Freeman is working at Peak Insurance Agency, LLC.
Freeman is working at Peak Insurance Agency, LLC.
Daniel Freeman would have been named to the staff, but the third paid assistant was voted down.
Anyway.....
I'm over the top on our staff. I've talked a lot about chemistry in the past and the problem with chemistry is, you can't see it all the time. We had a sport that was able to overcome chemistry issues, but it's hard to do. Conversely, great chemistry in baseball led us to our first at large bid in a decade this past season.
I also remember, years ago, speaking with Troy Wingerter about it "meaning more" when you are an alumnus or have ties to the area. It becomes personal. And, before 2011 when we made our first bowl game, Troy was very candid about his frustration.
ZACH LAFLEUR--Played for UL. Has a degree from UL. He was a second generation student-athlete at UL. It's personal
GUNNER LEGER--Played for UL. Has a degree from UL. Dad coaches at UL. It's personal.
SETH THIBODEAUX--is a Cajun. His home is 25 minutes from here. He's here because he wanted so badly to be a Ragin' Cajun. It's personal.
MATT DEGGS--became our head coach four years ago today. He says he's here because Coach Robe saved his life and saved his family. It was his destiny. He's as proud to wear Louisiana across his chest as anyone who has ever worn the red and white. For him, it's REALLY personal.
I'm going to say this now. There is no coaching staff in America more passionate about their school than these guys. They aren't here looking for their next job. They're here because they believe we can get to where we rightfully belong.
And, if you don't think that counts for something, think again.
Jay, thanks for this, we/I really appreciate it and clearly this means allot to these men. Here is my question, and believe me I am not trying to discount anything you have posted here, on the contrary, I am just trying to decipher with the personal connections of each of these guys, how good/great is this staff really?
Do any/each of these guys individually have chances to coach elsewhere at a higher level but are choosing to stay at UL because it is personal. We all agree that the fact that it is personal makes this a really good staff, but staying here and coaching when they could be somewhere else but chose to be here makes it even better.
My thoughts are that Coach Deggs has probably had and may have future opportunities to coach at a bigger program if that is what he wants to do. I am not sure if that is the case or not, the wanting to coach at a higher level (ie SEC/ACC).
Gunner, I doubt it, just because the coaching at the NCAA D1 level is new to him.
Seth Thibodeaux, chose to be here, but it was because he was let go from Nicholls, did he have other offers and came to UL and were those offers at a HC level and/or at a bigger program. I think ST is a really good coach and did some good things at Nicholls. But I doubt very seriously if he was a hugely sought after commodity when he was let go from Nicholls but he may have had other offers to be an assistant somewhere, now that may well change as UL continues to progress.
Zach Lafleur--I don't know either way whether he has had other opportunities are not in the coaching world.
Well, I'm good, but I can't see the future. I can say this: These guys aren't here because they WANT to use UL as a stepping stone. I can also say it would take something really special for them to leave. This school is in their blood. This school is bigger than they are. They all understand wanting to be a small part of something big.
As far as your comments about Thib are concerned, well, you don't know the man. I do. Obviously being a head coach was special. After all, there are only about 300 of them in the whole country. Deggs had a choice on who to hire when BJ left. He hired Thib because Thib was passionate about being a Ragin' Cajun.
I'm also going to say this: Thib got somewhat of a bad rap on this board about developing pitchers. Jackson Nezuh couldn't throw a strike at Florida State. He came here, accepted coaching and just got drafted. Blake Marshall and JT Ethridge made big strides as the season progressed. Steven Cash went from just another arm to being a guy we looked to the second half of the season. That stuff just didn't come from pixie dust.
That being said, Gunner will take this staff to new heights in the future.
I feel like your question came from an analytical point of view. And, that totally discounts the point i was making.
This is bigger than they are. They all realize it. And, that's why I say no team in the country will coach with more passion than these guys.
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