I think (quarterback) Austin (Brenner) and he have a good connection and theyve got a lot of confidence in each other right now.. 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. In addition to the team success, some of the notable accomplishments for Geiser's pupils in his time at AU include: With countless ups and downs, more ups than downs, Owens has decided after a stellar 2022-2023 to announce his official retirement. The Ashland University campus, community and football team are set to say goodbye to their head coach, Lee Owens, after serving the program as their head coach since 2004. I could go on and on about what Lee [Owens] has accomplished, said Athletic Director Al King. Catch the latest in Opinion. @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! Ashland traces its past 60-plus seasons through just four head coaches. He was surrounded by family members, athletes, coaches, AU officials, alumni and many friends. The official Football page for the. TOM E. PUSKAR/ASHLAND TIMES-GAZETTE That sentiment always was been evident withDoug Geiserwhen it comes to Ashland University and its football program. As for the coaching staff moving into the 2023, Geiser said the changes will be minimal. 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. That wont change. - 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. 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. Ashland University Copyright 2023. He had just been let go by the University of Akron. 1-ranked Ashland University women's basketball team defeated Trevecca Nazarene, 83-65, to not only improve to 31-0 on the season, but earn the 2023 Great Midwest Athletic Conference Tournament title - the program's ninth tournament crown in the last 12 seasons. This accomplished staff helped us to win a conference championship and qualify for the NCAA playoffs in 2022. Geiser was introduced as the Ashland University football programs 15th head coach Tuesday afternoon in the VIP Room in the Robert Troop Center. 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. 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. "It's one of the best jobs in Division II football. 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. Ashland set the tone by scoring four runs in the top of the first inning. 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. Its all kind of surreal at this point. "We've all been a part of championship teams," Owens said. He was an assistant coach at Ohio State when head coach John Cooper served in the same capacity in 1992, and Cooper is in San Antonio, Texas, at the AFCA Convention to receive the 2016 Amos Alonzo Stagg Award at a luncheon Owens will emcee. Ashland rallied from a 14-point deficit in the final 6:24 and beat Malone 82-78 in Saturday's Great Midwest Athletic . This place has been a great place for me, said Owens. We ask that you consider turning off your ad blocker so we can deliver you the best experience possible while you are here. "It's a tribute, number one, to Ashland University," Owens said. He also had a number of other outstanding seasons at the helm of the Eagles. In all, Keller spent 23 seasons on the Ashland coaching staff. 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. "We'll obviously have to add a coach to fill my position, but the staff will stay intact for the most part," he said. 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. Example video title will go here for this video. A Wooster area native who attended Triway High School and later played at Cornell, Geiser worked for various high school teams in Northern Ohio before joining Owens' staff at the University of Akron in 1995. This position will direct and oversee the entire football program, which includes recruiting, retention, training, game preparation, practice and in-game coaching, direction and recruitment of assistant coaches, budget management and oversight and fundraising. 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 . Following five seasons as a high school assistant at three . . 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? "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," Geiser declared. Former Ashland University football coach Dr. Fred Martinelli was honored in 2017 with a pillar for his years of service at AU. Owens is 89-42 (.679) at Ashland, with a pair of GLIAC titles and three GLIAC Coach of the Year honors to his credit. 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. The . The times are going to change. 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. "I had players recruited by both coach Martinelli and coach Keller when I was a high school coach. When you lose someone like Owens, you need time to process that. You wont see me after it.. . ASHLAND The Doug Geiser era is officially underway at Ashland University. Coach has helped shape my life and many other kids, coaches, supporters and fans alike that have come through the program over the years, said Cundiff. 7 seed at 133 pounds, was the only one of five Raider qualifiers to get through to Day 2 of the tournament. Outside of players, he coached alongside countless coaches, faculty and staff and interacted with countless fans and media members. 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.". He excelled as a high school coach, and I am sure he will do the same at the collegiate level. To me, the players made Ashland football special. But I really think it was that particular evening with coach Cooper that the seed was planted. Ashland Universitys newest sport, Eagle womens basketball ranked No. "Our family's been blessed.". 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.". "I was a benefactor and, more importantly, the players, so folks out there were the generous big hearts, with the opportunity to step forward to be able to build facilities to have a top program so our players could win championships, and compete at the highest level. Going into the 1959 season, Ashland College's football program hadn't seen much in the way of wins or long-term stability. Larry Stine. Coach Rose was a phenomenal coach during my time here. 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. Looking ahead to the 2023 season, Geiser said not much is going to change with the expectations of the players and team. 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. He'll represent Ashland University with class and poise.". Hes playing with some energy, hes consistently catching the ball and getting yards after the catch. TOM E. PUSKAR/ASHLAND . 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. On Saturday (March 4) in Florida, Ashland University's baseball team improved to 4-1 after a 5-2 win over Gannon. Skip to main content Skip to main content. . "Thank goodness, Bill Goldring literally recruited me, sold me, and convinced me this was a good place. Overview. "In 45 years, I have been blessed," Owens, 66, said when he decided to call it quits. "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." 3 in the country, AU mens basketball looks to GMAC season-opener, No. 3292 (626) 815-6000, Ext. 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. Tim Seder is now a head football coach in Texas. "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. 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). 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. Ashland University Football Program Coaching & Recruiting Personnel For anyone who is hoping to get recruited it's important to understand who to talk to - and NCSA provides the info you need. 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. "They have achieved at a high level in the past, and, out of respect for their efforts and with a sense of loyalty, I would love for them to be a part of our program moving forward.