There are five new assistant coaches on the McNeese State football staff, by far the largest turnover since Matt Viator took over the Cowboys program in 2007. (Brad Puckett / American Press)
Cowboys have five new assistant football coaches this season
Last Modified: Thursday, July 26, 2012 10:10 AM
By Alex Hickey / American Press
Schematically speaking, McNeese State probably won’t look much different on the football field this fall. Behind the scenes, though, it will be a season of change.
There are five new assistant coaches on the staff, by far the largest turnover since Matt Viator took over the program in 2007.
The new faces are Rob Sale (offensive line), Slade Nagle (running backs), Chris Hampton (defensive backs), Jake Reid (defensive line assistant) and David Trahan (quarterbacks assistant).
While the coordinators haven’t changed — Mike Collins (defense), Tim Leger (offense) and Lark Hebert (special teams) are back — players at most positions will be getting new perspectives in the meeting room.
“Bringing in new ideas is always good,” Viator said. “We’ve hired some younger guys that I think have added some energy.”
Viator said each of the three new position coaches brings something fresh to the table.
“I’m real excited,” Viator said. “Rob is going to do a good job with the line. Those kids seem excited. Bringing Slade back into the program, I’m excited about. He’s going to help me and Tim on the organizational part of it. And I like Hampton’s energy. He seems like he’s going to have fun back there with Malcolm (Bronson) and those guys.”
Senior offensive lineman Jonathan Landry has already seen some subtle changes working with Sale during spring practice.
“He’s definitely a good coach, and a lot of the experience he’s bringing from Alabama’s helping out,” Landry said. “We’re a veteran O-line, so we’ll help him, too.”
There will be at least one minor X’s and O’s tweak in next month’s preseason camp.
Viator said the Cowboys will be working more on the wildcat formation with Darius Carey and Diontae Spencer taking snaps. The wildcat was scrapped from the playbook in last year’s camp but reinstalled midseason in an attempt to jump-start the offense.
Get Social With Us!
+Share