Geiser echoed those sentiments Tuesday, lauding his former boss as a "future Hall of Famer" who helped establish "the culture that is Ashland football.". We provide a personalized educational experience that is as unique as you are. "There's no question, Ashland's had a reputation for great defense," said Owens. "It is the people that make programs special," said Keller. This information is very valuable for all high school student-athletes to understand as they start the recruiting process. Keller was one of only three defensive coordinators Martinelli had at Ashland, along with two other Ashland Hall of Famers,Bob StokesandJohn Valentine. "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. "It definitely speaks to the quality of life in Ashland, Ohio. This game was different. "I remember going to the banquet where he presided," said Owens, "and you think about that and the impression that it made. In 19 seasons at AU, Owens led the program to a 139-61 record (.692 winning percentage). The distinction isn't lost on Owens, whose entire coaching career college and high school since 1977 has been spent in the Buckeye State. 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. Prior to Ashland, Geiser was at the University of Akron from 1995-2003 as a graduate assistant (1995-96), and tight ends coach/video coordinator (1997-2003). In addition to the team success, some of the notable accomplishments for Geiser's pupils in his time at AU include: - Seven All-American offensive linemen -Blake Dickson,Vince Cashdollar,Reggie Gamble,Justin Magruder,Zachary Douglass,Dominic GiuntaandJohn Conner. 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. 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? Doug's vision aligns with the goals and objectives of the department and the university. "We are excited to be adding each of these student-athletes to our program . "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. He begat Gary Keller, who coached the team from 1994-03. 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. Other major personnel are: Staff Directory Members By Category/Department; Name Title Phone Email Address Twitter; Rudy Carlton: Head Coach (626) 815-6000, Ext. In '72, a tip of a fingernail on a pass in our first game against Franklin … our '72 team, wow. Personal life [ edit] A Shelby, Ohio native, Stepsis was a member of the football team and graduated from Ashland University. That has been a factor.". Owens was fired despite a 7-5 campaign in 2003. Between 1981 and 1991, he was the head football coach at four high schools in Ohio and then an assistant coach at Ohio . He excelled as a high school coach, and I am sure he will do the same at the collegiate level. 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. Si vous ne souhaitez pas que nos partenaires et nousmmes utilisions des cookies et vos donnes personnelles pour ces motifs supplmentaires, cliquez sur Refuser tout. Were not like every other school, and what we talk about are values they really do matter, he said. The . 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. Come visit Ashland University, located between Cleveland and Columbus, and experience it for yourself! "We'll obviously have to add a coach to fill my position, but the staff will stay intact for the most part," he said. Now with the Niss Athletic Center also being a game-changer when it comes to recruiting, Owens said the football program and other athletic programs at AU also are primed for future success. The Eagles (28-0) once again pace the WBCA NCAA Division II Top 25 Coaches Poll going into the 2023 Great Midwest Athletic Conference . 401 College Ave. Ashland, OH 44805 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 played the best teams in a five- or six-state area. 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.". "That's awesome we were able to get those kinds of things done at AU. Ashland University Copyright 2023. Apply for PPOC Coach job with Roche in Taipei, Taipei City, Taiwan. This past season he led our defense to Top 10 in the nation at one point, said Owens. The National Football League standard-bearer for head-coaching stability is the Pittsburgh Steelers, with three since 1969 and Ashland has them beat by a decade. Still, his legacy had not yet been written. "Dr. Clayton, it started with him.". Football An Equal Opportunity/Equal Access Institution. Martinelli,Gary KellerandLee Owensare the only head coaches of Ashland College/University football in the last six-plus decades. "I don't think my feet have touched the ground since I received the call from Al," said Geiser. Geiser was introduced as the Ashland University football programs 15th head coach Tuesday afternoon in the VIP Room in the Robert Troop Center. Throughout the search process, we talked about integrity, commitment and work ethic. At the same time, just in some of our progression routes, he seems to be the guy thats doing the best job of finding holes. Owens moved on to the college game as an assistant at Ohio State under John Cooper before being hired as Akron's head coach in 1995. This position requires the ability to help recruit potential student-athletes. With countless ups and downs, more ups than downs, Owens has decided after a stellar 2022-2023 to announce his official retirement. If you can't make it yet, take our virtual campus tour to get a quick look at the university. If a team competed at a time before the official organization of either of the two groups but is generally accepted as a "college . 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. He'll represent Ashland University with class and poise.". Ashland head coach John Ellenwood now has 243 wins guiding the Eagles, three away from tying Roger Lyons (246) for most in program history. His birthdate is June 4, 1968. A 1992 graduate of Cornell, Geiser is married to wife Amy, and they are the parents of twin girls, Abigail and Rebecca. Graduate Assistant Esports Coach Football; Doug Geiser: Head Football Coach 419-289-5437 419-289-5437: Tim Rose: Assistant Football Coach - Defensive Coordinator / Linebackers 419-289-5278 419-289-5278: Tom Stacy: Assistant Football Coach - Quarterbacks / Passing Game Coordinator Example video title will go here for this video. 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. Saccomen has coached under all three, while Valentine played for Martinelli and coached for Keller and Owens. 12-ranked Eagles moved on to the second round of the postseason on Nov. 26 at Indiana, Pa., losing 19-13 to No. 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. We dont think thats a small thing. ASHLAND The Doug Geiser era is officially underway at Ashland University. This is the place for me. Finishing with a win this year would be tough. "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 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 . That stability in leadership is key for our current players and our recruits.". 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. Dec 3, 2022. . In his opening remarks, King said Geiser was the man for the job after a month-long search. He was a high school assistant coach at Triway (1990), Liberty Benton High School (1991) and at Lyndhurst Brush High School (1992-94). They established the culture that is Ashland football. 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. Before introducing Geiser, Dr. Campo talked about what makes Ashland special. ", Added Owens, "There's very few programs in the country which could boast of such continuity. Owens held the position for 18 years, and is one of just three head coaches Ashland has employed since 1959. "This is a dream job because Ashland is a very special place. Ashland University's head coach Lee Owens is seen on the sideline against Notre Dame College during college football action at Jack Miller Stadium, Thursday, Sept. 1, 2022. About Ashland University. Ashland football is one of the premier jobs in Division II football, and for me and myself Im honored and humbled to be chosen as the 15th coach.. "Coach Martinelli was a great influence on me as a coach," Keller said. One is a [College Football]Hall of Famer. 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. The Eagles were a perfect 6-0 at Jack Miller Stadium/Martinelli Field. Doug exemplifies all of those attributes. "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." Keller turned the program over to Owens, who now passes the baton to Geiser. And that wont change.. Petzing and head coach Kevin Stefanski both coached for the Minnesota Vikings before being . 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. ', "Everything that had to happen, and there were three or four of them … we had to scramble and call our kids back and practice at Luray Lanes all week. Ashland University football player Garrett Turnbaugh would likely trade his current pass-catching streak for a win over Hillsdale. 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. - Offensive linemen who have earned seven All-Great Midwest and 30 All-GLIAC honors. On Saturday (March 4) afternoon at the Sherrill Hudson Court at Kates Gymnasium, the No. Coach O as the head coach was obviously incredibly important to my journey here at AU, said Brenner. "Under Clayton and Brownson, we gradually moved to the point where [now], we're one of the premier programs in Division II," said Martinelli. 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. It's something, as we start into the next 100 years of football here, that would be a goal, is to not only get into the postseason, but advance into regionals and semifinals and national championship game. You can't do that at Division I anymore. This past season, Owens, who had contemplated retiring several years ago but had to deal with Covid-19 and injuries among his players. If you do the same as you did before you get the same result. Owens is 89-42 (.679) at Ashland, with a pair of GLIAC titles and three GLIAC Coach of the Year honors to his credit. "The visibility of our program is unbelievable," Martinelli said. 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 Owens has led the Eagles to the program's two NCAA postseason victories 27-16 over Minnesota State-Mankato in 2008 in the team's final game at Community Stadium, and 21-18 over Northwest Missouri State in 2017 at Jack Miller Stadium/Martinelli Field. TOM E. PUSKAR/ASHLAND . "I'm excited to introduce Doug as our head football coach," King said. Owens spoke at a press conference in the VIP Room in the Robert Troop Center on the Ashland University campus. That sentiment always was been evident with Doug Geiser when it comes to Ashland University and its football program. ASHLAND, Ohio The venerable Ashland University football program officially has a new leader. Ashland continues to have a rich tradition as a private, comprehensive institution preparing students for exciting professions . But there's been a bunch of them," said Owens. He's committed to giving our student-athletes a quality experience. Ashland University football coach Lee Owens announced Friday his retirement after leading the Eagles for the past 19 seasons. 3292 (626) 815-6000, Ext. His nine years at the helm saw the Zips post a 40-61 record (7 . He graduated from Triway High School in 1990. "I had players recruited by both coach Martinelli and coach Keller when I was a high school coach. He'll represent Ashland University with class and poise.". But I look back at the IUP game, it didnt seem like a loss, said Owens. His birthdate is June 4, 1968. 3 in the country, AU mens basketball looks to GMAC season-opener, No. While at Ashland, he earned All-American honors in 1929. "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). He helped the Eagles to a 137-61 overall record (.692 winning percentage), and was on the staff for six D-II playoff appearances, the program's first three D-II postseason wins (all at home), and four conference championships three in the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference and the 2022 Great Midwest Athletic Conference title. "Only three head coaches during that span stands as a testament to the quality of the football program. Needless to say, Sean Seder grew up in the shadows and footsteps of his family's legends, but they were role models for him to look up to. - 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. ", Said Martinelli, "Gary was a great coach. I think just something hes always had is the way he competes. ", 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.". "In retrospect, I probably did too much. Nous, Yahoo, faisons partie de la famille de marques Yahoo. They taught us that AU football is built on brotherhood, on teamwork, on camaraderie, on love and the willingness to sacrifice for your fellow man. Former Ashland University football coach Dr. Fred Martinelli was honored in 2017 with a pillar for his years of service at AU. And it's unfortunate. Another Eagle quarterback, AU alumnus Bill Cundiff had high praise for Owens. I have a special thing for that team.". One of those individuals who defied the odds under Owens was Eagle quarterback Austin Brenner. "This is a dream job because Ashland is a very special place," Geiser said. "We had to come back against Heidelberg on Homecoming (19-19 tie) to go undefeated in '67. Full Bio. [5] He and his wife, Angie, have two daughters, Addison and Avery. 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. During his illustrious 19-year career at Ashland University, he had the opportunity to coach an NFL talent in tight end Adam Shaheen, numerous program record-setting players and players who have defied the odds when stepping onto the football field. In all, Keller spent 23 seasons on the Ashland coaching staff. For the next yearI get a chance to help be a spokesperson for that. We could provide a good argument for Bill Royce because of the great schedule we played, and the great coaches [we played]. Head Coach Lee Owens has officially retired as the head coach of the Ashland University football team. Outside of players, he coached alongside countless coaches, faculty and staff and interacted with countless fans and media members. We would do good things together, build a stadium together, and we would take the program together where it needed to go. Geiser officially takes over forLee Owens, who announced his retirement on Dec. 2 following a 19-year tenure leading the Ashland football program. This will be his first head coaching job at any level. You wont see me after it.. "Throughout the search process, we talked about integrity, commitment and work ethic. Ashland University Coaches. The only former Eagle head coach to have more wins in their career is Fred Martinelli who went 217-119-12 in his career. "This is a dream job because Ashland is a very special place. I was Athletic Director, chair of the Physical Education department, taught 8-10 hours, and the head football coach. [6] He is also father to a son, Zander, and daughter, Zoe. He took over a good program, but we needed to make changes. Looking ahead to the 2023 season, Geiser said not much is going to change with the expectations of the players and team. 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. "Hunting, fishing and golfing has always gotten in the way of football, but lately, it seems like football has gotten . We are truly celebrating the loss. Thats why were a value-based institution that says every young man who comes to play football, youre never going to define who you are simply on that field.. Mount Union advances to Sweet 16 of NCAA Division III Men's Basketball Tournament; Case Western Reserve, John Carroll eliminated, Mount Union advances to Sweet 16 of NCAA Division III Men's Basketball Tournament, Moving on! Thats what we want to do at Ashland. @Ashland_Univ Football Head Coach Lee Owens has announced his retirement after 19 years leading the Eagles.Coach Owens led @AshlandFB to a 137-61 record over 18 seasons, including six NCAA D-II Playoff appearances and four Conference titles! His 2012 Eagles squad completed the regular season unbeaten at 11-0, with AU winning its first GLIAC football championship in school history, and ended the season ranked fourth in the nation. 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. He was surrounded by family members, athletes, coaches, AU officials, alumni and many friends. The assistant coach will be involved in drills and exercises that include the whole team and position groups. 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. "He was very disciplined in his approach to the game and oversaw the development not only for the football program, but also as AD, he was responsible for the entire athletic program. Get opinion pieces, letters and editorials sent directly to . 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. "The tradition of Ashland football is very strong," said Geiser. "Personally, just to have the opportunity to serve a profession that has meant so much to me for so many years, it's important.". Cade Cracas, Sports & Breaking News EditorDecember 2, 2022. 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. Attend an Event. Going into the 1959 season, Ashland College's football program hadn't seen much in the way of wins or long-term stability. Pour en savoir plus sur la faon dont nous utilisons vos donnes personnelles, veuillez consulter notre politique relative la vie prive et notre politique en matire de cookies. He begat Gary Keller, who coached the team . Tributes for Owens have since poured in, with Cooper calling him "a good football coach, a very good recruiter and an even better person." Coach Rose was a phenomenal coach during my time here. 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. Geiser thanked King, AU President Dr, Carlos Campo, various football mentors through the years, including Owens, and family members, especially his wife, Amy, and their twin girls, Abigail and Rebecca. 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. While Martinelli was at Ashland for three-and-a-half decades, he said there were a couple opportunities to move higher on the coaching ladder. Here you can explore important information about Ashland University Football. The Ashland University football team held its annual national signing day on Wednesday, and veteran coach Lee Owens was elated over his new list of recruits. This accomplished staff helped us to win a conference championship and qualify for the NCAA playoffs in 2022. 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. For all of the success Martinelli had, he did share one regret. I'm both honored and humbled to have been chosen for this position.". hugo valenti valentine,