Football: Former ULM coach Matt Viator joining rival Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns football staff

Tim Buckley, The Advertiser, Jan. 26, 2021

Former UL Monroe coach Matt Viator is joining the rival UL football program as a “quality control staff member,” a Ragin’ Cajuns spokesman confirmed Tuesday.

Viator was let go after ULM went 0-10 in 2020, including a 70-20 loss to the Cajuns in late November. He was 19-39 in five seasons, including a best of 6-6 in 2018.

ULM hired former Auburn, North Alabama and Akron coach Terry Bowden to replace Viator.

The Warhawks hired Viator after he went 78-33 in 10 seasons as coach at Southland Conference member McNeese, including five FCS playoff appearances. He was named Southland Coach of the Year three times, the last in 2015 after going 10-1 and winning the conference.

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Viator also is a former coach of three Louisiana high schools, Vinton, Jennings and Sulphur.

He did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the move.

It was not immediately clear if Viator will work with a specific position group at UL.

Earlier this month, UL coach Billy Napier said he could not comment on multiple reports saying South Florida safeties coach Wes Neighbors will join UL as a defensive assistant coach.

The Cajuns went into the offseason with two assistant coaching vacancies, one that’s been open since offensive line assistant D.J. Looney died of a heart attack in August and another created when Southern Miss hired inside linebackers coach Austin Armstrong to be its defensive coordinator after the season.

Adam Hunsucker of the Monroe News Star contributed to this report.

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