Football: UL’s popular choice – hiring of Mark Hudspeth as new head football coach

Joshua Parrott • jparrott@theadvertiser.com • December 12, 2010

UL’s decision to hire Mississippi State receivers coach/passing game coordinator Mark Hudspeth as its new head football coach appears to be a popular choice.

Hudspeth, 42, accepted an offer Friday to take over the Ragin’ Cajun football program, a source with direct knowledge of the situation told The Daily Advertiser.

The source requested anonymity because the school plans to officially introduce Hudspeth during a press conference at 10 a.m. Monday in the Cajundome’s Mardi Gras Ballroom.

Part of Hudspeth’s 19 years of coaching experience was a successful stretch as the head coach at NCAA Division II power North Alabama from 2002-08. The Lions went 66-21 in those seven years with two Gulf South Conference titles and five D-II playoff appearances, including three trips to the national semifinals.

Bobby Champagne has coached the North Alabama men’s basketball team since 2003. The Lafayette native was happy to hear that Hudspeth would be coaching the Cajuns given his previous experiences with him in Florence.

"A lot of times football coaches have their blinders on and only focus on football, but coach Hud was always very supportive of our program," said Champagne, a former Cajun assistant basketball coach. "I’d get a phone call or a text or a personal note from him congratulating us on a big win or telling us to keep our heads up after a tough loss.

"You don’t always get that from a football coach, and that speaks volumes about him as a person."

Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College head coach Steve Campbell was an assistant at Delta State near the end of Hudspeth’s playing career. They also coached together at Nicholls State during the 1994 and ’95 seasons.

Hudspeth later served as the offensive coordinator at Delta State from 1999-2000 during Campbell’s first two years as the program’s head coach. The Statesmen won the D-II national championship in 2000.

"Mark is a high-energy guy and a really polished recruiter," Campbell said. "He’s done a great job everywhere he has been. He’s a really bright young coach. I’m sure he’s going to do an outstanding job there."

Campbell declined to comment on the rumor that Hudspeth has already offered him a chance to be UL’s offensive coordinator.

Troy head coach Larry Blakeney knows about Hudspeth because his offensive coordinator, Kenny Edenfield, held that same position at North Alabama from 2002-07.

"He’s a good person, a hard worker and has moved up the ladder," Blakeney said of Hudspeth. "He understands recruiting at all levels, and that’s really important."

Steve Robertson, a regional scout for Scout.com, established a strong connection with Hudspeth over his two-year stretch at Mississippi State.

"He is really competitive and is so driven that it inspires people," Robertson said. "You know this guy is going somewhere, so you better hitch your wagon to him because you might be able to go somewhere, too. He enjoys every aspect of the job, whether it’s recruiting, talking with alumni, coaching or studying film. He’s a very well-rounded coach."

Robertson also got a chance to know Hudspeth away from the football field.

"About a year ago I went to Starkville to see him and stopped by his office, and he wasn’t there," Robertson said. "There was a blonde lady in his office licking envelopes, and it was his wife, Tyla Hudspeth. They were working as a unit to get all of his recruiting letters out to the kids."

Robertson added that Hudspeth is a dedicated family man. He has a son, Gunner, and a daughter, Carley.

"He has a good balance (between work and family)," Robertson said. "The family suffers the most with all of the demands of being a coach, but his family means everything to him. I know that was a big part of this decision for him.

"It was what was best for the family, not just what was best for Mark."

Athletic Network Footnote: A press conference is scheduled for 10:00 a.m., Monday, Dec. 13th in the Cajundome’s Mardi Gras Ballroom to announce the new head football coach.