Demario Warren made history in the state of Utah last week after he was hired as Southern Utah University’s first Black head football coach. Not only is Warren the first Black head football coach at Southern Utah, he is the first Black head coach to hold such a position in the entire state.
Warren, a 2008 graduate and former running back at the University of California, Davis has been on staff at Southern Utah for the past eight seasons. Recognized as one of the Big Sky Conference’s top defensive coordinators, Warren has helped build one of its leading defenses.
Coach Ed Lamb, who had been leading the team for the past eight seasons, stepped down to join the coaching staff at Brigham Young University. The school launched a nationwide search but in the end, were most impressed with Warren.
The distinction of the hire was not lost on Warren, who said in a media statement that he was “honored and humbled” by being the first Black head football coach in the state and becoming a trailblazer for others.
The former African-American Studies major didn’t want to overplay his historical achievement although he is proud of it. But Warren says his main priority is to be a solid football coach for the program.
The Fairfield, Calif. native and his wife, Amanda, have three children: Demario Jr. (11), Jazelle (6) and Daylee (2).
