Meet the Louisiana Lafayette Coaches

 

Head Coach Mark Hudspeth (5^th year)

A 23-year coaching veteran, Hudspeth has a 102-37 career record in 11 seasons as a collegiate head coach. He’s won 10 or more games five times with 10 consecutive winning records. Hudspeth, 46, came to Lafayette after serving as the passing game coordinator at Mississippi State for two seasons (2009-10). With 36 wins during Hudspeth’s tenure at ULL, Louisiana has posted the best four-year record in program history. My take Hudspeth is a motivator that gets the very best from his talent. ULL roster is fundamentally developed, a sign of an efficient head coach. Many think that he will land a Power 5 Conference job in the near future. I buy into that theory. I highly respect Coach Hudspeth and the work he’s done at Lafayette. Actually, I ranked him the number one head coach that UK will face in 2015. Think about it, in 107 years of football ULL had less than five, nine win seasons. He’s gone 4/4 with four bowl wins. What to expect A fiery sideline personality that will be highly motivated to start his season by beating an SEC team on the road. His team will not be shocked and awed by Commonwealth Stadium or the Wildcats. Hudspeth will take chances against UK. This game has been marked on their schedule for the duration of the offseason.

Charlie Harbison, Co-Defensive Coordinator (1^st Year)

Charlie Harbison spent the previous two seasons on the football staff at Auburn and has a 20-year coaching career in the Southeastern and Atlantic Coast Conferences. Harbison begins his first season as co-defensive coordinator and outside linebackers coach for the Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns. Harbison, a highly-regarded recruiter who helped the Tigers to a 2013 SEC Championship and a BCS Championship game. He spent the previous two seasons as co-defensive coordinator at Auburn, where he worked daily with the AU safeties and served on the same defensive staff as current Ragin' Cajuns defensive coordinator Melvin Smith. My take Excellent Sunbelt hire with SEC experience. I am not a fan of co-coordinators. ULL will be schematically sound but has lost its primary pass rushers. Harbison will improve the Ragin' Cajun secondary, a unit that was highly suspect in 2014. What to expect Unsure, that’s the norm with 1^st year coordinators. 2014 ULL film is useful for personnel analysis, but schemes will be different.

Melvin Smith, Defensive Coordinator (1^st Year)

Melvin Smith brings nearly two decades of experience coaching in the Southeastern Conference. Smith begins his first season as assistant head coach and defensive coordinator for the Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns. Smith, who mentored current head coach Mark Hudspeth while at Delta State, spent the past two seasons at Auburn, where he helped the Tigers to the 2013 SEC Championship and a berth in the BCS Championship game. My take Again, not a fan of co-coordinators. But Smith and Harbison have combined decades of defensive coaching experience. A coach with a national championship ring brings instant credibility but doesn’t always translate to coordinator success. What to expect See above. With UK having a new offensive coordinator in Shannon Dawson and ULL’s new co-defensive coordinators will make September 5, an intriguing chess match of adjustments.

Jay Johnson, Offensive Coordinator (5^th year)

Over two decades of coaching experience, Johnson begins his fifth year at Louisiana Lafayette. Johnson is the ULL offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach. In four seasons under Johnson, the Ragin' Cajuns have posted some of the top offensive performances in school history. This includes school records for total offense (5,914) and points (461) in 2012. Sophomore RB Elijah McGuire finished 22nd nationally in rushing offense by averaging 225.9 yards per game during the 2014 season. Coach Johnson’s 2014 QB Terrance Broadway led all league starting quarterbacks in passing efficiency while completing 62 percent of his passes for 2,419 yards and 19 touchdowns. My take ULL will be offensively sound but will heavily rely upon RB Elijah McGuire. The loss of All-Sunbelt QB Terrence Broadway will limit the Lafayette’s game plan. What to expect Elijah McGuire left, Elijah McGuire right, and pass to Elijah McGuire. ULL has suffered fall camp receiver injuries and will play with freshman. If depth chart projection is correct, its left tackle weighs 265 pounds. That will serve as an avenue of approach for UK’s pass rushers.

Summary

ULL is a well-coached football team. The Ragin Cajuns will be technically and fundamentally sound. In other words, they won’t beat themselves. Kentucky will have to earn this win.