St. Thomas coach resigns Don Roney has announced his resignation after 10 seasons as head football coach at St. Thomas. Roney, who was 54-44 in his career, 2-12 outside of the MIAC, said he made his decision earlier this month, but didn't share his intentions with his players and staff until a postseason meeting Tuesday afternoon. The 2007 Tommies lost their final four games and finished 2-8. St. Thomas athletics director Steve Fritz said a search for Roney's successor would begin immediately. "We're grateful to Don for his many years and many contributions to St. Thomas, as a student-athlete, assistant coach and head coach," Fritz said. "He's been a strong ambassador for St. Thomas, and has been a positive influence on his players, on the field and off." He coached two of the four players in MIAC football history to win $18,000 postgraduate scholarships by the National Football Foundation. Andrew Hilliard and P.J. Theisen. In Roney's era, St. Thomas was the lone team at any level of college football to have a player named to the American Football Coaches' Association Good Works Team in each of the last 10 seasons. Roney said he's proud of what his players have accomplished over the years -- in the classroom, on campus, and on the field. But the coach said St. Thomas fell short of its ultimate goal to win a championship and make an NCAA playoff appearance. "I've been fortunate to have been a part of a lot of different winning programs in my athletics career," Roney said. "We had the same high standards here with football, but it just didn't come together liked we wanted. I've coached some tremendous players and people, and worked with skilled and dedicated coaches. Everyone worked hard trying to make it happen. "I love St. Thomas, and I think it's time to move aside and let someone else get a chance to run the program. Hopefully that person can build on what's in place and eventually take the Tommies to an MIAC football championship." Roney and his wife Shannon have four sons -- ages nine through 13 -- and the coach said that played into his decision. "There are a lot of sacrifices that come with coaching, and kids grow up in a hurry," he said. "On some recent game-day Saturdays our sons had three football games, hockey tryouts, and basketball tryouts." Roney said he'll take some time to consider career opportunities. "I love coaching and working with young people, so we'll see if it works out to remain in coaching," he said. The Tommies concluded an up-and-down 2-8 season with Saturday's loss at St. Olaf. The Tommie offense had a total offense advantage in seven of the 10 games but committed 31 turnovers in eight defeats. The UST defense went through growing pains as it regularly started nine freshmen or sophomores. The Tommies scored 25 touchdowns and averaged 34 points in the last five games, yet went 1-4 in that span as opponents averaged 46 points. Four losses came to teams with a combined 36-4 record, including a 19-18 defeat to conference champ Bethel. The Tommies also scored five TDs in Collegeville on St. John's vaunted defense, outgained the Johnnies 453-419 yards, and were in the game until the final minutes of a 51-34 loss. St. Thomas also outgained 10-0 Central in the season-opening game but the Dutch scored 21 points on special teams and defense in a 35-10 win. Roney replaced Mal Scanlan in 1998 after a 12-year career as a UST assistant coach. Roney also worked as pitching coach for the St. Thomas baseball team from 1989-2000. In his last six seasons, working with baseball coach Dennis Denning, Roney was a part of six NCAA playoff teams, four MIAC championships and an overall mark of 216-59. The 1999 and 2000 Tommie baseball squads made conference history as they went all the way to the Division III championship game and placed second nationally each season. Roney also accompanied UST on an historic trip to Havana, Cuba, in January 2000. | ||
| Permalink | Nov 13, 2007 | ||
Carrying that weight
Around the Region Hindsight is 20-20, they say, so it's easy to look back at Logan Flannery's freshman season at Bethel and say he should have gotten more than six carries in the season-opening loss at Buena Vista. But a lack of rushes was hardly the only burden Flannery carries. He has faith and heart, says his coach, but his doctors say he has Burkitt's lymphoma. Or had it, until he beat it. Adam Johnson has more on his recovery and performance in this week's Around the West. Case Western Reserve's 10-0 season looks out of place with three 5-5 seasons and a 3-7 preceding it. But Tom Brew looks a little out of place on the field for the Spartans as well. He reflects with Matt Florjancic on the team's turnaround in Around the Great Lakes. Mt. St. Joseph has been carrying the HCAC banner into the playoffs the past three years with dismal results. So the Lions were pleased to get an at-large bid this time around. Clyde Hughes has more in Around the Midwest. Around the South focuses on the last two area teams remaining. Read what Trinity coach Steve Mohr and Mary Hardin-Baylor coach Pete Fredenburg have to say about their upcoming game. Plus, Middlebury couldn't accept a playoff bid, but there is some interesting postseason reaction on campus in Around the Northeast. Around the Mid-Atlantic takes a realistic look at the chances of its region's playoff teams, while Around the East goes the cheerleading route. That and more in Around the Region.
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| Permalink | Nov 13, 2007 | ||
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