McNeese State football coach Matt Viator filled a pair of coaching openings on the offensive side of the ball on Wednesday.

Broderick Fobbs will coach the tight ends this season, while Art Asselta will work with the quarterbacks. Fobbs replaces Eman Neghavi, who accepted a coaching position at Texas. Asselta is taking over for David Trahan, who went back into the private sector after serving on the coaching staff last season.

Fobbs is the second former McNeese assistant coach to become a current McNeese assistant coach this summer. The team brought back Lance Guidry as defensive coordinator in June.

“I guess I’m not that bad a guy,” Viator joked before turning serious. “It’s always good to know that somebody’s been on your staff, left, and is willing to come back. I think they enjoyed their time here.”

Fobbs was McNeese’s wide receivers coach from 2007-11, overseeing such talents as Carlese Franklin, Quinten Lawrence and Steven Whitehead. He coached at Southern Miss last season, but was let go along with most of first-year coach Ellis Johnson’s staff after a surprising 0-12 season.

“We’re extremely excited to get Broderick back,” Viator said. “He’s a great coach, a first-class person and when he was available we definitely jumped at that.”

Asselta gives McNeese a coach who has experienced coaching and recruiting in Louisiana and elsewhere.

He worked as Southeastern Louisiana’s quarterbacks coach in 2010 and ‘11 before serving as New Hampshire’s wide receivers coach last season. The Wildcats didn’t lack for offense last year, as evidenced by a 64-61 regulation loss to Old Dominion.

“I’ve always have had a lot of respect for him,” Viator said. “Other coaches, you see them on the road, how they carry themselves recruiting. He comes highly recommended.”

Asselta has worked at Sacred Heart and Louisiana-Monroe and graduated from Hofstra in 1999 after playing quarterback for the Flying Dutchmen.

McNeese State head football coach Matt Viator. (American Press Archives)

Brad Puckett