LAKE CHARLES – McNeese Football is making a Return to the Old Guard in hoping to also return to the Glory Days.
On Monday, McNeese Vice President and Director of Athletics Heath Schroyer announced the hiring of Cowboy Football legend and Hall of Fame coach Matt Viator to return as the head coach for the Cowboys, a position he held from 2006-2015 and recorded a school record 78 wins, four Southland Conference titles, and five playoff appearances.
An introductory press conference will be held at noon on Wednesday in the Endzone Club on the second floor of the Jack Doland Field House. The public is invited to attend.
"When we first set out to find our head football coach, I stated I wanted a coach who embraced the expectations and standards we have here at McNeese. We not only did that, we actually got the man who helped set those very expectations and standards.
"I couldn't be happier to welcome back Coach Matt Viator, a legend and hall of famer!"
During Viator's previous stint, McNeese won 10 or more games three times and never posted a losing season. Twice he guided the Cowboys to undefeated regular seasons (2007 and 2015), and three wins over FBS schools, including a 53-21 win at South Florida, which to this day remains as the largest margin of victory by an FCS school over what was at the time a BCS opponent.
He compiled a record of 78-33 (.703), matching Bobby Keasler for the most wins in school history. He was named SLC Coach of the Year three times (2006, 2007, 2015), two-time Louisiana Coach of the Year (2006, 2015), and was a three-time National Coach of the Year finalist (2006, 2007, 2015).
His teams ranked in the top 25 in 85 of 108 weeks of his career and received votes in another 17 weeks. Of those 108 weeks of polls, 102 were spent either in the top 25 or receiving votes. The Cowboys also ranked in the top 10 for 42 weeks and the top five 12 weeks. His highest ranking was No. 2 the final two weeks of the 2015 season. Viator coached 36 All-American selections, 135 All-SLC selections including 54 first team selections, and 46 All-Louisiana picks. He coached the 2006, 2007 and 2009 SLC Player of the Year, 2008 and 2013 SLC Offensive Player of the Year, 2008 and 2015 SLC Defensive Player of the Year, 2010 SLC Newcomer of the Year, 2015 Louisiana Defensive Player of the Year, 2009 Louisiana Offensive Player of the Year, and 2009 Louisiana Newcomer of the Year.
He was inducted into the McNeese Sports Hall of Fame in 2021.
"This program needed everything Coach Viator is: A winner. A man who embraces this community wholeheartedly. A man who will bring back structure, discipline and accountability. Under Coach Viator, we will return McNeese football back to a winning football brand. We will bring back the pride, toughness and grit this program once had! We did all of that and more with the hiring of Coach V! I'm elated!
"Through this process Coach was blown away by how much we have grown as a department and how much we now fund football. This is a completely different job than the one he left nine years ago. McNeese football is special and has been a sleeping giant for years now. Today the legend has returned. The giant has awakened. Cowboy Football is back!"
Said McNeese President Dr. Wade Rousse: "I am elated with this hire! Coach Viator is exactly what we need at exactly the right time to bring 'Cowboy Football' back to the Hole on Saturday nights.
"In addition, we do not believe being fiscally responsible and winning are mutually exclusive. Culture and schemes are important variables in the winning equation. This hire supports that line of reasoning, and I am so thankful for our AD and his committee who are responsible for such a great hire."
