He amassed a 22-3 record, one national championship appearance, and one conference title. He then served as offensive coordinator, wide . Following a two-year stint coaching Valwood High School (1998-99) in Valdosta, Georgia, Miller returned to the collegiate ranks at Washington and Lee University, serving as the wide receivers coach. VSU finished the season ranked No. "About three weeks ago, I stood before a group of young men in the aisle on a plane and told them that they had my word and the word of the university that we would go and aggressively and boldly look for the finest head coach to come lead the program and build on the foundation that Valdosta State University Blazer football has," Reinhard said. It is fantastic to know that the Blazer football program will be led by Gary and I look forward to watching him build on VSUs incredible tradition of success.. The players would leave the hot practice field and be handed a peanut-butter sandwich and a banana, and then had to lie on the floor inside to try to get cool. Copyright 2021 WALB. "I think what impressed me, even more so than the football coach, is what else he brings to the table. Those are the type of guys that when they talk about being all in, theyre all in.. Gosh, they worked hard, Reinhard said. The schools enrollment has actually dropped from 15,000 to 13,000 in the past few years, which cuts down on student fees to athletics. Ehhhh, it may have at one time.. "This is special," Jackson said. Holgorsen currently serves as the head coach at the University of Houston, while Belk serves as Holgorsen's defensive coordinator. (Valdosta State Athletics), Kirby Smart served as Valdosta States DB coach in 2000 and was promoted to defensive coordinator in 2001. Using figures from the NFL's Play Football website, Valdosta's win total stands at 941 entering 2023. . There's a lot of other guys that haven't gotten this opportunity that deserve it. Last season, Jackson's Mavericks allowed only 15.6 points per game, good for 13th in the nation. We did a lot of other jobs that a lot of these guys that were Division I coaches their whole lives, they have no idea what all we did.. Reinhard said he did not know prior to Saturday that Goff was leaving. We're going to try to do an excellent job because I'm not the best one. Goff will be introduced to the Lake Charles public . I was very surprised, he said. Were gonna be pretty good if we play with 12!, The room laughed. [5] That year the Blazers missed the playoffs for the first time in the Chris Hatcher Era, despite an 82 record and a top-ten ranking. I hope I never work for you, said Cavan, who was in the mix for a better job, at East Tennessee State. We didnt know anything different, said Gary Goff, then a Valdosta State receiver. The Blazer defense held teams to 124.4 yards per game on the ground for 44th nationally. On January 25, 2019, VSU announced former Tiffin head coach Gary Goff as the tenth head coach in program history. At quarterback, Hatcher led the Blazers to their first-ever playoff appearance in 1994 and won the Harlon Hill Trophy, the Division II version of the Heisman. Language links are at the top of the page across from the title. I was humbled by the job, Smart said. In 2006, ESPN would proclaim the city to be Titletown, USA, and the locals collectively shrugged as if to say: Well, of course.. I think if we do well in the moment, that may open some doors for them.". Journalism, as well as student-led journalism, matters because it plays a crucial role in society by informing the public about events, issues and ideas that affect them, she added. Throughout his long and storied high school coaching career, Coach Propst has been involved in various scandals. They care about Valdosta State and they took the time during bowl preparation to reach out because they had a message that they wanted us to hear.". Smart was hired anyway. During Jacksons tenure at Colorado Mesa, he went 10-3 in his two seasons, including 8-2 this season, and posted a thrilling 26-21 victory over then-No. However, former Seabreeze coach Pat Brown, who departed on Feb. 8 to become the wide receivers coach at NCAA Division II powerhouse Valdosta State, righted a once wayward ship. Valdosta State football coach Gary Goff announced Sunday that he has taken the head coaching job at Division I and Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) member McNeese State in Lake Charles, La. So maintaining continuity was difficult, and Reinhard decided to look outside the program for Valdosta States next coach: Mike Kelly, who had been the offensive coordinator for the CFLs Winnipeg Blue Bombers. Hatcher was the 1994 Harlon Hill Trophy winner. Valdosta Daily Times. Bonner paused a moment. Volunteer Football Operations. I want to thank Dr. Carvajal and Mr. Reinhard for the opportunity to lead my alma mater. Communications and Media Relations Coordinator. Giovanni Spadaro. And now this uncommonly large group of multimillionaire coaches looks back at their stint in this small town and thinks: This was the time of our lives. VALDOSTA, Ga. (WALB) - On Monday, Valdosta State University (VSU) Athletics Department announced a new head coach to lead the Blazers in the upcoming . What everyone remembers is that it was hard work, but also fun. Madison Gruber, editor-in-chief of The Spectator, said this was the first time VSUs college newspaper earned General Excellence recognition. He also had coaching stints at Woodstock (Ga.) High School and Cherokee (Ga.) High School. The event is free and open to the public and features the live performance of a different . 1 even with the upsetting finish. Which, again, means football. The official Football Coach List for the Valdosta State University Blazers Skip To Main . Winds W at 5 to 10 mph. He then earned a scholarship culminating in being named a team captain in 1996. The Sandcrabs won . Zack Poff Apr 26, 2023 Big out-of-state football games for 2023 (229) 333-5897 or 5477. Even during a national championship run last year, Valdosta States average attendance was about 6,100. "That meant something. A composer named James Lord Pierpont also lived for a time in Valdosta in the 19thcentury, after he wrote a song called Jingle Bells. The comedian Bill Hicks was born there, as was country singer Rhett Akins and actor Demond Wilson, the son in Sanford and Son.. Smart did very well, and a year later he was on the move himself, taking a graduate assistant job under Bobby Bowden at Florida State, before rejoining Muschamp at LSU in 2004. David Dean was named head coach of the Blazers in 2007 after Chris Hatcher took the head coaching job at Georgia Southern University. We ask that you consider turning off your ad blocker so we can deliver you the best experience possible while you are here. Once that project was completed there was still more work to do. Goff is a native of Picayune, Miss., and he and his wife Tiffanie have two children, Tyler and Audrey. His first season got his era off to a great start with them starting off ranked No. Garys offenses have been among the most prolific in the country and he will certainly continue and build on our history and tradition of fast-paced, explosive football. At his interview, Smart went up to the drawing board and designed a brilliant defensive scheme. Leach spent the last eight seasons as head coach at Washington State and was the head coach for Texas Tech from 2000-09. [16] Goff, a former Blazer captain and 1996 graduate of VSU, had gone 23-10 the prior three seasons at Tiffin. "I said, 'Well, I'd walk backwards from Houston to Valdosta, Georgia if (they'd have me)," Jackson said. I knew I was young to be in the profession. Before the season even starts, everybody knows the Blazers are going to be somewhere in the mix. Jackson is coming to Titletown from Colorado Mesa University where he was the head coach the past two seasons. (He has argued the story didnt happen exactly that way, but Muschamp is adamant: That is 100 percent right.). Under Dean the Blazers also won the 2012 national title. What was the atmosphere like? He also served as co-offensive coordinator and receivers coach at New Mexico State for four seasons as he helped lead the team to second nationally in passing offense and total offense. Delta State University defeated the Blazers 3531, despite being down 28 points at the beginning of the second half. Powell Hall West, Suite 1120. I think that's going to get us off to a good start.". Why not try to capitalize on all this success and notoriety? They helped lay the groundwork for what was to come at Valdosta State: In 2002, the year after Smart left, the Blazers reached the Division II championship game, where they fell to Grand Valley State, whose head coach was now-Notre Dame coach Brian Kelly. They were young coaches on the cusp of a revolution, but nobody realized it, including the coaches and players themselves. A graduate of rival DeLand High, Roberts played quarterback at Valdosta State. And so they did: Someone drove a truck out to get a massive amount of wood and hauled it back, where the new football staff at Valdosta State formed an assembly line and proceeded to build new lockers. Valdosta State begins its search for their next head football coach, Teens arrested after 11 injured in South Carolina park shooting, Turner Co. Sheriffs Office to reward $1K for information on fireworks incident. Start fast, finish faster than that!! During his time in Titletown, Goff helped lead the Blazers to their first Gulf South Conference title in 1996 and the first two NCAA playoff seasons in program history in 1994 and 1996. With classes still out for the winter break, Jackson has not been able to meet the team he inherited Thursday outside of Zoom meetings. Obedience. That mad scientist would try to run offensive meetings in a room so hot it was hard to keep players awake. Dusty Bonner, the former Valdosta State quarterback who was born and raised in Valdosta, was asked what it was like to grow up there. In 2004, Hatcher led the Blazers to their second national championship appearance with and a 3631 win over Pittsburg State University for the National title. After the game, second year head coach Tremaine Jackson said the point of this night? The opposition scored just 18.5 points per game on the Blazers for 23rd nationally and tops in the conference. Kerwin Bell, former Florida Gator quarterback, led the Valdosta State team that won the 2018 Division II National Championship. I was single, young, I was probably three years difference from the players. He would go on to become West Virginias and Houstons head coach. Welcome to the job, now hire a football coach. The Blazers were fourth nationally in completion percentage (.701), while finishing 14th nationally in first downs gained (276). The Spectator, the unfiltered, uncensored voice of the students at Valdosta State University, recently earned seven 2023 Georgia College Press Association Better Newspaper Contest awards, including five staff and two individual recognitions. "It's for the culture and we take a lot of pride in that. "Both of those individuals, while preparing for a bowl game, reached out to us and said, 'You need to take a really good look at Tremaine Jackson,'" Reinhard said. They take a lot of pride in what they do.. Along with Wells, senior offensive linemen Adonis Sealey and Brandon Kemp earned All-America honors. After three years, he was gone. 4 in the AFCA poll[10] in the first weeks of the 2011 season. Valdosta State is the second football program to make a historic coaching hire in the last two months as Jackson joins Valdosta High School head football coach Shelton Felton as the. Leach was the coordinator all five of those years. GBI investigating body found in Cook County lake, Valdosta man faces drug, firearms charges, Court advocacy group opens new headquarters. In his time at Samford, his team's have consistently been among the Southern Conference and FCS leaders in several categories. The award-winning design, a front-page cover, was created by Gavin Ponder, an art major from Augusta, Georgia, who serves as graphics editor for the newspaper. Its impossible for me to answer that question without talking about football. "Why I wanted to be here was because of the brand, the history, the tradition, the name recognition of Valdosta State. More important than the on-field product, Jackson brings a reputation as a star recruiter and a champion of academic excellence. Then there were the coaching connections: Will Muschamp was friends with Hatcher through several personal relationships. And earlier this summer, Leach called Goff at midnight eastern time, because Leach is now at Washington State. Three words that Valdosta State University Head Football Coach Tremaine Jackson lives by that have become fundamentals in his coaching philosophy. As the team flew back to Valdosta empty-handed and disappointed, Reinhard made a promise to the players. Leach reclaimed his brand-new Valdosta State pullover. First Amendment: Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances. *Co-champions with the University of West Florida. Goff was named Gulf South Conference Coach of the Year in 2021, and Co-Coach of the Year in 2019. Naturally friendly people, Leach said. They had more responsibilities. They lost in the first round of the NCAA Division II playoffs to UNC-Pembroke 2421. Reinhard was smitten. I absolutely can not think of a better coach than I couldve had hereto deal with what we dealt with over the last three years. There, he helped guide the team to a massive turnaround as it was 2-8 in 2009 and went 9-2 in 2010, tying for the most wins in school history. There had been people on social media wanting him ousted early in the season, so the column was me taking a stance, saying that he shouldn't be fired but should be given some leeway since he didn't exactly inherit a perfect situation.. Kerwin Bell era: 2016-2018 [ edit] Kerwin Bell was named head coach of the Blazers on January 22, 2016. Fourteen practices later, and spring ball wrapped up Friday night with practice number fifteen, the Blazer's annual spring game. Smart now recalls watching that Valdosta State defense and its defensive coordinator. Valdosta State is a relatively new school: It was founded as a womens college in 1906, began accepting men in 1950 and then became a university in 1993. As fate would have it, as the Cougars were preparing for the Birmingham Bowl against Auburn, Jackson happened to be in Houston watching the Cougars practice when Belk asked Jackson if he would be interested in the Blazers' head coaching job. Other coaches include Mike Cavan, Hal Mumme, and Mike Kelly. Chris Hatcher would prove to be the connective tissue between the two unique Valdosta State coaching trees. Head Football Coach football@valdosta.edu (229) 333-5970 (229) 333-5970: Trent Earley: Assistant Head Coach / Linebackers / Special Teams / Strength & Conditioning Liaison Those lockers the coaches built, incidentally? Seth Emerson is a senior writer for The Athletic covering Georgia and the SEC. College of Humanities and Social Sciences, Harley Langdale, Jr. College of Business Administration, James L. and Dorothy H. Dewar College of Education and Human Services, University Advising & Student Transitions, VSUs Spectator Wins Big at Collegiate Better Newspaper Contest, https://gapress.org/georgia-college-press-association/, 2023 Valdosta State University A Comprehensive University of the University System of Georgia, Office of Communications [1] [2] Goff served as the head football coach at Tiffin University in Tiffin, Ohio from 2011 to 2018 and Valdosta State University in Valdosta, Georgia from 2019 to 2021. Follow Seth on Twitter @SethWEmerson, Mike Leach served as Valdosta States offensive coordinator for five seasons from 1992-96. The Spectator finished third in the Best Editorial or Editorial Series (Group II) category and second in the Best Campus Community Service: Editorial (Division A) and Best Campus Community Service: News (Division A) categories. The pay was low. Getting an opportunity at a place like this with the tradition we have here, it's just not normal. Bonner had transferred from Kentucky, so he had seen the differences in resources, which were glaring. The Blazers open their 2023 slate at home against Point on September the 2nd. In 2019 he led the Blazers to a season of 10-1 and 8-0 in Gulf South Conference play, earning Gulf South Conference Co-Coach of the Year honors. I was appreciative. Tremaine Jackson was formally introduced as the 11th head football coach in school history Thursday afternoon. I was trying to learn some new things and develop., After one season, Muschamp moved on to LSU, where Nick Saban hired him to be the linebackers coach. On Sunday, Valdosta State University (VSU) head football coach Gary Goff announced he has taken the head coaching position at McNeese State in Lake Charles, La., according to VSU Athletics. It was really pure. During his time at Hoover High School in Alabama, he was accused of changing students' grades in order to allow them to remain eligible to play football. I'm just honored to be the coach here and the reception I've gotten on social media, in person it's all been positive in the same. He said Goff wasnt looking for another job, but he was presented with an opportunity he couldnt turn down. Sure enough, Cavan left soon after Reinhards introductory news conference. None of us saw this coming. following his conversation with now-former head football coach Gary Goff when he told him he was leaving for McNeese State. Paul Leavy | Special to the TimesNew Valdosta State head football coach Tremaine Jackson speaks during his introductory press conference Thursday. Pages in category "Valdosta State Blazers football coaches" The following 33 pages are in this category, out of 33 total. It focused on encouraging students to exercise their right to vote. Dana Holgorsen, who had played for Mumme at Iowa Wesleyan, arrived in Valdosta in 1993 as a graduate assistant, then moved up a year later to coach quarterbacks and receivers. 17. Two notable alumni are Jessie Tuggle, National Football League linebacker from 19872000 playing his entire career with the Atlanta Falcons, and Chris Hatcher was quarterback in the programs first national football tournament in 1994 and was that year's Harlon Hill Trophy winner. Despite the demands for a team, Valdosta State University, then Valdosta State College, did not form a football team Bama Adams If Penn State manages to finally break through and topple Ohio State and Michigan, Singleton, who ran for 1,061 yards and averaged 6.8 yards per carry as a freshman, will likely be a focal point. He hasnt changed a lick.. The new coaches noticed right away. "I feel like I have a responsibility as a coach to speak truth into people's lives. Head Coach Gary Goff begins his third season at the helm of the VSU Blazers. The Main Street Office will host the Brown Bag Concert Series in Downtown Valdosta from May 1 to May 5. I beat Kirby more than he beat me, Muschamp said. The work of journalism, including that of student journalists, is essential to a functioning democracy and well-informed public. Official Account of Valdosta State University Football 4x National Champions | 9x GSC Champions Head Coach: Tremaine Jackson #KTF #DOG #RLW Kentucky hired Mumme as head coach after the 1996 season. High around 80F. Mostly sunny skies. 2004 Plaque on Bazemore-Hyder Stadium 2004 Renovations [ edit] They wouldnt have made them in an SEC locker room, but at the same time, from a players perspective, thats pretty cool when your coaches are making lockers. Grit. Personal life In addition to his on-field football success, I am very impressed with what Gary has done with his teams off the field, particularly in the area of leadership development.. It just wasnt the right fit. And I'm talking about what he brings to the table, he brings to the table with passion sincere passion," Reinhard said. There could be others coming down the pike: Hatcher, still only 46, is now at Samford, an FCS school. The football program didnt debut until 1982 and had some modest success in Division II over the next few decades. This was serious business. Colton Bowser. 'For the culture': Jackson becomes VSU's first Black head football coach. I hate comparing it to that but it was more of what I was raised in, because my Dad was a high school coach, and its closer to the form of high school coaching, at least it was then. Tiffin was ranked as high as No. Seth joined The Athletic in 2018 from The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, and also covered the Bulldogs and the SEC for The Albany Herald from 2002-05. I knew it was a learning experience for me. There will be an official introductory press conference for Jackson on Thursday at 2 p.m. in the arena of The Complex. He amassed a 22-3 record, one national championship appearance, and one conference title. I guess the fans and all the other coaches thought: Those guys are kind of crazy.. Mumme took over as head coach at Valdosta State University in 1992. The first two seasons the offensive line coach was Guy Morriss, the future Kentucky and Baylor head coach.