Standard rates apply. 2023 Football Coaching Staff. Smith replaces Cesar Rivas-Sandoval as head coach of the Skyhawks. In general, Cox said hes starting to see more women involved with football programs. 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. Hes not mellow, thats for sure.. 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. Now, Morris says, I finally have something to sell.. Smith stepped down as FLCs football coach Wednesday. Weve seen it in him since we started him with T-ball and then he played city league. Those injuries set him back but he never gave up, his mom said. To get actively recruited, a college coach needs to see you compete, which is why its important to have an online athletic recruiting profile. 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. Ballantine Communications, Inc. Smith sees many challenges in turning around a program that went 0-10 in 2012 and has six straight losing seasons. could be heard humming in his baritone voice as he went about his work after UPS athletic director and football coach John Heinrick brought him aboard as a 27-year old assistant. Search for colleges, create a recruiting resume and connect with any college coach in the country in just a few clicks with SportsRecruits. Business, Sports and Entertainment Management/Marketing, Other. [62] With Brown as defensive coordinator, the Skyhawks gave up an average of 60.7 points per game. Additional essential staff include: 362-acre campus in Durango (population: 13,922), 174 miles from Grand Junction. Previously, he wrote for the Gallup Independent. Smiths wardrobe most days is a brand mash-up: Nike shoes, Russell Athletic shirt, Under Armour hat. I always pictured them watching over me. The team won in the first three rounds of the NCAA Division II playoffs and faces Shepherd in the semifinals on December 10. It was a wonderful opportunity at Fort Lewis. Natural Resources Conservation and Research. Consent is not a condition of purchase. Tickets Men's Basketball vs 3-Seed #16/12 Black Hills State University March 3, 2023 7:30 PM. 2023 ABG-SI LLC. Hunter said that Smith is a proven winner, not just on the gridiron, but in terms of the academic success of his student-athletes. We have full confidence that Coach Rifilato will continue to grow the program successfully." In addition to attending meetings and taking notes and helping with gear, Carlton has been helping the team land recruits. DURANGO, Colo. -- The first time John L. Smith attended a budget meeting at Fort Lewis College, a small liberal arts school nestled among the mountains in the southwest corner of . He didnt play a whole lot and I felt like they werent really there for him.. Last year Smith and Hunter bought a big-screen TV so the kids would have somewhere to congregate, paying for it out of their own pockets. There are high schools in Texas, Smith says, with more resources than us.. At the same time, we are happy that he and his wife Di will be returning home to the Louisville area and will be near their three children and grandchildren. Choose A Season: Schedule/Results. I knew Johns personality, how competitive he was and how much he enjoyed a good adventure. Forget having a courtesy car; theres not even courtesy parking. 3 followers 3 connections He even had a basketball offer from Northern New Mexico College. Sign up for our daily email newsletter or to receive breaking news delivered to your inbox: Choose from several print and digital subscription packages, 2023 Durango Herald | Born in Islip, N.Y., Rifilato was raised in Bells Gardens, Calif. Also included is the Durango Train, which runs between Durango and Silverton and staked its claim to fame with an appearance in the film Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid. La squadra gioca le partite casalinghe a Lewis Field Stadium, che si trova nel campus di Fort Hays State University di Hays, Kansas. Cox said there is kind of a barrier for girls who want to get involved with football since most didnt play the sport, but said, Theres a lot of great coaches who are male who didnt play football or werent very good. He said players are open to advice from anyone as long as it makes them better. Of all the adventures Smith has taken -- skydiving, running with the bulls in Spain, climbing Mount Kilimanjaro, flying a T-38 Talon jet trainer -- signing up to a coach a Division II team might be the craziest. She said she likes football, noting that her dad played college ball and her brother plays college football. I think the film really set it off for me.. He was going to fix it himself., Long bus rides are just one of the realities of a tight budget. I didnt get a chance to go because I got hurt. at 866-495-5172 to learn more. They both run a pretty tight ship, and all of the athletes are pretty tight-knit, she said. Asked if hes capable of relaxing, Smith sheepishly admits hes probably not. The gig had other advantages, too. Gabe didnt let that keep him down, he got back up and he just made the best of it.. Winning a conference title seems ludicrous given the lack of resources, but Smith tells his players its possible. The locker room is too small for everyone to watch film together, and hardly a plush hangout. And discoverability is the key to college exposure and recruitment. | Rifilato will officially take over as head coach beginning Jan. 1, 2016. Lewis . The night before the Mesa game, Smith gathers the special teams in a Holiday Inn conference room and shows video of a kickoff return, explaining how close the Skyhawks have previously come to scoring. That all changed when his former high school football coach, Mitchell Stevens, suggested that Fort Lewis would be a good fit for . 2 Colorado State-Pueblo thanks to the performance of junior receiver Jordan Gillen, who caught a touchdown pass and threw another when the Skyhawks ran a flea flicker with 3:46 remaining. 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. Rifilato's wife, Kelley, is the Skyhawks head volleyball coach. 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. Like most football coaches, Smith loves recruiting the South. | Gomez made contact with the coaches and at that point nothing was guaranteed. This is the Fort Lewis College (Colorado) Football scholarship and program information page. Search by athletic, academic, and geographic criteria to find your dream school. A native of Idaho Falls, Idaho, Smith married the former Diana Flora on August 15, 1970. Posted by Quentin Jodie | Jun 4, 2020 | Football |. My cowboy boots wouldnt have worked in Florida, he says. I have some little brothers and they mean the world to me. "I am very honored to take over as the head football coach of Fort Lewis College," said Rifilato. As part of a close-knit family, Gomez said he drew inspiration from some close relatives hes lost, which includes his late grandmother and uncle, who passed away months apart four years ago. He chose Fort Lewis based on its close proximity to his familys home in LeChee, Arizona. The second two videos are from The Rivalry (Neon yellow head band and purple stick). I love and will miss the people and the town of Durango. Get Discovered by college coaches. 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. All Rights Reserved. All Rights Reserved. Johnson, who played football four years at Vista PEAK Prep in Aurora, is coming to Fort Lewis because she wants to coach football. Date RMAC Opponent Location Time/Result; 9/10/2022 Arizona Christian University . Connect with every college coach in the country and commit to your dream school! Defensive coordinator Ed Rifilato will continue to oversee day-to-day operations until Smith arrives on campus. If you cant quickly find and message any college coach you want, then youre not solving your biggest problem in getting recruited for Football. I'm looking forward to it and my wife is looking forward to it, he said. Were blessed to have him and were really proud of him. High school student-athletes have a discoverability problem. 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. Terms of Use Do we go on the field? But its a spirit Hunter loves. All of the coaches are super-awesome and supportive of their female interns. The following season, he was sidelined with a broken ankle, an injury he sustained at the start of the season. Hunter was the director of athletics who hired Smith for his first head coaching job at Idaho in 1989, while Thomas served as associate dean at Idaho during his tenure. Get Exposure with college programs. Smith will also be reunited with Rifilato, one of his former players and assistant coaches at Fort Lewis. We really want to get them here.. I am thrilled! said President Thomas. Receive emails and text messages when college coaches interact with your profile. Chambers slaps Smiths back before glancing at a teammate and shaking his head. The trip got longer on the way home when the bus broke down for a few hours. This information is very valuable for all high school student-athletes to understand as they start the recruiting process. At one point Morris picked up three prospects in Phoenix and drove them seven hours to Durango for a campus visit. 10/7 Colorado School of Mines upsets No. 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. When I got there some of those dudes had Division I football offers and those guys had some private trainers, Gomez said of the combine in the Valley. 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. I asked, Where are people who do the fundraising? Thanks for visiting the Fort Lewis College Football scholarship and program information page. At the high school level, Gomez made the varsity football team as a freshman but he saw limited action. via Bleacher Report; Week 13 Predictions for Every Game. He played quarterback and linebacker for the Wildcats from 1967-70 before joining their staff as a graduate assistant for the 1971 season. His infamous halftime rants -- found easily on YouTube -- made players at Fort Lewis wonder what they had gotten themselves into. When you give people an opportunity and they do well, it opens the door for the next person, Cox said. DURANGO, Colo. -- The first time John L. Smith attended a budget meeting at Fort Lewis College, a small liberal arts school nestled among the mountains in the southwest corner of Colorado, his athletic director said 13 words that caught Smith so off guard he almost fell out of his chair. He made head coaching stops at Louisville, Michigan State and Arkansas, among other programs, and is one of just 19 men to take three different schools to bowl games. 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. The next day, Smith says he has wondered if hes too intense for this level. Rivas-Sandoval announced his resignation as head coach a week ago. Assistant Coach-Recruiting Coordinator JUCO/Transfers/Tight Ends @Sando5656: Men's Golf; Questions? The NCAA caps scholarships for Division II programs at 36, though they can be split among multiple players. Johnny Cox. Yes. From 2008-12 it went 10-58, including 7-38 in league play. Johnson also wants to make connections to help her in the future. Fort Lewis College Football Program Coaching & Recruiting Staff We are extremely fortunate to have a coach with the tremendous background and experience that John L. brings to Fort Lewis College, said Hunter. At this point in my career, to get back and coach for the real reasons not to get somebody to the NFL, but to coach kids who want to play the game and get an education. The official 2023 Football Roster for the Fort Lewis College Skyhawks Skip To Main . The Skyhawks have never been one of them. Copyright 2023 by Fort Lewis College, Durango, Colorado. Cherry Creek's Blake Purchase named 2022-23 Gatorade Colorado Football Player of the Year 12.16.22 All-State football teams for the 2022 season Send Message. The Colorado Mines Orediggers won the RMAC championship with a 92 record (90 against conference opponents), led the conference in both scoring offense (46.86 points per game) and scoring defense (18.64 points per game), and was ranked No. The return to Fayetteville did not go well. 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.. At Division I you charter planes. About. It was a fitting offer for someone who hopes to come back as a ski bum in my next life.. FLC said it plans to begin a search for a new coach. Stats Men's Basketball vs 3-Seed #16/12 Black Hills State University March 3, 2023 7:30 PM. [2] [3] High School career [ edit] Based in Parker, Colorado, Jenkins has tutored Phillip "PJ" Walker, Luis Perez, Michael O'Connor (Canadian football), and Isaac Harker, among others. Smith has climbed the 19,340-foot Mount Kilimanjaro in Africa, run with the bulls in Pamplona, Spain, para-glided in Switzerland, flown a T-38 Talon jet trainer in Texas and skydived in Indiana. Johnson, who described her former teammates as a whole bunch of big brothers, enjoys film analysis, looking for routes, protections, formations, motions and other teams tendencies. The year before Smith arrived it went 0-10. Your budget is about $400,000. Visit ESPN to view the Fort Lewis Skyhawks team schedule for the current and previous seasons. In July 2022, Spencer Brown was appointed as the team's new defensive coordinator. Since that epiphany, Gomez said hes been working hard to fulfill his aspirations. I had never heard of that in my life, of the head coach doing that. They told me that it could be a possibility, he said. Most college Football coaches dont respond to unsolicited emails. Transportation has been one of the most dramatic changes for Smith during this experience. The last time the Skyhawks notched seven wins in a season was 2006 when Rifilato was the head coach. A flag is thrown and Smith screams at Chambers: Get your butt off the field!, Smith grabs Chambers collar and pulls him so close their noses practically touch. 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. Gomez is pictured here with his parents Al and Vangie Lane. No matter how far out it is, I believe in talking about it now. The '05 season marked FLC's first winning season in 20 years. Terms of Use SubmittedPage graduate Gabe Gomez (center) signed with the Fort Lewis College football team earlier this week. The latest additions include two collegiate transfers and 28 high school seniors. That injury prevented him from competing in combine to possible make the national team in 2019 after he got an invite by taking part in another combine in Phoenix earlier that year. Smith graduated from Weber State in 1971 with a bachelor's degree in physical education. No digging up contact information. date del programma di calcio di Fort Hays stato al 1902. This is one of the ways SportsRecruits can help. Basso is one of three female interns in the program. He quickly learned sitting still was not his strong suit. De La Cruz, who is minoring in coaching, said the internship has helped her learn more about football and she would love to coach after she graduates. We dont really have donors. I first looked at Fort Lewis College because of two people: Dene Thomas who I think the world of and is the best person ever that I could work for and Gary Hunter, who was my first athletic director at Idaho and is a true friend, said Smith. On more than one overnight trip campus police have ticketed Smiths vehicle. Really?. That is why I took sports so serious.. The Recruitng Coordinator (JuCo, Transfers), Volunteer Assistant Coach (Tight Ends) of the Fort Lewis College Football program is John Sandoval. Says Smith, after a long sigh: This isnt exactly the SEC.. After getting to know him, Id say those videos are a pretty accurate snapshot of him. A few of those offers were football scholarships from Texas and California, and as far as Minnesota. It made him a better athlete and a better man. profiles were viewed 4.1 million times by college coaches in 2021. I was a Native kid from LeChee going against 4-star, 5-star athletes and I had nothing to lose so I just balled it out. John L. and I had a good working relationship at UI, cooperating on selection and advising of the student-athletes. This is my fourth year in Division II and I can tell you, theres quite a few screamers, so Johns not alone, Hunter says. Football is more complex.. Fort Lewis (enrollment: 3,800) plays in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference, a league dominated by track and field talent with a few football powers sprinkled in. In the meantime, we'd like to offer some helpful information to kick start your recruiting process. All Rights Reserved. Send Message, John Sandoval Almost immediately, Fort Lewis athletic director Gary Hunter saw an opportunity. To me, it's a situation where we're going to have to work hard to try and get the excitement up, get the program going in the right direction, win some games and graduate our kids, he said. But after conferring with an official and determining that the penalty was not on Chambers, Smith jumps into the huddle and hollers, I apologize! 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. I want to go into sports psychology and focus on football the mental health side and the nutritional side, Carlton said. After all, the coffee pot and best printer are located outside Hunters office. The 2022 Fort Lewis Skyhawks football team represented Fort Lewis College in Durango, Colorado, during the 2022 Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference (RMAC) football season. This was a soft place to fall, says Di, his wife of 44 years. Previously, Lewis was the head coach of the Cincinnati Bengals in the National Football League (NFL) for 16 seasons. He spent the 1992-93 seasons as linebackers coach at San Bernardino Valley Junior College. John L. Smith has resigned as head football coach from Fort Lewis College, announced today by Director of Athletics Gary Hunter. We all saw the videos, backup quarterback Trevor Bonifasi says. Im hoping to learn how a football team is run; what offensive and defensive coordinators do and how to be a head coach.. Copyright 2023 by Fort Lewis College, Durango, Colorado. Basso, who plays lacrosse for the Skyhawks and wants to go into sports psychology after she graduates, took a chance. He called it a sign of changing times., I have four daughters, and when they were first born, I didnt think they would be able to coach with me, he said. Besides his grandmother and uncle, Gomez lost an older brother, Lexie Sheppard, while he was growing up. When Smith was hired at Fort Lewis College in the spring of 2013, he was reunited with Hunter, President Dene Thomas and Rifilato. I thank President Tom Stritikus and Athletic Director Brandon Leimbach for the opportunity and support they gave me, our staff, and our players. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. Not included in the pitch: A conversation about the road trips. The network is available to high school student-athletes around the country through valued relationships with the NFLPA, FBU, NFCA and SPIRE. In 2021, Lapuaho (pronounced Lah-poo-ah-ho) was a full-time assistant for the first time in his career, helping Utah State win the MW title while going 11-3 and finishing No. I really didnt take that into account, he asserted. We love that about him., Smith is learning to love Fort Lewis, too, despite all of the headaches that come with the job. My family always stressed education and after my sophomore year I realized that I had the talent to go somewhere with it. Coach John L. Smith will be introduced to the campus and Durango communities. Im originally from Oklahoma, and football is a big part of life down there, she said. If you're receiving this message in error, please call us at 886-495-5172. Were due. Fort Lewis does exactly that the next night, taking a kick 75 yards for a touchdown in a 28-20 win. Ironically, attending Fort Lewis wasn't even on his radar at all. Unlike at Division I, where football coaches are often isolated from the rest of the athletic department, Smith interacts with coaches and administrators on a daily basis. Fort Lewis Football Week 14 Amway Coaches Poll Timothy Rapp. When you communicate clearly and concisely and youre right, if you can help a player, they dont care where the advice comes from, Cox said. "It was a wonderful opportunity at Fort . Smith was hired in February 2020 as the 14th head coach in program history. Maybe they need someone whos nurturing. My name is Jeff Hansen. Ive always known I am.. 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. He received that same message from his uncle, Alan Tsinigine, as he lost his life two months after his mom passed. It just might take longer than anticipated. A Dan Antolik B Gary Barnett Gus Bradley C Bill Cooke (American football coach) D Kevin Donnalley (American football, born 1958) Tim Driscoll H Scottie Hazelton M Hal McAfee N Jeff Nady P Robert Prince (American football) R Jim Ryan (American football coach) S John L. Smith W Todd Wash I really like it; it really opened my eyes to how much detail is in the program and how much the coaches put into it.. Theyre a part of the team.. We recommend switching to Chrome, Firefox, and/or Safari for not only SportsRecruits, but for all websites. Loud, boisterous and full of one-liners, Smith has become almost a caricature of himself. Theyve been an asset to the program, and Im excited theyre taking advantage of this opportunity. (Cody Olivas/Durango Herald), What Silvertons snowpocalypse teaches us about winter weather preparation in rural Colorado, Report a paper delivery issue/suspend delivery. He kept going and when life gets tough you have to keep plugging away. Marvin Lewis. I want them to catch a few of my games and its only a four-hour drive for them to watch me.. Microsoft no longer supports most versions of Internet Explorer, since it released Microsoft Edge in 2015. Full Bio. I have a tendency to piss people off and now I have to be the fundraiser? Le Tigri hanno sostenuto hanno sostenuto 11 campionati conferenza, tra cui un recente campionato di congresso MIAA nella stagione 2017. Carlton, like Basso, wants to go into sports psychology. Years ago, Smith stepped into the Alabama home of a top player and took note of family photos adorning the mantel. Thanks for visiting the Fort Lewis College Football scholarship and program information page. Defensive coordinator Ed Rifilato has been promoted to head coach. The interns, he said, are really helping the program. He did flag football and he started playing basketball.. | When I was playing sports I really didnt think about their deaths. She said FLCs cheerleading program is relatively similar to footballs. 10 in the final NCAA Division II rankings. He adds it could also mark the beginning of a slow descent into insanity. Keep your mouth shut!. to build a profile. We ask that you consider turning off your ad blocker so we can deliver you the best experience possible while you are here. I worked really hard to do both sports, he continued. Visit ESPN to view the Fort Lewis Skyhawks team schedule for the current and previous seasons 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. On average, 34% of all student-athletes receive athletic scholarships. Fort Lewis College does offer athletic scholarships for Football. The official Football Coach List for the Fort Lewis College Skyhawks Skip To Main . Show college coaches your game. In 19 seasons as a head coach, his teams have compiled a 136-94 record (.591) and advanced to seven bowl games. They have two daughters, Gabriella and Katherine. One of her connections, her former coach and current FLC defensive backs coach, Emmanuel Bible, helped persuade her to attend FLC. Ever since he was a little kid we noticed that he an athletic ability., He always had that potential in him, she said. Smith has coached at Idaho (1989-94), Utah State (1995-97), Louisville (1998-2002), Michigan State (2003-06), Weber State (during the 2011-12 offseason) and, most recently, Arkansas (2012). Coach loves his special teams, and, man, were learning a lot, Gillen says. The official staff directory for the Fort Lewis College Skyhawks . The 2022 South Dakota Mines Hardrockers football team represented the South Dakota School of Mines and Technology in Rapid City, South Dakota, during the 2022 Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference football season. Darrius was a loyal Skyhawk, and I want to thank him for his dedicated service to Fort Lewis College, Stritikus said. In general, the interns have been helping with fundraising, recruiting athletes and taking them on campus tours; providing information to incoming freshmen; attending meetings and taking notes; and giving evaluations on potential players. You can certainly start by filling out the Fort Lewis College Footballs recruiting questionnaire and getting on their list, but thats only the start. It made him stronger., Gomezs dad said those injuries were a blessing in disguise., He learned a lot about himself and I think those injuries happed for a reason, he said. RSVPs to Wayne Barger would be appreciated. In their 11th season under head coach Jay Long, the Eagles compiled a 38 record (36 against conference opponents) and finished eighth in the RMAC. Watch Men's Basketball vs 3-Seed #16/12 Black Hills State University March 3, 2023 7:30 PM. I'm a : Defensive coordinator Ed Rifilato will continue to oversee day-to-day operations until Smith arrives on campus. . they can save time and money, get ahead and give back. We keep their packets together and take them on tours. They have three children: Nicholas, Kayse and Sam. 24 . Name: Devon Taylor Height: 6'4" Weight: 340 lbs Position: OG College: Fort Lewis College Twitter: thatman54