Oct. 21, 2003
Jason DesJarlais, assistant coach for the University of San Diego football team, has been elevated to the position of interim head coach for the remainder of the 2003 season, it was announced today by Jo-Ann Nester, USD Director of Athletics. The Toreros, currently 5-2 on the season, host Marist College this Saturday and have two additional PFL regular-season contests left against Butler at home (Nov. 1) and at Dayton (Nov. 8).
"Under difficult circumstances Jason DesJarlais has agreed to serve as our interim head football coach for the remainder of the season," stated Jo-Ann Nester. "Jason demonstrated solid leadership this past weekend in the team's game at Valparaiso and our main focus right now is the successful completion of the season."
DesJarlais, who acted as interim head coach this past weekend in USD's 41-34 road loss at Valparaiso, replaces former head coach Kevin McGarry.
"Our focus right now is to pull our team together as a family and get ready for the Marist game," said Jason DesJarlais. "Our goal going back to August was to win the PFL Championship and we still have a shot at that title with two conference games to go."
DesJarlais is in his second year as a full-time assistant with USD in the position of Defensive Coordinator and Recruiting Coordinator. Prior to USD he was defensive line coach at Bates College in Lewiston, Maine for two seasons (2001, 2000). While at Bates College he was also in charge of recruiting areas for Massachusetts, Connecticut, Rhode Island, New York and Pennsylvania. Additonally, he earned his certification as a Strength and Conditioning Coach. In 1999 he spent one year at USD where he was the defensive line coach.
Prior to first joining USD in 1999, he was defensive line coach for two seasons at Humboldt State (1997-1998), and for one year at Western Montana College (1996). A two-time All-America defensive lineman at Western Montana College, Jason helped lead his team to three Frontier Conference Championships. In 1994 and 1995, Western Montana College reached the NAIA national semi-finals. After graduating from Western Montana College in 1997 with a B.S. in Physical Education and Biology, Jason went on to earn his Masters of Science degree in Kinesiology from Humboldt State University in 1999. From Ronan, Montana, Jason prepped at Ronan High School where he was a three-sport letterman.
The University has also brought in Brian Luman for the remainder of the season as an assistant coach for inverts. Luman, a four-year performer at safety and invert for the Toreros between 1998-2001, was the team's defensive MVP his junior year in 2000 after leading the squad in tackles. He currently ranks 5th all-time in tackles with 272 and third in interceptions with 11.
Shortly after the completion of the 2003 season the University will undertake a national search for a new head coach.
