Coach DeLane Fitzgerald is entering his fifth season at the helm of the Southern Utah football program, leading the Thunderbirds back to the Big Sky Conference in 2026.
In 2025, Fitzgerald guided Southern Utah to a 7-5 overall record and a 6-2 mark in the program's final season in the United Athletic Conference. The Thunderbirds earned ranked victories over No. 13 Abilene Christian and No. 22 Austin Peay while producing the nation's leading FCS rusher for the second consecutive season. Southern Utah also featured finalists for both the Walter Payton Award, presented annually to the nation's top offensive player, and the Buck Buchanan Award, given to the nation's top defensive player. The successful season capped the Thunderbirds' tenure in the UAC before the program's return to the Big Sky Conference.
The 2024 season was another milestone campaign for Fitzgerald and the Thunderbirds. Southern Utah finished 7-5 overall, highlighted by a historic 27-24 victory at UTEP, marking the program's first win over an FBS opponent in more than a decade. Fitzgerald also recorded the 100th victory of his head coaching career during the season, becoming the first head coach in Southern Utah history to reach the milestone.
Fitzgerald brought about a significant turnaround in 2023, leading the Thunderbirds to their first winning season since 2017. Southern Utah finished 6-5 overall and 4-2 in the inaugural season of the United Athletic Conference.
In his first season in Cedar City in 2022, Fitzgerald guided the Thunderbirds to a 5-6 overall record and a 2-3 mark in Western Athletic Conference play while laying the foundation for the program's future success. His first victory at SUU made him the first coach in College Football to earn a win at every level.
Fitzgerald arrived at Southern Utah in December 2021 after more than 20 years of collegiate coaching experience, including 13 seasons as a head coach with a reputation for rebuilding programs and establishing winning cultures. He came to Cedar City after an eight-year run as the head coach at Frostburg State University.
During his tenure at Frostburg State, Fitzgerald transformed the Bobcats into one of the nation's premier Division III and Division II programs. After inheriting a team that had endured eight consecutive losing seasons and won just 18 games over the previous eight years, he posted a 4-6 record in his first season before leading Frostburg to winning seasons every year thereafter, including four campaigns with at least 10 victories.
Fitzgerald guided Frostburg State to New Jersey Athletic Conference championships in 2016 and 2018 while leading the Bobcats to NCAA Division III Playoff appearances in 2017 and 2018. The program also captured a Division III bowl victory in 2016. Following the 2018 season, Fitzgerald successfully led Frostburg's transition to NCAA Division II competition, culminating in a Mountain East Conference championship and a 10-1 record in 2021.
In 2023, Fitzgerald was inducted into the Frostburg State Hall of Fame. He remains the winningest coach in program history, holding both the school records for career victories and winning percentage. During his tenure, he was named conference Coach of the Year three times, coached eight All-Americans, and won the final three Regents Cup rivalry games.
Before his success at Frostburg State, Fitzgerald spent five seasons as the head coach at Southern Virginia University. After inheriting a program that went 3-8 in his first year, he improved the Knights each season, culminating in an 8-2 record and the No. 1 ranking in the USCAA Coaches Poll in 2013.
Prior to becoming Southern Virginia's head coach in 2009, Fitzgerald served three seasons as the school's offensive coordinator and offensive line coach. Before arriving at Southern Virginia, he spent one season as offensive coordinator at Bethel College in Tennessee and two seasons as special teams coordinator at UT Martin.
A native of Virginia, Fitzgerald played at Potomac State College before transferring to James Madison University, where he finished his collegiate career as a fullback. After helping the Dukes capture the Atlantic 10 Conference championship in 1999, he began his coaching career at Bridgton Academy in Maine in 2000 before returning to James Madison as a defensive assistant in 2002.
Fitzgerald holds a master's degree in education from Bethel College, a bachelor's degree in kinesiology from James Madison University, and an associate degree in physical education from Potomac State College.
What They're Saying About Fitzgerald:
"DeLane Fitzgerald is an excellent choice to lead SUU football. I've known DeLane for almost 10 years. I've watched him build young people into team-oriented, successful individuals. His prior experience as a head coach will serve him well as he tackles this next challenge in his career."
-Ed Lamb, BYU Assistant Head Coach and former SUU Head Coach
"I want to thank Coach Fitzgerald for the work he has done guiding our student-athletes over the last eight years. Under his direction, the Frostburg State football program has not only improved on the field, but off the field as well. I would like to congratulate the Southern Utah community on a great hire and wish them success in future."
-Troy Dell, Frostburg State University Director of Athletics
"I want to thank Coach Fitzgerald for his eight years of leadership at Frostburg State University. Not only did he restore a winning tradition at FSU, but he also ensured that his players were successful in life as well as on the field. During his tenure, the Frostburg State football team was part of the campus and community fabric. I wish him, his wife, Kim, and daughters, Mattie, Afton and Laila, all the best and success in this new chapter in their lives."
-Ronald Nowaczyk, Frostburg State University President
"DeLane's passion for developing men both on and off the field of play was clear as he progressed through the interview process," said SUU Director of Athletics Debbie Corum. "I knew we had the right person when one of our student-athletes talked about wanting to run through a brick wall for that man. In my experience, that is the key to having a successful coach. DeLane became familiar with recruiting in the state of Utah when he was the head football coach at Southern Virginia, and since that time he and his family have wanted to move to Southern Utah. We look forward to welcoming DeLane and his family to Cedar City and eagerly await spring football training with great anticipation."
