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Football: Napier Adds Desormeaux To Ragin’™ Cajuns Football Staff
LAFAYETTE, La. – New Louisiana head football coach Billy Napier has announced that one of the all-time greats in Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns football history has been added to his staff as Michael Desormeaux has been named an assistant coach on Thursday. His position on the staff has yet to be determined. "I’m extremely excited about bringing Mike Desormeaux on board with our new staff," Napier said. "Mike has great relationships and experience right here in our backyard in Acadiana and will be pivotal to keeping the best in this state at home in Lafayette. He is one of our own, a true Ragin’ Cajun and has tremendous passion for this community, the University and football program. We are excited about Mike, his wife Lindsey and their two children Thomas and Elle joining our team!" Desormeaux brings two years of experience with Louisiana after serving as the running backs coach in 2017 and the wide receivers coach in 2016. Under Desormeaux, Louisiana finished third in the Sun Belt Conference in rushing in 2017 averaging 183.7 yards per game. He developed red-shirt freshman and All-Sun Belt Third Team selection Trey Regas into one of the top rushers in the nation as he ranked 42nd in the country averaging 5.7 yards per carry. Ragas ranked towards the top of the Sun Belt in rushing touchdowns (9), rushing yards (813) and rushing yards per game (73.9). In his first season on the staff, Desormeaux was instrumental in the development of first-team All-Sun Belt Conference wide receiver Al Riles. Desormeaux also mentored a trio of young receivers – Keenan Barnes, Ja’Marcus Bradley and Michael Jacquet. Desormeaux, who ranks in the top 10 in both rushing and passing at Louisiana, spent the last three seasons at Lafayette’s Ascension Episcopal School where he led the Blue Gators to an 11-2 record and the Division IV state semifinals in 2015. He took over an AES program in 2013 that finished 0-9 the year before and led them to five wins in his first season and eight victories in 2014. During his career at Louisiana, Desormeaux passed for 3,893 yards and 23 TDs while rushing for 2,843 yards and 16 TDs. He was named All-Sun Belt Conference three times as an all-purpose specialist before being named the SBC’s Offensive Player of the Year after throwing for 1,876 yards while rushing for 1,035 yards. He became the eighth quarterback in NCAA history to post back-to-back 1,000-yard rushing seasons after rushing for 1,141 yards as a junior in 2007. Under his guidance, the Cajuns offense led the SBC in total yards, rushing yards, yards per game, rushing yards per game, yards per play, third down conversion percentage and touchdowns. Desormeaux led the Sun Belt in passing efficiency in SBC only games and broke Jake Delhomme’s single-season school record for passing efficiency. After concluding his career with the Ragin’ Cajuns, Desormeaux signed a free agent contract as a defensive back with the NFL’s Jacksonville Jaguars where he was a member of the practice squad. Desormeaux was a star athlete at Catholic-New Iberia, where he later got his coaching start as an assistant coach. He lettered four years in both football and basketball, as well as five years in track and three in baseball. He led Catholic HS to three straight Class 3A playoff appearances and three straight district championships in football. Desormeaux earned first-team Class 3A All-State honors in 2003 and was named the All-District offensive MVP. He began his coaching career at his alma mater, serving as offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach from 2010-13. A member of the 2009 National Football Foundation & College Hall of Fame (NFF) Hampshire Honor Society, Desormeaux graduated in December 2008 with a cumulative grade-point-average of 3.91. Desormeaux and his wife, Lindsey, are the parents of two children, Thomas and Elle. DESORMEAUX AT A GLANCE Alma Mater: Louisiana, 2008 Hometown: New Iberia, La. Wife: Lindsey Children: Thomas and Elle COACHING EXPERIENCE 2017, Louisiana (Running Backs Coach) 2016, Louisiana (Wide Receivers Coach) 2013-15, Ascension Episcopal School (Head Coach) 2010-13, Catholic-New Iberia High School (Offensive Coordinator, Quarterbacks Coach)
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