LAKE CHARLES – McNeese football head coach Matt Viator began putting his staff together with the announcing that he will retain co-defensive coordinators Tony Pecoraro and Josh Brown as well as chief of staff Aaron Ingram.
 
"I'm excited to be able to keep these coaches and build some continuity on the defensive side of the ball," said Viator who was named head coach on Monday. "The defense made a lot of progress this season with those two leading it.
 
"We also have a lot of familiar friends and those guys speak highly of and have a ton of respect for them."
 
This past season, the Cowboys led the Southland Conference and was 18^th in the FCS in passing defense (176.3) and tops in the league while ranking No. 3 in the nation in pass efficiency defense (106.1).
 
Three times this season the defense held opponents to under 100 yards rushing and under 200 yards passing eight times. McNeese also allowed just 17 rushing touchdowns, the 12^th-fewest in the country, and 15 passing TDs which were the 10^th-fewest allowed in the FCS.
 
Viator will continue to meet with members of the current as he works to build his staff over the next several days.