Jerome Souers is the winningest coach in Big Sky history.
FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. - Northern Arizona University Vice President for Intercollegiate Athletics Dr. Lisa Campos and Jerome Souers today announced that this will be Coach Souers' last season as head coach of the NAU football program.
Currently in his 20th season, Coach Souers holds many Big Sky Conference records including number of overall wins (112), number of conference wins (76) and number of years as head coach.
The decision was announced today to ensure that Coach Souers' leadership and service to NAU and student-athletes can be celebrated throughout the remainder of the season.
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"Rather than wait until the end of the season, we want to celebrate Jerome's 20 years of service with NAU. We want our university, Flagstaff and Big Sky communities to have the opportunity to thank him, and wish him the best in the next chapter of his life. I want to thank Jerome for his service to NAU and the football program," Campos said.
NAU President Rita Cheng commended Coach Souers for the impact he has had on NAU and its football program. "Jerome's leadership and dedication has elevated our program to be a strong contender in the Big Sky Conference and has enhanced the lives of hundreds of student-athletes".
For leading our program on and off the field. What a legacy @Coachsouers will leave. pic.twitter.com/boPZ9S7POl
— Rita Cheng (@NAUPresident) September 12, 2017
Souers has coached NAU to a 112-105 record since taking over the Lumberjack football program in 1998. Currently tied for the seventh-longest tenured coach in the FCS, Souers has coached 39 different players to All-American honors and 177 players to all-conference honors. In the classroom, his student-athletes have combined for 176 Big Sky All-Academic awards and seven total players have been named Academic All-Americans.
Souers coached the Lumberjacks to three NCAA I-AA/FCS Playoff appearances in 2001, 2003 and 2013 with his 2003 team winning the Big Sky Championship. He was a finalist for the 2003 Eddie Robinson Coach of the Year award and was voted the 1999 Big Sky Coach of the Year in just his second season.
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"I'd like to take this time to thank the coaches and players in the NAU Football Family now as well as all those who've shared this journey with me the past 20 years," Souers said. "I am blessed with so many fond memories of achievement on and off the field with the young men I've been honored to work with. With nine games remaining on our schedule our goals remain the same. Everything we've worked so hard to achieve is still in front of us. I can assure you that our coaching staff and all the members of this special team will continue to persevere and to compete for the Big Sky Conference Championship."
