he moves forward in his career, Leimbach said. Im extremely excited, Johnson said. Ballantine Communications, Inc. The Fort Lewis College Department of Athletics announced Wednesday that Darrius G. Smith has stepped down as head football coach, effective immediately. He won the Colorado National Football Foundation Coach of the Year honors in 2005 and 2006 while at Fort Lewis College, and RMAC Coach of the Year honors while at New Mexico Highlands in 1999. Privacy Policy, Weather data from The Durango Herald and darksky.net, Female interns help program while learning career skills, Fort Lewis football interns Averi Basso, Karla De La Cruz and Madison Carlton have been helping the program with its day-to-day operations while learning its ins and outs this spring. A few of those offers were football scholarships from Texas and California, and as far as Minnesota. I apologize! He wraps his arm around his defensive back, tilting his head toward Chambers ear to whisper to the junior that he still loves him. Had he waited around, Division I assistant offers likely would have flooded in. Hes not mellow, thats for sure.. 21 Colorado School of Mines Rolls to 84-10 Win Over Adams State", "CSU Pueblo football tripped up at No. profiles were viewed 4.1 million times by college coaches in 2021. 1 Angelo State in NCAA Division II playoffs", "Mavs football loses homecoming matchup against CSU Pueblo", "CSU Pueblo football silences South Dakota Mines on Senior Day at ThunderBowl", "ThunderWolves finish regular season with shutout win at Black Hills State", "The Colorado Classic trophy will remain in Gunnison", "Hardrockers' comeback bid falls short in loss to Truman St. in home opener", "SD Mines overcomes halftime deficit to beat Colorado Mesa", "Photos: Hardrockers win against Grizzlies", "SD Mines wins first game over Chadron State in 35 years", "Dickinson State lose home opener against Black Hills State University", "Mountaineers swat Yellow Jackets with late comeback", "BHSU stumbles in finale to close first winning season in 6 years", "CSU Pueblo takes down NM Highlands for third-straight victory", "CSC Loses To Colorado State-Pueblo For The 13th Straight Time 34-12", "Eagles Top New Mexico Highlands 17-3 In Defensive Battle", "Mesa Mavericks rally past Eagles, win in overtime", "CSU Pueblo spoils Adams State homecoming", "Fort Lewis College football takes on Arizona Christian", "Dominant second half propels Adams past Fort Lewis: Grizzlies win 52-17", "Hardrockers spoil Fort Lewis' Homecoming: Skyhawks score a season-high 20 points in loss", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=2022_Rocky_Mountain_Athletic_Conference_football_season&oldid=1140891466, Pages using CFB schedule with gamename after location, Pages using CFB schedule with nowrap or nbsp opponent, Pages using CFB schedule with unnamed parameters, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, Offensive Player of the Year: John Matocha, Colorado Mines, Defensive Player of the Year: Trey Botts, CSU Pueblo, Special Teams Player of the Year: CJ Sims, New Mexico Highlands, Offensive Freshman of the Year: Landon Walker, Colorado Mines, Defensive Freshman of the Year: Cooper Brown, Black Hills State, Quarterback - John Matocha, Colorado Mines, Running backs - Michael Zeman, Colorado Mines; Josh Cummings, Western Colorado, Wide receivers - Jeremiah Bridges, South Dakota Mines; Josh Johnston, Colorado Mines; CJ Sims,New Mexico Highlands, Offensive line - Matt Armendariz, Colorado Mines; Sam Ambrogio, Black Hills State; Clayton Martin, Western Colorado; Mathyus Sua, Western Colorado; Levi Johnson, Colorado Mines, Cornerbacks - Mason Pierce, Colorado Mines; Eli Pittman, CSU Pueblo, Safeties - Daniel Bone, CSU Pueblo; Doodles Quinones, Black Hills State, Inside linebackers - Kyante Christian, South Dakota Mines; Adrian Moreno, Colorado Mines, Outside linebackers - Mack Minnehan, Colorado Mines; Luke Conilogue, CSU Pueblo, Defensive tackles - Trey Botts, CSU Pueblo; Tayven Bray, Chadron State, Defensive ends - Hunter OConnor, Chadron State; Gavin Chaddock, South Dakota Mines, Kick returner - Victory David, Western Colorado, Punt returner - CJ Sims, New Mexico Highlands, Golden, CO (NCAA Division II Second Round), LeGrand Stadium at 1st Community Credit Union Field, This page was last edited on 22 February 2023, at 08:06. In their 15th year under head coach John Wristen, the ThunderWolves compiled an 84 record (72 against conference opponents) and finished second in the RMAC. Call 917-426-9745 to speak with one of our Recruiting Specialists. They offered Smith the position and he accepted on Jan. 16, 2013. He had served as NMHU's defensive coordinator from 1996-98. Smith sees many challenges in turning around a program that went 0-10 in 2012 and has six straight losing seasons. I sent them some film and the defensive coaches called me back and they offered, he said. I know the two of them are going to do everything possible to make FLC football as good as we can make it. Lewis - a veteran coach of over 25 years in the National Football League - and Pierce teamed up to coach an aggressive and opportunistic Sun Devil defense last season. All Rights Reserved. Fort Lewis plays its final game of the season on Saturday when it hosts Chadron State. Maybe Division II doesnt need someone like me, whos so demanding, he says. I love and will miss the people and the town of Durango. With Southern players, you can run em through a wall, cuss em up and down, beat em with a stick and theyre like, Coach, I love it, give me more, Smith says. Though hes at an age when many men enjoy golfing and spending time with their grandchildren, retirement was not an option. That capped a season that saw the Skyhawks go 7-4 overall, matching FLC's most wins in a single season. We ask that you consider turning off your ad blocker so we can deliver you the best experience possible while you are here. When I did the workouts during the summers, I really didnt think of them as work., Quentin Jodie is the Sports Editor for the Navajo Times. Other coaches in the school's history include Wayne J. McConnell, Jim Gilstrap, James J. Yeager, and former Kansas Governor Andrew Frank Schoeppel. Basso is one of three female interns in the program. Smiths wardrobe most days is a brand mash-up: Nike shoes, Russell Athletic shirt, Under Armour hat. Send Message, John Grinde College coaches They have three children: Nicholas, Kayse and Sam. There will be a Cash Bar with light appetizers being provided by Sodexo Catering. You need your profile to showcase all of your academic and athletic achievements, and be able to instantly connect to college coaches who are interested. Players buy their own cleats. FLC was 6-2 in RMAC games that year, losing the league title to Chadron State, which featured current NFL player Danny Woodhead. to build a profile. The region that treats football as a religion regularly churns out prospects bigger, faster and tougher than the rest. Junior Madison Carlton, who also cheers for the Skyhawks, and senior cross-country and track runner Karla De La Cruz also intern with the team.. The 2022 Chadron State Eagles football team represented Chadron State College in Chadron, Nebraska, during the 2022 Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference (RMAC) football season. Were gonna break one, gentlemen, he tells his players. The 2022 Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference football season was the season of college football played by the ten member schools of the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference (RMAC) as part of the 2022 NCAA Division II football season. This information is very valuable for all high school student-athletes to understand as they start the recruiting process. A native of Idaho Falls, Idaho, Smith married the former Diana Flora on August 15, 1970. He's one of my all-time greatest player/friends, said Smith. Were due. Fort Lewis does exactly that the next night, taking a kick 75 yards for a touchdown in a 28-20 win. Players gush about Smiths ability to break down the game. I love how different it is, De La Cruz said. Football Coaching Staff. NCAA DII. I happen to be an adrenaline junkie myself, Hunter says. Keep your mouth shut!. Make it as easy as possible for the Fort Lewis College Football coaching staff to learn about you as an athlete, and be able to start a conversation with you. Live. Now called the Durango Mountain Resort, its a stop on the Fort Lewis recruiting tour. Dont worryNCSA is The Skyhawks have never been one of them. When I was at Utah State [from 1995-97], one night we didnt have working lights on the practice field, so I told everyone to go get their cars, point them at the field and turn on their lights. Basso, meanwhile, has been tasked with making a poster explaining why she as an athlete chose Fort Lewis. Prior to arriving at Fort Lewis in 2003, Rifilato spent one year coaching with John L Smith at University of Louisville after serving as defensive coordinator at the University of Idaho in 2000 and 2001. The longest trip of this year was the first, when the Skyhawks drove 18 hours to UC-Davis for a 52-17 thrashing on Sept. 6. Known as much for his eccentric personality as his spread offense, he did not expect this when he agreed to lead a Division II team. His grandmother, Desbah Tsinigine, who passed away at 98 years-old encouraged Gomez to pursue an education. The official Roster for the Fort Lewis College Skyhawks. We dont really have donors. He ended up passing away and when that happened I was really sad.. Of the two sports, Gomez says he doesnt favor one over the other. 10 in the final NCAA Division II rankings. Smith is probably best known for his head coaching stint before this one, when he took over at Arkansas after Bobby Petrino was fired in April 2012 following a motorcycle accident and the revelation of his affair with a woman who worked in the athletic department. We needed to move on from Arkansas, and this timing was right. He attended the University of Idaho, Long Beach City College, and earned his Bachelor of Science degree in business management from California Coast University in 1998. Send Message, John Sandoval 89. But Im learning to be., Midway through the second quarter at Mesa, Fort Lewis defensive back Theo Chambers gets mixed up with an opponent and some recess-level shoving ensues. That all changed when his former high school football coach, Mitchell Stevens, suggested that Fort Lewis would be a good fit for . Theyve been an asset to the program, and Im excited theyre taking advantage of this opportunity. Smith will also be reunited with Rifilato, one of his former players and assistant coaches at Fort Lewis. Smith has accepted the head coaching position at Kentucky State University (NCAA Division II) in Frankfort, Kentucky. It was a wonderful opportunity at Fort Lewis. The next day, Smith says he has wondered if hes too intense for this level. As this pandemic has unfolded, I have been reminded that the most important thing in my life is family, and at this time, I have to make a decision that is best for my family.. He returned to the Skyhawks football program during the 2012 season after previously serving as head coach at both Fort Lewis College and New Mexico Highlands. | Its been a total education for everyone involved.. He is a great coach and a good friend. I am very excited to have John L. here at FLC. Athletic Training, EMT Paramedic and Treatment Professions. Says Smith, after a long sigh: This isnt exactly the SEC.. Marvin Ronald Lewis (born September 23, 1958) is an American football coach who is special advisor to the head coach at Arizona State. Gabe didnt let that keep him down, he got back up and he just made the best of it.. The city of Durango itself, she said, is a big reason she chose Fort Lewis. But after the mess in Arkansas that included a bad season -- Smith says he is still close with Petrino -- and a $40 million bankruptcy filing (he was discharged of debt in a settlement last September) that dragged out painfully and publicly over several months, Fort Lewis felt safe. In the end, it might also be the most rewarding. /. Mar 03. You can certainly start by filling out the Fort Lewis College Footballs recruiting questionnaire and getting on their list, but thats only the start. Fort Lewis College Football Program Coaching & Recruiting Staff If you are trying to get recruited it is critical to understand who to get in front of - and NCSA has the information you'll need. I'm very excited to actually coach for the real reasons you get into coaching to make a difference in the kids' lives and help them get an education, he said. Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics, Drama and Dramatics/Theatre Arts, General, Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions, Ethnic, Cultural Minority, Gender, and Group Studies, Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities, Liberal Arts and Sciences/Liberal Studies, Natural Resources Conservation and Research, Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences, Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods, Political Science and Government, General. Smith is also the uncle of San Francisco 49ers quarterback Alex Smith. After getting to know him, Id say those videos are a pretty accurate snapshot of him. Fort Lewis A&M's Ray Dennison in September 1955, shortly before an on-field collision in Trinidad that led to his death. The pandemic wreaked havoc on football operations and recruiting efforts, limiting the Skyhawks to two spring games in Smiths inaugural season during the 2020-21 school year after the regular fall season was canceled. Were blessed to have him and were really proud of him. The official staff directory for the Fort Lewis College Skyhawks . Find out what coaches are viewing your Smith replaces Cesar Rivas-Sandoval as head coach of the Skyhawks. Rifilato was also the director of football operations under Smith at Louisville in 2002. The 2022 Colorado Mines Orediggers football team represented the Colorado School of Mines in Golden, Colorado during the 2022 Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference (RMAC) football season. He received his master's degree in physical education from Montana in 1974. Nov 14, 2014. SubmittedPage graduate Gabe Gomez (center) signed with the Fort Lewis College football team earlier this week. Jan 10 144 career wins after sweeping UCCS & RU last week now puts FLC Head Coach Bob Pietrack at #2 in all-time wins as the Skyhawks skipper. Basso is one of three female interns in the program. The year before Smith arrived it went 0-10. Johnson also wants to make connections to help her in the future. All three of those coaches have enjoyed lengthy careers in the NFL, with Bradley currently serving as defensive coordinator for the Seattle Seahawks.

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