Two New Assistants

by **50's PONY** » Sat Jan 12, 2008 4:45 pm

2 assistants join Jones at SMU
At least two assistant coaches from the highest-scoring offense in major college football last season are joining former Hawaii head coach June Jones at Southern Methodist University.
Warriors running backs coach Wes Suan and quarterbacks coach Dan Morrison -- both of whom coached with Jones since his first year at UH, in 1999 -- leave for Dallas tomorrow.

"We'll have all the regular orientation stuff and then it will be hitting that recruiting hard," Suan said.

Suan also coached offensive line for a season with the Warriors.

Morrison was instrumental in the development of UH record-setting quarterbacks Tim Chang and Colt Brennan, as well as several others, including Dan Robinson and Nick Rolovich, who each led Hawaii to a nine-win season

by **Water Pony** » Sat Jan 12, 2008 4:50 pm

by **smu diamond m** » Sat Jan 12, 2008 4:54 pm

Yea, good pickup for us.

by **PonyDogg** » Sat Jan 12, 2008 4:56 pm

Excellent!

by **expony18** » Sat Jan 12, 2008 4:57 pm

Super Duper

by **Pony Soup** » Sat Jan 12, 2008 5:04 pm

fantastical

by **Tipoff96** » Sat Jan 12, 2008 5:09 pm

I can't recall - are these the must-have assistants or are we waiting on others that are the top-dog assistants?

by **smu diamond m** » Sat Jan 12, 2008 5:14 pm

Pony Soup wrote:fantastical

Did anybody watch Big Brother season 1?

Fantabulous!

by **KnuckleStang** » Sat Jan 12, 2008 5:21 pm

Tipoff96 wrote:I can't recall - are these the must-have assistants or are we waiting on others that are the top-dog assistants?

McMackin comes to mind.

by **Special_Delivery_Smu_Fans** » Sat Jan 12, 2008 5:23 pm

"At least two assistant coaches from the highest-scoring offense in major college football last season are joining former Hawaii head coach June Jones at Southern Methodist University. Warriors running backs coach Wes Suan and quarterbacks coach Dan Morrison"

Welcome Coach Suan and Coach Morrison to the "SMU Family".

Wes Suan - Assistant Coach

Wes Suan enters his ninth season on the Warrior coaching staff in charge of the running backs.
Suan spent the first six years with Jones' staff with the running backs. In 2005, he took over the offensive line duties for a season before moving back to the running backs last season. In his tenure, he has developed the Warrior backfield into a well-rounded group of runners and blockers becoming adept to recognizing and picking up various defensive schemes and blitzes.

Blocking is a vital component in the offensive output from the backfield.

In addition to his duties as running backs coach, Suan also handles the day-to-day practice plans and is involved with the scouting reports.

This past summer, two Warrior running backs were selected in the 2007 NFL Draft. Reagan Mauia, a big bruising back, went in the sixth round to the Miami Dolphins, while all-purpose running back Nate Ilaoa was selected in the seventh round by the Philadelphia Eagles.

The 55-year-old grew up in O`ahu's North Shore town of Waialua and returned to the islands after more than 25 years on the mainland.

Suan began his coaching career at Leilehua High School as an assistant for the junior varsity squad in 1975. He moved on to serve as an assistant football and basketball coach and head track coach at Waialua High School in 1976 and stayed there for four years.

Suan took an assistant coaching job at Linfield in 1979, where he also served as assistant athletics director. He stayed at Linfield for 19 years before returning home to the islands.

The avid golfer lives with his wife, Judy, and their two daughters, McKenzie and Madeline, in Honolulu, O`ahu.

____________________________________________________________

Football : Dan Morrison - Assistant Coach

Dan Morrison enters his ninth season as coach of the quarterbacks for the Warriors.
He is very familiar with the local football scene, having coached at various high schools in Honolulu. After successful campaigns on the prep level, Morrison was hired as a member of the Warrior coaching staff. He has made the most out of this opportunity, gaining acclaim throughout the Western Athletic Conference as one of the leading quarterback coaches in collegiate football.

Morrison has produced three all-WAC performers in the last eight seasons, and mentored NCAA all-time passing leader Timmy Chang. For two seasons, he's guided current Warrior quarterback Colt Brennan to lead the nation in five offensive statistical categories. Last season under Morrison's watchful eye, Brennan surpassed all expectations to lead the country in seven offensive lists while breaking or tying 16 NCAA records.

In 1999, Morrison developed a talented, but unproven quarterback in Dan Robinson. Robinson was never allowed to settle in one system, as he played for three different offensive coordinators in as many years. But he found a home in the run-and-shoot offense and Morrison coached him to success--passing for 3,853 yards and 28 touchdowns. Robinson eventually earned second-team all-WAC honors.

In 2000, Morrison guided the youthful Chang, a true freshman, through a rebuilding season that earned him WAC Freshman of the Year honors after passing for 3,041 yards and 19 touchdowns.

After Chang was granted a medical hardship in 2001, senior Nick Rolovich finally got his chance and under Morrison's tutelage, became one of the top passers in the country. Rolovich threw for an unprecedented 1,548 yards and 20 touchdowns in his last three games, including an eight-touchdown performance against undefeated Brigham Young in the final game of the season. The experienced reserve finished second in the WAC and fourth in the nation in total offense (336.5) and third in the WAC and 10th in the nation in pass efficiency (150.5).

In 2002, sophomore Chang led the Warriors to a 10-4 record as the starter. He passed for 4,474 yards and 25 touchdowns and became the school's all-time passing leader with 8,615 yards. In 2004, Chang eventually became the NCAA career-passing leader, throwing for 17,072 yards and 117 touchdowns.

The 57-year-old Morrison has a strong background as an educator and utilizes those teaching skills to train the intricacies of the Run-and-Shoot to his quarterbacks on the 2007 roster.

In eight seasons, Warrior quarterbacks have passed for 38,374 yards and 308 touchdowns under Morrison's guidance. In addition, the Warrior offense has ranked each year in the top five nationally in passing.

Morrison enjoys taking scenic pictures and playing golf. He resides with his wife, Karen, in Pearl City.

by **ALEX LIFESON** » Sat Jan 12, 2008 5:44 pm

Coach Morrison is also the father-in-law, of former Dallas Cowboy and SMU Mustang Donald Mitchell. Very impressive resume'!

by **ALEX LIFESON** » Sat Jan 12, 2008 5:51 pm

Just got a call from a Baylor friend of mine that said, coach Clay Jennings told NTS, that he will not accept their offer. Clay coached the secondary at Baylor in 2007, before that he was at Houston. I have heard that JJ was talking to a couple of coaches from Baylor and Houston.....could this be SMU's new secondary coach? Clay played for NTS in the early 90's. Keep your ears open on this one.

by **Stallion** » Sat Jan 12, 2008 6:04 pm

confirmed by Denton Belo website

http://meangreen.beloblog.com/

by **ALEX LIFESON** » Sat Jan 12, 2008 6:15 pm

Hawaii O-line and special teams coach Dennis Knight, is supposed to make a decision in the next day or so. Of course, we won't get DC Greg McMakin, if he is offered the head job for the Warriors.

by **Stallion** » Sat Jan 12, 2008 6:17 pm

More on Jennings from UH days- Note he recruited DFW and Houston inner cities

http://64.233.167.104/search?q=cache:we ... cd=1&gl=us

Two New Assistants

Two New Assistants

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