Football: UL to name new head coach

Joshua Parrott • jparrott@theadvertiser.com • December 11, 2010

UL dipped into the Southeastern Conference ranks to find its next head football coach.

Mississippi State receivers coach/passing game coordinator Mark Hudspeth accepted an offer Friday to become the 25th head coach in the history of Ragin’ Cajun football, a source with knowledge of the situation told The Daily Advertiser.

The source requested anonymity because the university plans to officially introduce Hudspeth, a native of Louisville, Miss., during a press conference at

10 a.m. Monday in the Cajundome’s Mardi Gras Ballroom.

Hudspeth, 42, did not respond to multiple messages left on his cell phone Friday by The Daily Advertiser. The Delta State graduate has spent the past two years at Mississippi State after going 66-21 as the head coach for NCAA Division II power North Alabama from 2002-08. In 2000 he served as Delta State’s offensive coordinator when the Statesmen won the D-II national championship.

"He is a charismatic guy, is a good coach and is good with the media and his players," said ESPN.com’s Joe Schad, who also reported the news Friday citing an unnamed source. "He has a sharp offensive mind and has experiences at a championship level. He’s an excellent choice to be their next head coach."

Hudspeth did not attend Mississippi State’s team practice Friday in preparation for the Gator Bowl against Michigan on Jan. 1. Mississippi State director of media relations Joe Galbraith told The Daily Advertiser that Hudspeth was "on the road."

Friday was expected to be Hudspeth’s final day as a member of the Mississippi State program so he could immediately focus on his new job with the Cajuns.

UL hired Hudspeth to replace Rickey Bustle, who was fired Nov. 29 with a year left on his contract after going 3-9 this season. Bustle was 41-65 in nine years with the Cajuns, although Hudspeth takes over a program that won six games in four of the past six years.

"I think it’s a great fit for him," said Steve Robertson, a regional scout for Scout.com. "He had some offers in the past to coach in Division I, but it never was the right fit. From what I’ve been told, the commitment of UL’s administration matches Mark’s commitment."

Hudspeth plans to meet with UL’s current coaching staff at 1 p.m. Monday. UL concluded final exams for the fall semester Friday, but a number of local Cajun players could attend Monday’s press conference in support of their new head coach.

A former free safety and quarterback at Delta State, Hudspeth served two-year stints at Central Arkansas (graduate assistant from 1992-93), Nicholls State (receivers/tight ends coach, ’94-95) and Winston (Miss.) Academy High School (head coach,’96-97).

Hudspeth coached defensive backs at Central Arkansas in 1998 before spending two years as Delta State’s offensive coordinator. Delta State broke 39 offensive records when it won the D-II national championship in 2000.

After running the triple option as Navy’s offensive coordinator in 2001, Hudspeth took over at North Alabama the following year. The Lions won two Gulf South Conference titles and made five trips to the D-II playoffs — including three national semifinal appearances — in seven years before he joined Dan Mullen at Mississippi State after the 2008 season.

Mississippi State went 5-7 last season in its first year with Mullen and Hudspeth in Starkville. The Bulldogs are 8-4 this season going into their bowl game.

North Alabama head men’s basketball coach Bobby Champagne worked with Hudspeth in Florence from 2003-08.

"You’re getting a class guy," said Champagne, a Lafayette native and former UL assistant coach. "He’s very professional. He’s going to recruit good players and hold them accountable, be active in the community, and win some football games."

Athletic Network Footnote: Also posted on the Miss. State Football website with the following links:

Click here for Morning Advocate link http://www.2theadvocate.com/sports/111696669.html

Click here for Times Daily link  http://www.timesdaily.com/article/20101211/SPORTS40/101219966/1164?Title=Former-UNA-coach-Hudspeth-makes-a-change

Click here for Clarion Ledger link http://www.clarionledger.com/article/20101211/SPORTS030102/12110341/Hudspeth-answers-yes-to-UL-Lafayette-offer