Who is the best coach in UL football history?

[Turbine]

Texas Tech forfeited their 1996 game (before vacate existed) so 6-5

[basinbear]

All I was saying was no above average QB and no winning season.

1986 Brian Mitchell
1987 Brian Mitchell
1988 Brian Mitchell
1989 Brian Mitchell
1990 5-6
1991 2-8-1
1992 2-9
1993 Jake Delhomme
1994 Jake Delhomme
1995 Jake Delhomme
1996 Jake Delhomme
1997 1-10
1998 2-9

ps As AD Nelson got to make his own schedule.

The 1986 thru 1990 schedule was put together by Dr. Phillips....the QB statement was accurate in part. The late James Freeman appeared to be the answer and after the Tulane game we felt he would be the answer....he began having seizures and he was never the same.....for those who do not know James passed away a few years ago here in Houston....he battled those problems the rest of his life.....a great kid.....Jordan Davis talent reminds me of James....

[CajunSaint08]

Stokley, we were playing against some of the top teams in the country every year.

And losing to them. Look, I'm not here to say who is the better (or best) coach in UL history, but saying Stokley was all this is just crazy talk.

Everything has to be put into perspective. They played SEC teams back then (lost to them), Memphis, E. Carolina, S. Miss, LaTech, Tulsa, N. Illinois, .....teams that are names today, were not necessarily big time schools back then.

It's hard to compare era's. Today, people want to fire a coach for their first losing season. If that was the case, Stokley would have not made it pass his 5th year. Stokley coached for 13 years, with 6 of those years losing (and losing bad). Stokley went 6-5 his first 3 years, 7-4 his 4th year. Then went 5-6, 2-8-1, 2-9 before having 3 winning years, only to finish with 3 losing years..

If Stokley would have coached today with that record, he would have been fired at year 6 at the worse. So comparing coaches is useless. As an independent for 16 years, with a stint in the Big West for three years in between that run, UL was able to make some schedules with more variety in competing against various conferences. However, by being tied to a conference, you must play that schedule.

I'm not here to bash Stokley, but making him out to be the best coach in UL history is as ridiculous as me running for President.

[CajunSaint08]

Stokely coached when we had no budget and no facilities. Yet, he went
1986 6-5
1987 6-5
1988 6-5
1989 7-4
1990 5-6

At this point, USL has beaten
Memphis
E. Carolina
Tulsa
UNLV
Colorado State
Southern Miss
Rice
N. Illinois
Tulane
Central Michigan
Lost games to Ole Miss (21-20); Alabama (24-17)
Then, more budget cuts by Dr. A, after all we were successful without great funding.
1991 2-8-1
1992 2-9
USL was an Independent until 1993 when it joined the Big West.
1993 8-3 Big West Champs
1994 6-5 Big West Champs
1995 6-5
1996 5-6 This was the greatest schedule UL has ever played. We were back as an Independent.
Florida (L)
Texas A&M (W)
Southern Miss (L)
La Tech (W)
Houston (L)
Ark State (W)
UAB (L)
Memphis (W)
Virginia Tech (L)
N. Illinois (W)
Texas Tech (L)
Dr. A again cuts budget and Stokely likely got burned out.
1997 1-10
1998 2-9
Then Baldwin took over.

By today's standards and huge number of bowl games, USL should have gone to bowl games in 1986, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1993, 1994, and 1995.

Against much tougher schedules, a miniscule budget, zero facilities, and a non-supportive president, he accomplished a great deal, not to mention some outstanding players he recruited.

Again, hard to compare era's, but if we are, Stokley would have been fired year 6, after two losing seasons if he was coaching today. Possibly even sooner since he was only one game above .500 three years in a row.

[angeleast]

The 1986 thru 1990 schedule was put together by Dr. Phillips....the QB statement was accurate in part. The late James Freeman appeared to be the answer and after the Tulane game we felt he would be the answer....he began having seizures and he was never the same.....for those who do not know James passed away a few years ago here in Houston....he battled those problems the rest of his life.....a great kid.....Jordan Davis talent reminds me of James....

He had a cannon for an arm.. Had a class with him and he was very nice and personable

[Boomer]

He had a cannon for an arm.. Had a class with him and he was very nice and personable

---After the Tulane game he was the answer-----What a shame for that kid!!!

[basinbear]

---After the Tulane game he was the answer

-What a shame for that kid!!!

Heartbreaking Boomer......Jordan davis something very similar athletically

[California Cajun]

Conversely, who was the worst coach?

[Lexhead]

Conversely, who was the worst coach?

Baldwin. I would be surprised if there were much disagreement on this.

[CajunJack55]

Baldwin. I would be surprised if there were much disagreement on this.

Yeah, just like this years uni's, I think this is some pretty much all Ragin Paginers will agree on.

[BirdofParadise]

Those of you who don't think Nelson Stokley was the best coach EVER at this school never spent any time with him.

The man was a freaking genius. He won games as an independent with virtually no budget. And, seriously, he was brilliant. I would have conversations with him and be really amazed.

[CajunSaint08]

Those of you who don't think Nelson Stokley was the best coach EVER at this school never spent any time with him.

The man was a freaking genius. He won games as an independent with virtually no budget. And, seriously, he was brilliant. I would have conversations with him and be really amazed.

No, never spent any personal time with him. I was a bar tender back in the late 80's of a place he and the other coaches frequented very often.

But saying he was the best coach EVER at this school may be a bit over dramatic. Like I said in my previous posts, I can't say who is the best because it is hard to compare era's. But like I have also stated, he would have never made it past his 6 year if he was coaching today because of the "what have you done for me lately" fans we have today. Not saying this is right, just saying this is what today's society and fan base has become.

Succeed always, fail never and if you do, good-bye.