Selections for new coach

[Big Poppa]

_ Joe DeForest
Position:
Associate Head Coach / Special Teams Coordinator

Alma Mater:
University of Southwestern Louisiana 1987


Coaching Career
• Associate head coach Joe DeForest is in his ninth year as a member of the Oklahoma State coaching staff. He coaches the Cowboys' special teams and safeties.

• 2008 was yet another banner year for the Oklahoma State special teams units under the guidance of Joe DeForest. Punter Matt Fodge was the winner of the Ray Guy Award presented to the nation's top punter, punt returner Dez Bryant was the Big 12 Special Teams Player of the Year and kick returner Perrish Cox set a Big 12 record with two kick returns for touchdowns to up his career total to four kick returns for scores, a figure that leads all active NCAA players. Cox was a first-team All-America honoree by CBSSportsline.com and was a third-team All-America kick returner by Rivals.com.

• DeForest's 2008 punt unit ranked sixth in the nation, his punt return squad ranked second nationally and his kick return squad was 18th nationally.

• In 2007, Perrish Cox was one of only three players in the nation to return a punt for a touchdown and return a kickoff for a touchdown. In 2006, Oklahoma State ended the year No. 8 nationally in kickoff returns, No. 27 in punt returns, and had some of the nation's standout special teams performers in return specialists Perrish Cox (No. 14 in punt returns), Grant Jones (No. 13 in kickoff returns) and punter Matt Fodge (eighth in the country). The Cowboys were also 11-of-13 in field goals in 2006. Jones and Fodge were both second-team All-Americans, and Cox was a Freshman All-American. Jones and Cox both had kickoff returns for touchdowns in 2006.

• In 2004, the Cowboys led the Big 12 and were 10th nationally in punt returns, averaging 14.7 yards per return. The Cowboys were 26th in net punting and 38th in kickoff returns.

• DeForest's impact on the Cowboys was felt immediately upon his hiring. In his first season, OSU improved in every statistical category, going from 73rd to 10th in net punting, from 67th to 12th in punt returns and from 92nd to third in kickoff returns. Chris Massey led the NCAA in kickoff returns in 2001.

• That success continued in 2005 as Daniel McLemore turned into one of the league's most feared kick returners and racked up the second-most kickoff return yards (638) in OSU history. DeForest also oversaw the development of walk-on kicker Bruce Redden into a weapon who connected on 11-of-14 field goals.

• DeForest's special teams at Duke were impressive. The Blue Devils finished the 2000 season No. 6 in the nation in net punting and 15th in kickoff returns. Punter Brian Morton was second in the nation in punting, averaging 45.2 yards per kick, while two players - Kyle Moore (ninth) and Chris Douglas (45th) - ranked in the top 50 in kickoff returns.

Personal
• The Titusville, Fla., native was born April 17, 1965, and was a four-year letterman at linebacker for Southwestern Louisiana (Louisiana-Lafayette). He was twice named to the all-Southern and all-Louisiana independent teams and was also a two-year letterman for the baseball squad as a pitcher. He graduated from Louisiana-Lafayette with a bachelor's degree in marketing in 1987.

• DeForest played two seasons of professional football with the Houston Oilers, the New Orleans Saints and finally the Calgary Stampeders of the C.F.L. in 1987-88. He started his coaching career as an assistant coach at Titusville High from 1988-90 before moving to Rice.

•He and his wife, Laura, have one daughter, Ashley.

DeFOREST AT A GLANCE
Year School Position
2001- Oklahoma State Assoc. Head Coach/Special Teams/Safeties
1994-2000 Duke Special Teams/Outside Linebackers
1992-1994 Rice Outside Linebackers
1990-92 Rice Graduate Assistant-Running Backs
1988-1990 Titusville (FL) HS Outside Linebackers

Bowl Games
2008 Holiday Bowl
2007 Insight Bowl
2006 Independence Bowl
2004 Alamo Bowl
2004 Cotton Bowl
2002 Houston Bowl
1995 Hall of Fame Bowl

Prominent Pupils
Trevor Cobb Rice
Cole Farden Oklahoma State
Matt Fodge Oklahoma State
Ryan Fowler Duke (Tennessee Titans)
Vernon Grant Oklahoma State
Larry Izzo Rice (New England Patriots)
Grant Jones Oklahoma State
Patrick Mannelly Duke (Chicago Bears)
Luke Phillips Oklahoma State
Jamie Thompson Oklahoma State
Darrent Williams Oklahoma State (Denver Broncos)

Yes he has never been a head coach but atleast the guy has stepped on to Cajun Field wearing a Ragin Cajun uniform.Filling his coaching staff
with former Cajun teammates and coaches that have coaching experience.Gerald Broussard,Troy Wingerter,Keith Annulis,David Comeaux,Mike Lemoine,Chris Gannon.Atleast this staff would understand the city,the fans,the uniform and what it would mean to put a winner on the field. _

That has to be the worst staff ever in NCAA history

[geo_cajun]

_ Gee try not to hold your feelings so in check.

In all probability he didn't give you guys what you thought you deserved so you are slamming a damn good coach.

I work with him as he attempts to rebuild the mess that is SDSU Football.

All I can tell you is that his players would run through a wall for him if he told them they could do it. He is a MOTIVATOR. I do not know who your son is...but I do know that Brady Hoke is not an Idiot.

Maybe he was trying to tell you something about Bustle and his ability to get the best out of his players _

Because no one else has, and I hate to be rude; I just want to welcome you to Ragin Pagin Coach Hoke. It's great to have you here.

[BeauCajun]

_ I've heard nothing but great things about Joe and he would be a great fit here. His being at a BCS schools, a young, dynamic coach, a former player and alum would really put UL on the right path. What it will likely take is for him to meet with Dr. S and hear about what the athletic future holds for UL, stadium enlargement and enhancement, committment to winning, a goal to move beyond the SBC, fund raising through the RCAF, etc., etc. Give him a 5-10 year plan for where we want to be and let him tell us what it will take to get us there. If we commit to that, he will likely come here. If he doesn't come, we will know why. _

He'll be here in September one way or another.

[LSUConnMan]

I often scratch my head while trying to get inside the head of UL fans. Expending time and energy in an effort to replace Bustle is as logical as whitewashing the walls and replacing the roof of a house with an unsound foundation.

Having been to 7 of the 10 universities in this state with football teams so far this season, I can definitively opine that UL's coaching staff doesn't even make the top-5 immediate issues needing to be addressed...You can raise Knute and the Bear from their graves, and it won't have any significant long term impact.

[CockyCajun]

Quit farting and expand on your gripe.
igeaux.mobi

[Hammer58]

_ I often scratch my head while trying to get inside the head of UL fans. Expending time and energy in an effort to replace Bustle is as logical as whitewashing the walls and replacing the roof of a house with an unsound foundation.

Having been to 7 of the 10 universities in this state with football teams so far this season, I can definitively opine that UL's coaching staff doesn't even make the top-5 immediate issues needing to be addressed...You can raise Knute and the Bear from their graves, and it won't have any significant long term impact. _

So give us your top 5 things that need to be done. BTW, are you offering this same service to the fans of those other 7 universities?

[LSUConnMan]

My point was I find it difficult to understand what one thinks will be accomplished by turning Bustle into a scapegoat.

I'm usually happy to elaborate. But, there's a fine line between critique and criticism, and this is a topic someone with LSU in their username cannot expound upon without being labeled a critic.

[Zeebart21]

So give us your top 5 things that need to be done. BTW, are you offering this same service to the fans of those other 7 universities?

First issue that needs to be addressed is why do we allow him to have a field pass?

[Zeebart21]

My point was I find it difficult to understand what one thinks will be accomplished by turning Bustle into a scapegoat.

I'm usually happy to elaborate. But, there's a fine line between critique and criticism, and this is a topic someone with LSU in their username cannot expound upon without being labeled a critic.

No, please lay it out for us. Hell, you've been a critic since you showed up....why should today be any different?

[Jo Cajun Momma]

First issue that needs to be addressed is why do we allow him to have a field pass?

I don't have strong opinions about this entire thread...but your post made me laugh.

[Hammer58]

_ My point was I find it difficult to understand what one thinks will be accomplished by turning Bustle into a scapegoat.

I'm usually happy to elaborate. But, there's a fine line between critique and criticism, and this is a topic someone with LSU in their username cannot expound upon without being labeled a critic. _

You know, on the one hand we get the criticism that UL fans are too wiling to accept mediocrity so there for UL will never get anywhere. Now, we talk about possibly needing to make a change after 7 years and you want to know what one thinks will be accomplished. Lets face it you will be here criticizing UL fans no matter what moves are made.

And as far as the other universities in this state go, other than State I don't see any of them lighting it up this year. But thanks for your critique of UL fans; at least you can be counted on to be consistent.

[daryl johnson]

Hey pop when you give info have the b--- to say who said it. Coward coward coward I must say. You and this so called coach you talked to. I called Coach Jenkins and asked him about his interest in the HC job here if there was a change. This is what he said. "Im very flattered to know that my name is floating around for the Hc job but Im just interested in being the best coach I can be for Rutgers. I support Coach Bustle and think he and his staff have done a great job this season. All those coaches over there work hard and really put everything they have into that place. If people only new how hard those guys work. Im sure they will finish strong and make this season a successful one. Im very sadden to see some of the fans turn their back on the Coaches. Its just not right. Its not right for the coaches the players or the University. This is the same group that beat KSU. " Its just not right. I then asked him about the kids he recruited and about V moore. His response. "' It was a very shameful thing what VM did. but he didnt act alone and Im sure he regrets it. Never the less no person should be judge on that action of a kid. If we did get judge on that then no coach would have a job. Not one." I told him about pops comment and he just laughed then said the only thing pop didnt comment on was religion or family. That tells you alot about pop and who he really is." Like I said a true winner. Good try pop but you have been exposed. Ok I got to get to the airport to fly out and be there to see the cajuns win. You see Im a true fan not just some side show coward like cajun pop.

_ I had a conversation with a coach on the staff I won't say which, he said when Brian Jenkins left all the coaches went out and had a few drinks to celebrate his departure. I was told "he was the biggest S*&t stirer and made every thing about race. The kids on the team in which had character issues (ie Verlin Moore) were all his recruits." The thing that I was told that to me defines who Brian Jenkins is that "he would sit at his desk in front of other coaches and talk on the phone inquiring about job openings". One should never talk on the phone at their current employer about another job. _