1/12/2016 ASHLAND, Ohio - AU head football coach Lee Owens is entering his 13thseason leading the Eagles in 2016, but he is adding another title to the top of his resume this year, as well. Geiser echoed those sentiments Tuesday, lauding his former boss as a "future Hall of Famer" who helped establish "the culture that is Ashland football.". He is the only football coach in school history to direct more than one team to the NCAA playoffs (2007, 2008, 2012, 2015, 2017, 2022). Owens is the third Ohio-based coach to be president of the AFCA this decade, following Cincinnati's Tommy Tuberville (2015) and Mount Union's Larry Kehres (2010). "When you reflect back, it's not what level you coach at, it's not how big the job is or what the job is all about, it's where you're at, and what you can get done where you're at," Owens said. This accomplished staff helped us to win a conference championship and qualify for the NCAA playoffs in 2022. Football He took over a good program, but we needed to make changes. He graduated from Triway High School in 1990. Geiser officially takes over forLee Owens, who announced his retirement on Dec. 2 following a 19-year tenure leading the Ashland football program. He also led AU to its highest-ever ranking of No. Looking back, I really wasn't prepared [to leave]. Junior Puyallup, Wash. FSP 7-on-7 / San Mateo . WICHITA, Kan. - Southern Oregon sophomore Evan Potter kept his title hopes alive and clinched All-America status for the second year in a row by advancing to the semifinals Friday on Day 1 of the NAIA Men's Wrestling Championships inside Hartman Arena. Fortunately, we've had those kind of people.". The entire AU coaching staff is expected to be back in the fold for the upcoming season, and a new coach will be hired to fill Geiser's former position. "During my time at Ashland, I had the opportunity to work with John Valentine for three years, so it is easy to understand why Scott, his son, is a special coach. Dougs vision aligns with the goals and objectives of the department and the university. I was Athletic Director, chair of the Physical Education department, taught 8-10 hours, and the head football coach. Coach O as the head coach was obviously incredibly important to my journey here at AU, said Brenner. Did not get the job. The only former Eagle head coach to have more wins in their career is Fred Martinelli who went 217-119-12 in his career. The schedule we played, the people we beat … we beat Grand Valley when Brian Kelly was the head coach two out of four years. In the 2022-2023 season, Owens won GMAC Coach of the Year, linebacker Michael Ayers won GMAC Player of the Year, and freshman center Ethan Enders won Freshman of the Year. Now, with the potential for at least two more games in his AU career, Turnbaugh has the opportunity to finish with his best season as an Eagles receiver. To this day, Martinelli is one of only 61 head football coaches at all NCAA levels to win at least 217 games. And the beat goes on. "It was a real turning point in our program as you can imagine.". Keller turned the program over to Owens, who now passes the baton to Geiser. Mount Union advances to Sweet 16 of NCAA Division III Men's Basketball Tournament, Outdoor Classic at FirstEnergy Stadium ends with Cleveland Monsters victory in overtime, FORECAST | Conditions more subdued Sunday, sun peeks, Flood Warning issued for parts of several Northeast Ohio counties, What caused Damar Hamlin's cardiac arrest? Skip to main content Skip to main content. I am very happy for John, but even more pleased for all the kids' lives that he has influenced as a coach during that time. "Our goal is to build upon that legacy and to take Eagle football to heights it's never before seen, on and off the field." "We'll obviously have to add a coach to fill my position, but the staff will stay intact for the most part," he said. Football Roster Coaches Schedule Statistics News Doug Geiser Press Conference Battle of Champions Link Record book through 6-17-22 Camps Prospective Player Events Recruitment Form . This information is very valuable for all high school student-athletes to understand as they start the recruiting process. Geiser, or a future replacement, will have massive shoes to fill in the 2023-2024 season. "I'll be forever grateful for Bill doing that because I don't know what would have happened or where i would have gone but this was the perfect fit and the right place to be, I know that will all my heart now.". The line has given me time to make some throws. Although their season was cut short in a round two loss to the Indiana University of Pennsylvania, 19-13, the Eagles have plenty to be proud of. Si vous souhaitez personnaliser vos choix, cliquez sur Grer les paramtres de confidentialit. . ", Added Owens, "There's very few programs in the country which could boast of such continuity. The official Football page for the. He begat Gary Keller, who coached the team from 1994-03. ", Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. Hell outwork anyone on the field and he loves the game.. He has 23 catches for 406 yards and three touchdowns in that span. ASHLAND, Ohio The venerable Ashland University football program officially has a new leader. But there's been a bunch of them," said Owens. . This position requires the ability to help recruit potential student-athletes. We played the best teams in a five- or six-state area. "The tradition of Ashland football is very strong," said Geiser. Owens four best seasons, which occurred with one-to-two losses, resulted in those four conference titles. "Throughout the search process, we talked about integrity, commitment and work ethic. Between 1981 and 1991, he was the head football coach at four high schools in Ohio and then an assistant coach at Ohio . Also that season, AU won its first NCAA Division II playoff game at Jack Miller Stadium/Martinelli Field at the Dwight Schar Athletic Complex with a 21-18 victory over Northwest Missouri State, the two-time defending national champions, and were 10th in the final American Football Coaches Association poll. He'll represent Ashland University with class and poise." The assistant coach will be involved in drills and exercises that include the whole team and position groups. Bierman, University of Minnesota, 1983 Bo Schembechler, University of Michigan, 1938 Harry A. Stuhldreher, University of Wisconsin, 1986 Vic Rowen, San Francisco State University, 1987 LaVell Edwards, Brigham Young University, 1941 Fritz Crisler, University of Michigan, 1942 Madison Bell, Southern Methodist University, 1990 John Majors, University of Tennessee, 1943 Madison Bell, Southern Methodist University, 1946 Richard C. Harlow, Harvard University, 1996 Fisher DeBerry, U.S. Air Force Academy, 1949 L.R. The Ashland University football team's climb to a No. "I think in all three coaches, from a geography perspective, from our backgrounds, where we coached, we we'd been, Ashland was a great fit. If you can't make it yet, take our virtual campus tour to get a quick look at the university. Head Coach Lee Owens has officially retired as the head coach of the Ashland University football team. On Tuesday (Jan. 12) afternoon, Owens was introduced as the president of the American Football Coaches Association for 2016, moving up from second vice-president of the AFCA. I'm looking back, and I'm thinking that I really didn't do justice to the program, when I've got that many responsibilities.". A program which began in 1920, Ashland football has won 520 games all-time, and boasts three undefeated seasons, two other undefeated regular seasons, eight NCAA Division II postseason appearances, three D-II postseason wins, 17 conference championships, two College Football Hall of Famers, 19 first-team All-Americans, 22 Academic All-Americans, and three members of the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) Good Works Team. Owens becoming AFCA president very much is a full-circle moment. Geiser came to Ashland with Owens, spending the last 16 years as associate head coach, and also serving as offensive line coach, run game coordinator and pro liaison. The pressure of trying to win … has really eliminated the opportunity for someone to go into a program and stay at that program. He said I'm going to live up to that promise and that commitment, which was a really big deal when that happened. We want to celebrate this though. - Offensive linemen who have earned seven All-Great Midwest and 30 All-GLIAC honors. This past season he led our defense to Top 10 in the nation at one point, said Owens. ", 1921 Maj. Charles D. Daly, U.S. Military Academy (Chair), 1969 Paul Dietzel, University of South Carolina, 1922 Maj. Charles D. Daly, U.S. Military Academy, 1970 Frank Broyles, University of Arkansas, 1923 John W. Heisman, University of Pennsylvania, 1971 Earle Edwards, North Carolina State University, 1925 Robert Zuppke, University of Illinois, 1973 John McKay, University of Southern California, 1974 Bob Blackman, University of Illinois, 1927 William H. Cowell, University of New Hampshire, 1928 William W. Roper, Princeton University, 1976 Eddie Robinson, Grambling State University, 1929 Hugo Bezdek, Pennsylvania State College, 1979 Charles McClendon, Louisiana State University, 1932 Dr. Marvin A. Stevens, Yale University, 1980 Jerry Claiborne, University of Maryland, 1981 Harold "Tubby" Raymond, University of Delaware, 1934 Dana X. Bible, University of Nebraska, 1935 B.W. Ashland University's head coach Lee Owens on the sideline against Notre Dame College during their NCAA Division II college football playoff game at Jack Miler Stadium Saturday, Nov. 19, 2022. Some of Turnbaughs recent uptick in production has been by design in AUs offensive play-calling. And, as announced by AU Director of AthleticsAl Kingon Tuesday (Jan. 3) afternoon, Geiser will stay home and become the program's 15thhead coach. Some has been a matter of him creating separation from opposing defensive backs. It's one of the best jobs in Division II football. "I'm excited to introduce Doug as our head football coach," King said. "It's a tribute, number one, to Ashland University," Owens said. As long as I coach, I would like to continue to serve. News Radio 98.3FM & 1400AM, WMAN - Mansfield's News, Weather and Sports Station, WMAN High School Basketball Game of the Week, Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. He was surrounded by family members, athletes, coaches, AU officials, alumni and many friends. In all, Owens guided his teams to four conference titles and six playoff berths, and his 137 victories are more than any Ashland coach except Hall of Famer Fred Martinelli. "I don't think my feet have touched the ground since I received the call from Al," said Geiser. "The visibility of our program is unbelievable," Martinelli said. This is the Ashland University (Ohio) Football scholarship and program information page. Cracas serves as the Sports Producer for AUTV20, Sports Director for 88.9 WRDL, and the Breaking News editor for The Collegian. His third straight game of at least 100 yards receiving came Oct. 29 when he grabbed six passes for 126 yards and a TD in a 36-20 loss to Hillsdale. Owens finishes his 19-year career with a 137-61 record. "To go undefeated is something different," he said. But hell have to settle instead for helping the Eagles to a victory in their final regular-season game at 1 p.m. Saturday against Kentucky Wesleyan and then a potential regional postseason playoff berth. Staff Directory Members By Category/Department; Name Title Phone Email Address Twitter; Rudy Carlton: Head Coach (626) 815-6000, Ext. This place has been a great place for me, said Owens. TOM E. PUSKAR/ASHLAND TIMES-GAZETTE He thinks about the program first instead of himself, said President of AU Carlos Campo. Joining the volleyball program are Fairfield outside hitter Henlie Krause, Tri-Valley outside hitter Lexi Howe and Olmsted Falls outside hitter/setter Kylee Urban. Things have been starting to click, he said. 1 team in NCAA Division II for the ninth straight week by the Women's Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA). Owens reflected back on those people he had worked with at AU for nearly two decades, possibly none as important as when he first got his start by then-AU athletics director Bill Goldring. Our season had ended, [and]it didn't look likely that we would be selected," Martinelli said of the team which went 9-1 in the regular season. The century mark of Ashland football and their place within it is special for the men who have made up more than 60% of the head-coaching tenure in the program. His 71 sacks came against people who were very prominent, and teams that were very prominent.". That's first and foremost. Ashland set the tone by scoring four runs in the top of the first inning. This is the 54-year-old's first head coaching job at any level. In 19 seasons at AU, Owens led the program to a 139-61 record (.692 winning percentage). This will be his first head coaching job at any level. He had just been let go by the University of Akron. The 2022-23 Eagles have scored 2,377 points - the most in a season since 1999-2000 (2,498). Larry Stine. He has over 20 years of experience as a defensive coordinator at the college level . ", Said Martinelli, "Gary was a great coach. And that wont change.. Geiser officially takes over forLee Owens, who announced his retirement on Dec. 2 following a 19-year tenure leading the Ashland football program. This past season, Owens, who had contemplated retiring several years ago but had to deal with Covid-19 and injuries among his players. The official 2022 Football Roster for the Skip To Main . Ashland University football player Garrett Turnbaugh would likely trade his current pass-catching streak for a win over Hillsdale. "Dr. Clayton, it started with him.". He also had a number of other outstanding seasons at the helm of the Eagles. Doug exemplifies all of those attributes. Our vision, my vision is to build upon the foundation laid by the (George) Donges, the (Robert) Brownsons, the (Fred) Martinellis, the (Gary) Kellers, the (Lee) Owens, and take football to heights never foreseen here. Finishing with a win this year would be tough. But he'll have to settle instead for helping the Eagles to a victory in their final regular-season game at 1 p.m. Saturday against Kentucky Wesleyan and then a potential regional postseason playoff berth. We probably, offensively, have taken it to a more modern era with the way we've thrown the ball, the balance we've had, but you still have to run the ball and play defense, and that hasn't changed.". His career as an Ashland University head coach finished with a record of 137-61 with three Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference titles and one GMAC title. Hes been getting open. They also taught us AU football is won with fundamentals blocking, tackling. Ashland head coach John Ellenwood now has 243 wins guiding the Eagles, three away from tying Roger Lyons (246) for most in program history. 6 national ranking reflects the domination the Eagles have shown in jumping out to a 4-0 start. - Keller (10 seasons, 1994-2003) served as Martinelli's defensive coordinator, then took the 1997 Eagles to the NCAA D-II playoffs in exciting fashion four of their last five wins were by eight points or less, including a 27-20 Homecoming victory over Saginaw Valley State. "Throughout the search process, we talked about integrity, commitment and work ethic. He worked his way up from graduate assistant to tight ends coach before following his mentor to Ashland, spending his entire tenure as offensive line coach while also adding the associate head coach title in 2007. "It's one of the best jobs in Division II football. The sports at Ashland are led by 21 head coaches, 10 of whom coach male teams, 10 of whom spearhead women's teams, and 1 of whom leads a coed team. YEAR: 19th in 2022-23 (first as head coach in 2023) PREVIOUS COLLEGE: Cornell '92 In the 1960s, Elvis Presley sang "Home Is Where The Heart Is." That sentiment always was been evident with Doug Geiser when it comes to Ashland University and its football program.And, as announced by AU Director of Athletics Al King on Tuesday (Jan. 3) afternoon, Geiser will stay home and become the program's 15 . Dusty Sloan, Ashland University Director of Athletic Communications. "We've got to continue to tell the story about the positives of our game, and we've got to continue to do the things we need to do to make the changes we need to make to protect our game. And at the time, I told him my daughter had leukemia, and I was uncertain of making the move. Before introducing Geiser, Dr. Campo talked about what makes Ashland special.