Zac Etheridge (Louisiana 2019) off to Auburn

[NewsCopy]

Louisiana football head coach Billy Napier wrapped up his coaching staff for the 2018 season on Monday as he announced the hire of Zac Etheridge as the cornerbacks coach.

A former team captain and defensive back at Auburn on its 2010 national championship team, Etheridge comes to the Ragin' Cajuns from Western Carolina where he spent two seasons. Etheridge started his stint with the Catamounts coaching the cornerbacks in 2016 before being elevated to a full-time position as an assistant coach with his focus switching to WCU's outside linebackers in 2017.

Prior to Western Carolina, Etheridge spent two seasons at Georgia Tech as a defensive graduate assistant, working closely with Yellow Jacket secondary.

Before his move to Atlanta, Etheridge spent one year as a graduate assistant coach at Penn State under head coach Bill O'Brien and defensive coordinator Ted Roof.

A 2009 Auburn graduate with a degree in political science, Etheridge was a four-year starter who broke his neck in the first quarter of a 2009 game against Ole Miss. Nine months later, after extensive rehabilitation, Etheridge returned to the starting lineup for Auburn and captained his team along a memorable run to the national title at the end of the 2010 season, finishing second on the team with 69 tackles, intercepting three passes, and returning a fumble 47 yards for a touchdown against Arkansas.

Etheridge garnered freshman All-America status from numerous publications following the 2007 season, starting 12 of Auburn's 13 games. He led Auburn with 75 tackles in 2008 and was named to the SEC Academic Honor Roll in 2009.

A native of Troy, Ala., Etheridge received the second-annual James Owens Courage Award from Auburn in 2013. The award, named for the school's first African-American football player, was established to honor a player who has shown courage in the face of adversity.

Etheridge briefly played for the Oakland Raiders, signing as a free agent in July, 2011. However, he was released after a knee injury. He has daughter named Mia.

Etheridge's hiring is pending approval by the University of Louisiana System Board of Supervisors.

ETHERIDGE AT A GLANCE
Alma Mater: Auburn, 2009
Hometown: Troy, Ala.
Children: Mia

COACHING EXPERIENCE
2017, Western Carolina Assistant Coach (Outside Linebackers)
2016, Western Carolina Assistant Coach (Cornerbacks)
2013-14, Georgia Tech Graduate Assistant
2012, Penn State Graduate Assistant

The rest of the story

LOUISIANA AC

[NewsCopy]

Zac Etheridge, who played at national-champion Auburn, is UL's new cornerbacks coach.

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[Clutch0364]

Looks like we are losing Zac to Houston.

[cajun4life]

Well they do have a $4m assistant salary pool.

[CajunVic]

Looks like we are losing Zac to Houston.

http://rotoworld.com/player/cfb/140242/zac-etheridge

[angeleast]

Well, a sign of having a good staff is losing someone every now and then. I trust our coach to find another good coach.

[fanof71]

The only question I would have is do any candidates have initials like a large fast food chain, or maybe a rhyme with a quick serve restaurant...

[Rainman66]

SOURCE: #Louisiana CB coach Zac Etheridge, a captain on the 2010 #Auburn national title team, is expected to join Dana Holgorsen’s #Houston coaching staff. Etheridge is 247’s No. 1 recruiter in the Sun Belt. He should be a big asset in Louisiana for UH.

— Bruce Feldman (@BruceFeldmanCFB) January 21, 2019

Don't know if this is accurate, but if true, could be a recruiting blow for sure.

[Benchwarmer]

It is a good thing that we have coaches moving on to other schools. Contacts in this business is everything and the more "cajuns" at other bigger schools will hopefully create opportunity for games. Just me looking for a positive.

[CajunT]

SOURCE: #Louisiana CB coach Zac Etheridge, a captain on the 2010 #Auburn national title team, is expected to join Dana Holgorsen’s #Houston coaching staff. Etheridge is 247’s No. 1 recruiter in the Sun Belt. He should be a big asset in Louisiana for UH.

— Bruce Feldman (@BruceFeldmanCFB) January 21, 2019

Don't know if this is accurate, but if true, could be a recruiting blow for sure.

According to people I know, Etheridge is a good recruiter. But so is Jaluke and Rob Sale. Adding another good recruiter like Lamar Morgan would make the loss of Etheridge a wash. They have recruiting contacts in different areas.

[zephyr]

Looks like we are losing Zac to Houston.

Who the hell is Zac Etheridge?

[moorecajun]

He's no longer listed on the UL Coaches page on the website.