"I would say that the coaches that have been a part of Ashland's proud past had a great love for not only the football program, but the types of young men that we had the opportunity to work with on a daily basis. While at Ashland, he earned All-American honors in 1929. He had just been let go by the University of Akron. Its not easy for someone to do, and he stayed the course.. 1 defense in Division II and were one of few that were left undefeated up until Week Nine where they fell to the Hillsdale Chargers on the road. "The visibility of our program is unbelievable," Martinelli said. The use of software that blocks ads hinders our ability to serve you the content you came here to enjoy. The pressure of trying to win … has really eliminated the opportunity for someone to go into a program and stay at that program. You wont see me after it.. The fact that I was at Ashland University and in the GLIAC was a big consideration when the coaches voted. "There's no question, Ashland's had a reputation for great defense," said Owens. 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.". Hell outwork anyone on the field and he loves the game.. About Ashland University. After the 2020 season was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Turnbaugh was the teams leading receiver in 2021 with 36 catches for 520 yards and four TDs in 10 starts. "Personally, just to have the opportunity to serve a profession that has meant so much to me for so many years, it's important.". It's what have you done for me recently. "Under Clayton and Brownson, we gradually moved to the point where [now], we're one of the premier programs in Division II," said Martinelli. I think (quarterback) Austin (Brenner) and he have a good connection and theyve got a lot of confidence in each other right now.. College Football Hall of Famer Dr. Fred Martinelli led the program from 1959-93. The Eagles now without a permanent head coach will begin the search to replace Owens, but for now, the interim head coach has been named Doug Geiser. Story Links Ashland University head volleyball coach Kevin Foeman has announced the addition of three student-athletes in the Eagles' 2023 recruiting class. "What a great advantage it is to have them continue as a part of Eagle football. Geiser is taking over an AU team that went 10-2 overall in 2022, with its 7-1 mark capturing the Great Midwest Athletic Conference title. I'm both honored and humbled to have been chosen for this position.". In his opening remarks, King said Geiser was the man for the job after a month-long search. "The tradition of Ashland football is very strong," said Geiser. The only former Eagle head coach to have more wins in their career is Fred Martinelli who went 217-119-12 in his career. ", Added Owens, "There's very few programs in the country which could boast of such continuity. Finishing with a win this year would be tough. "In 45 years, I have been blessed," Owens, 66, said when he decided to call it quits. I'm fortunate, the way my career has gone.". "Coach(Tim) Rosehas been able to continue that reputation, which is really important. ", 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. 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 th head coach. Wash. FSP 7-on-7 / San Mateo Community College. Doug exemplifies all of those attributes. I had a rough year in 2019 but having people around me like Brenner and the coaches, those guys build your confidence. And the beat goes on. "Throughout the search process, we talked about integrity, commitment and work ethic. That stability in leadership is key for our current players and our recruits.". See Our Rec Center. It was nice last year to get back on track and just playing with a lot of great players and a lot of great coaches has evolved my game over time.. "It's always about a fit," Owens said. Ashland Universitys newest sport, Eagle womens basketball ranked No. Owens has spent all of his football coaching life in Ohio, and having grown up nearby at Mansfield Madison High School, and having coached nearby at Crestview and Galion High Schools, he was well acquainted with the Eagles prior to coming here. Its all kind of surreal at this point. They also taught us AU football is won with fundamentals blocking, tackling. Ashland University Copyright 2023. ", Said Martinelli, "Gary was a great coach. We are truly celebrating the loss. - Twelve 1,000-yard rushing seasons, the program's all-time rushing yards record has been broken, the program record for rushing yards in a season has been broken three times, the program mark for rushing yards by a freshman was beaten twice, and the AU mark for single-game rushing yards has been eclipsed twice. We played the best teams in a five- or six-state area. Some has been a matter of him creating separation from opposing defensive backs. He took over a good program, but we needed to make changes. If we win the national championship this year, were going to have a big parade right down Claremont and keep on going and never stop, Owens said. Regardless of how much success you have, you feel like you're always going to be in the shadows of a coach with that kind of recognition. 1/8/16 ASHLAND, Ohio - Twenty-three years after his playing days were over, former Ashland University All-American defensive end Bill Royce is a member of the College Football Hall of Fame. 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. I was Athletic Director, chair of the Physical Education department, taught 8-10 hours, and the head football coach. As far as what were going to ask from those players, and the thing I challenged them about when Lee stepped down and I was in the interim position, if you want to do something thats never been done here or go beyond, youre preparation this offseason has to be at a level beyond, he said. There have been many milestone victories for Ashland in Owens' tenure, the most recent of which was the win over Northwest Missouri State, which not only was the first postseason win in the fairly-new facility on Broad Street, but also came against a two-time defending NCAA Division II national champion. For Geiser, being named Eagles head coach continues a football coaching ascent that began at his alma mater, Triway High School in nearby Wooster, Ohio, in 1990. The position will assist the head coach in developing the overall recruiting plan and in reaching the university's target roster goal for women's soccer . Doug's vision aligns with the goals and objectives of the department and the university. ", This article originally appeared on Ashland Times Gazette: Ashland University football coach Lee Owens retires after 19 seasons, Ashland University football coach Lee Owens retires after 19 seasons, Kellyanne Conway, George Conway To Divorce After Decadeslong Marriage: Report, Reports: 3 children dead, 2 wounded in attack at Texas home, 'Extremely dangerous': Spike in illegal crossings at Canada-Vermont border has feds sounding alarm, School punished teen girl for working out in sports bra in 100-degree Texas heat, ACLU says, Republicans Use Arcane Political Tactic to Thwart Democrats, SoCal in for cool start to weekend, butlight showers make brief return, Mathieu De St. Phalle's hat trick can't save Wisconsin from OT loss to Michigan in Big Ten quarterfinal, Texas congressman who broke with GOP is censured, Report: Homicides among people under 25 dropped 7% under Roca Baltimore. "Thank goodness, Bill Goldring literally recruited me, sold me, and convinced me this was a good place. Lee Owens has stepped down as the head coach at Ashland University, a Division II school in Ashland, Ohio. "We collected equipment, the kids went home for Thanksgiving, on Sunday afternoon I was in Columbus and came home, and the phone rang, and Dennis Pope from the NCAA called and said, 'Fred, you've been selected. Amazingly, it all slipped away. 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. Ashland set the tone by scoring four runs in the top of the first inning. The . "I grew up 10 miles south of here, and watched games as a high school player here, and followed the team when coach Martinelli was here," Owens said. Were targeting him more by design, AU coach Lee Owens said. Ashland continues to have a rich tradition as a private, comprehensive institution preparing students for exciting professions . He also had a number of other outstanding seasons at the helm of the Eagles. 3 in the country, AU mens basketball looks to GMAC season-opener, No. While speculation occurred for months leading up to this moment, individuals inside the organization attempted to keep the news a secret, but with such a big program to keep quiet, the secret found its way to the outside. "We'll obviously have to add a coach to fill my position, but the staff will stay intact for the most part," he said. Keller was 51-55 (.481) at the Ashland helm, won the Midwest Intercollegiate Football Conference title in 1997and was the MIFC Coach of the Year that season. Two of the philosophies which have carried over from Martinelli to Keller to Owens, despite the changes in the sport in more than a half-century, are have great defenses and run the football well. The official 2022 Football Roster for the Skip To Main . 2 in the country, Womens basketball sits No. All Rights Reserved, Dusty Sloan, Ashland University Director of Athletic Communications, Six Home Games, IUP Rematch Highlight 2023 Eagle Football Regular-Season Slate, Ashland Football Announces 2023 Signing Day Class, Ayers Starts NFL Draft Quest At 2023 NFLPA Collegiate Bowl, Ayers To Begin Draft Process At 2023 NFLPA Collegiate Bowl, Posey Makes History In Earning Third Academic All-America Honor, Linebackers coach/freshman defensive coordinator, Offensive line coach/defensive coordinator, Offensive coordinator/offensive line coach/head junior varsity coach, Graduate assistant (1995-96)/tight ends coach/video coordinator (1997-2003), Associate head coach (2007-22)/offensive line coach/run game coordinator/pro liaison/interim head coach. mesurer votre utilisation de nos sites et applications. We want to celebrate this though. The last Eagles receiver to record at least 100 yards in three straight games was Matthew Wilcox in games two through four in 2017. Bill Seder Sr., Sean's grandpa, was also a head football coach and now resides in Ashland. In the previous 39 years (minus nearly three full seasons due to World War II), there had been 11 head coaches for the Purple Titans/Eagles, for a grand total of two conference championships (1954-55 underRobert Brownson), 115 victories and a cumulative winning percentage of .441. Turnbaughs AU career started in 2018 when he played in nine games as a true freshman, catching 16 passes for 178 yards. It was the first time I was really humbled in my coaching career because I was able to be recruited from every other school I'd been at to go to the next job," Owens said. "Throughout the search process, we talked about integrity, commitment and work ethic," Athletic Director Al King said in a press conference. Geiser follows in the line of the previous three Eagle head coaches, who combined spanned more than six decades - College Football Hall of Famer Dr. Fred Martinelli (1959-93), Ashland University Hall of Famer Gary Keller (1994-2003), and Owens. The No. When you lose someone like Owens, you need time to process that. His 71 sacks came against people who were very prominent, and teams that were very prominent.". The school on Tuesday introduced longtime associate head coach Doug Geiser as its new head coach. College Football Hall of Famer Dr. Fred Martinelli led the program from 1959-93. In all, Keller spent 23 seasons on the Ashland coaching staff. Ashland's first NCAA playoff team was the 1986 squad and the way the Eagles found out about their postseason berth was much different that it is today. Personal life [ edit] A Shelby, Ohio native, Stepsis was a member of the football team and graduated from Ashland University. Following five seasons as a high school assistant at three . Much of why the position is so desirable is because of Owens, who now closes the book on a career that spanned more than four decades. 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. Its a combination of all of those things. Ashland-Collegianreporter Brayden Creveling had the opportunity to sit down with Owens earlier in the season where he expressed underlying thoughts of a potential retirement. Lee Owens (born July 17, 1956) is a former American football coach. Owens was elected to the AFCA Board of Trustees in 2007. 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. - Martinelli (35 seasons, 1959-93) is in the College Football Hall of Fame, and it's not hard to see why a 217-119-12 (.641) lifetime record, two undefeated seasons (1967 and 1972), 10 conference championships, 11 conference Coach of the Year awards and the program's first NCAA Division II postseason berth in 1986. "There have been some wins like that that you look back on. He has been an active member of the association, serving on several committees, and is the chairman of the AFCA Division II Coaches' All-America Team Selection committee. ASHLAND, Ohio -- Dr. Fred Martinelli, who led Ashland College/University's football program and athletic program to new, successful heights from the late 1950s into . "Dr. Clayton, it started with him.". Following five seasons as a high school assistant at three stops, Geiser joined the University of Akron coaching staff under Owens first as a graduate assistant in 1995-96, then as tight ends coach and video coordinator from 1997-2003. "This is a dream job because Ashland is a very special place. With countless ups and downs, more ups than downs, Owens has decided after a stellar 2022-2023 to announce his official retirement. "Our family's been blessed.". Following five seasons as a high school assistant at three stops, Geiser joined the University of Akron coaching staff under Owens first as a graduate assistant in 1995-96, then as tight ends coach and video coordinator from 1997-2003. 1/3/2023 12:30:00 PM Staff Directory Members By Category/Department; Name Title Phone Email Address Twitter; Rudy Carlton: Head Coach (626) 815-6000, Ext. So if you want to take that beyond, youve got to find a way to go beyond your preparation, so thats what we want to instill in this new group of Eagles.. Keller turned the program over to Owens, who now passes the baton to Geiser. For Geiser, being named Eagles head coach continues a football coaching ascent that began at his alma mater, Triway High School in nearby Wooster, Ohio, in 1990. In 2012, the Eagles posted their first undefeated regular season in 40 years. We dont think thats a small thing. A 1992 graduate of Cornell, Geiser is married to wife Amy, and they are the parents of twin girls, Abigail and Rebecca. Another important factor for the stability was the quality of education, as well as the care and love that our players received during their stay.". He had five starts in 11 games in 2019, with 17 receptions for 266 yards. Ashland rallied from a 14-point deficit in the final 6:24 and beat Malone 82-78 in Saturday's Great Midwest Athletic . Some of Turnbaughs recent uptick in production has been by design in AUs offensive play-calling. "What we've always tried to do is live up to that reputation and that tradition, and the success that they had before us.". 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. 1 team in NCAA Division II for the ninth straight week by the Women's Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA). Owens finishes his 19-year career with a 137-61 record. Apply for PPOC Coach job with Roche in Taipei, Taipei City, Taiwan. Fortunately, we've had those kind of people.". Someone stood up at the end and said, coach congratulations and thank you we love you. Then other fans stood and applauded me.. . 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. The Offensive Coordinator / Tight Ends / Fullbacks of the Ashland University Football program is Reggie Gamble. The assistant at Michigan [Frank Maloney]got it. "There's only two Division II head coaches on the board, and there's a bunch of Division II schools. Get opinion pieces, letters and editorials sent directly to . Another Eagle quarterback, AU alumnus Bill Cundiff had high praise for Owens. I'm both honored and humbled to have been chosen for this position." [4] He majored in special education, and also got a master's degree in sports education in 1999. A Division II playoff appearance was followed by the program's first-ever postseason victory a year later. "You look what we've been able to do with that facility, Jack Miller was the same guy who led the actual charge over the stadium and the indoor facility, and those are the ones who really turned things," Owens said. One is a [College Football]Hall of Famer. That sentiment always was been evident withDoug Geiserwhen it comes to Ashland University and its football program. At the conclusion of the season, Owens was named the AFCA Division II Region 3 Coach of the Year and the GLIAC Coach of the Year. "We've been able to do a lot here. I think just something hes always had is the way he competes. Its a great place to start, and gives me a lot of peace of mind at night knowing I can trust those men., Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. Geiser spent the last 16 years as associate head coach, and also served as offensive line coach, run game coordinator and pro liaison. His birthdate is June 4, 1968. Owens four best seasons, which occurred with one-to-two losses, resulted in those four conference titles. They established the culture that is Ashland football. Things have been starting to click, he said. Prior to playing in the NFL, Novotny played college football at Ashland University. "The state of Ohio has always been so well represented in our association," Owens said. "College level" is defined as a four-year college or university program in either the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) or the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA). "It is the people that make programs special," said Keller. A private university located in the heart of Ohio, Ashland University values and encourages student individuality. Visit a Dining Hall. The Ashland University football team just ended one of its best seasons to date, capturing the Great Midwest Athletic Conference championship and the program's eighth D-II playoff appearance, forging a 10-2 overall season. The Eagles were a perfect 6-0 at Jack Miller Stadium/Martinelli Field. Im extremely lucky in that case. "Coach Martinelli was a great influence on me as a coach," Keller said. As for the coaching staff moving into the 2023, Geiser said the changes will be minimal. We had a pretty long home winning streak [12 games]here.". Geiser replaces Lee Owens, who announced his retirement in December after 18 seasons. 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. "The tradition of Ashland football is very strong," said Geiser. Ashland University's head coach Lee Owens on the sideline against Northwood University during college football action at Jack Miller Stadium Saturday, Oct. 1, 2022. I had five or six players in 1972 who could have played in the Mid-American [Conference], easily.". Men's Basketball Roster Coaches Schedule Statistics News 2022-23 Game Notes John Ellenwood press conference Record Book Through 6-28-22 212 Club Camps Recruitment Form Men's Basketball 3/2/2023 2:35:00 PM Dusty Sloan, Ashland University Director of Athletic Communications Ashland University football coach Lee Owens announced Friday his retirement after leading the Eagles for the past 19 seasons. Were not like every other school, and what we talk about are values they really do matter, he said. . They preached that 'being an Eagle' was about the pursuit of excellence in all areas of your life on the field, in the classroom, and in the community. One of those individuals who defied the odds under Owens was Eagle quarterback Austin Brenner. "Doug exemplifies all of those attributes. We would do good things together, build a stadium together, and we would take the program together where it needed to go. It's a great place to live, a great place to raise a family. "This is a dream job because Ashland is a very special place. Following the season, Owens earned Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Football Co-Coach of the Year and AFCA Division II Region 3 Coach of the Year honors. Meyer, Texas Christian University, 1997 Don Nehlen, West Virginia University, 1950 Lynn O. Waldorf, University of California, 1998 Roy Kidd, Eastern Kentucky University, 1952 Carl G. Snavely, University of North Carolina, 1954 George A. Munger, University of Pennsylvania, 2003 Phil Fulmer, University of Tennessee, 1958 Charles B. Wilkinson, University of Oklahoma, 2006 Mel Tjeerdsma, Northwest Missouri State University, 1959 Wallace Butts, University of Georgia, 1960 Charles A. Engle, Pennsylvania State University, 2008 Tyrone Willingham, University of Washington, 1961 Jack C. Curtice, Stanford University, 2009 Dick Tomey, San Jose State University, 2010 Larry Kehres, University of Mount Union, 1965 Abe Martin, Texas Christian University, 1967 Ben Schwartzwalder, Syracuse University, 1968 Murray Warmath, University of Minnesota, AU Football Coach Lee Owens Named AFCA President. Outside of players, he coached alongside countless coaches, faculty and staff and interacted with countless fans and media members. And it's unfortunate. Other major personnel are: That has been a factor.". This is a man who has set an example for others and cares about this place. It's quite a feat for Ashland University to have two members in the Hall, when, according to the Hall itself, only 0.02% of college football's players and coaches have been enshrined. "It's one of the best jobs in Division II football. Founded in 1878 as Ashland College, the name of the institution was changed to Ashland University in 1989 to reflect the many diverse undergraduate, graduate and professional programs offered. "There's only two Division II head coaches on the board, and there's a bunch of Division II schools. "This is a dream job because Ashland is a very special place," Geiser said. Geiser follows in the line of the previous three Eagle head coaches, who combined spanned more than six decades College Football Hall of FamerDr. Fred Martinelli(1959-93), Ashland University Hall of FamerGary Keller(1994-2003), and Owens. 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.". For the next yearI get a chance to help be a spokesperson for that. "When Dr. (Fred) Finks was president here, when he led the charge and got everyone in line to build the stadium, it was because we made a commitment, so we're going to build a stadium. AU athletics sees strong fall season in Learfield Directors Cup, Eagle basketball on the road in the 2022-2023 season, AU Call of Duty eSports team wins league championship, What is STUNT? This will be his first head coaching job at any level. 2012 was the fifth year in school history that the Ashland University Eagles football team took a trip to the postseason, the third under Coach Lee Owens. He's committed to giving our student-athletes a quality experience. Like Brenner, Owens said the reason you coach has everything to do with the players you work with. All Rights Reserved, Linebackers coach/freshman defensive coordinator, Offensive line coach/defensive coordinator, Offensive coordinator/offensive line coach/head junior varsity coach, Graduate assistant (1995-96)/tight ends coach/video coordinator (1997-2003), Associate head coach (2007-22)/offensive line coach/run game coordinator/pro liaison/interim head coach. 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. ", Said Owens, "It gives you a common reference point, it gives you someone who can continue to remind you about, here's how we've done it, here's someone who's been a part of our program that we need to continue to engage.". He's committed to giving our student-athletes a quality experience. Royce is part of the 2016 College Football Hall of Fame class, along with 13 other players and two coaches, as announced on Friday (Jan. 8) afternoon. - Owens (17 seasons, 2004-current) is 122-54 (.693) leading the Eagles, and boasts two undefeated regular seasons (2012 and 2015), five NCAA Division II postseason berths, two NCAA postseason victories, three Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference titles, three American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) region Coach of the Year honors and four GLIAC Coach of the Year citations. Lorsque vous utilisez nos sites et applications, nous utilisons des, authentifier les utilisateurs, appliquer des mesures de scurit, empcher les spams et les abus; et. "Our coach is a woman!" is one of the first texts I received from a friend about my 7-year-old son's soccer team this past fall. AU won its opening-round NCAA Division II playoff game 20-13 over Notre Dame College. To me, the players made Ashland football special. Tributes for Owens have since poured in, with Cooper calling him "a good football coach, a very good recruiter and an even better person." He was surrounded by family members, athletes, coaches, AU officials, alumni and many friends. 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. What more needs to be said for John's commitment and insights to the game? Our guided tour takes you through AU to explore our dynamic campus. These men taught us that AU football is built on physicality and toughness. [6] He is also father to a son, Zander, and daughter, Zoe. "What a great advantage it is to have them continue as a part of Eagle football. 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.