LAKE CHARLES – Matt Fontenot, McNeese's Senior Associate Athletic Director for External Affairs, has been promoted to Deputy AD, McNeese Vice President and Director of Athletics Heath Schroyer announced on Wednesday.
 
A McNeese graduate and former baseball letterman, Fontenot joined the McNeese Athletic Department in July 2023.
 
"I'm thrilled to announce Matt Fontenot's promotion to Deputy Athletic Director," said Schroyer. "Matt is an invaluable asset to this department. He's extremely organized, has an incomparable work ethic and has a skill set that really complements mine.
 
"I've enjoyed watching Matt grow professionally in the past few years, and he has a bright future in this business. McNeese is lucky to have him in this role."
 
Said Fontenot: "It has been a privilege to serve McNeese and grow alongside the exceptional staff here the last two years. I truly believe in the vision of Heath and (McNeese President) Dr. (Wade) Rousse and I am honored to be a trusted part of the leadership that will continue to move the Athletic Department forward in the ever-changing landscape of college athletics."
 
Fontenot oversees multiple departments within McNeese Athletics that have all witnessed outstanding growth. The ticket office has seen increased ticket sales across all ticketed sports, experienced sell out events at the Legacy Center, and is preparing for the launch of the brand new $32 million football press box featuring 26 high-end suites this fall.
 
Fontenot has elevated multiple athletic facilities in his short time on campus that enhance the fan experience, student-athlete experience and efficiency of day-to-day staff operations. On the facilities horizon is a $1.5 million Navarre Player Development rehab project and a $5 million new baseball clubhouse and development center to go along with the completion of the press box, $1 million football locker room upgrade, Legacy Center jumbotron addition, upgrades to the current baseball clubhouse as well as the development of a digital media studio.  Other departments Fontenot oversees include game operations, marketing and digital media.
 
On the Development side, Fontenot has cultivated new local partnerships alongside the McNeese Athletic Foundation to continue to expand its in-house corporate sponsorships and fundraising events to provide record-setting support for the department. He also serves as the liaison for the department with the McNeese Car Program, Sodexo Catering, campus housing as well as the sport administrator for the football and baseball programs.
 
Fontenot returned to collegiate athletics administration after spending the past four years at St. Louis Catholic High School in multiple capacities, including the Director of Advancement and External Operations and Head Baseball Coach.
 
A Lake Charles native and St. Louis Catholic alum, Fontenot was instrumental in raising funds for the high school's post-Hurricane Laura master facility plan, a future development valued at $75 million to rebuild the completely decimated campus. He led the post-hurricane recovery project that received $3.2 million in FEMA money and lasted an astonishing eighteen days allowing school to resume on a new temporary campus.

As a baseball coach, he helped guide the Saints to three consecutive district titles, the 2021 Louisiana Division II State Championship and state semifinal appearances in 2022 and 2023. Fontenot was named District Coach of the Year in 2021, 2022, and 2023 as well as Louisiana 3A Coach of the Year in 2021.
 
Prior to returning to Lake Charles, Fontenot spent five seasons with Texas A&M Football under then head coach Kevin Sumlin. He began with Texas A&M in 2013 as a recruiting and operations intern while earning a Masters of Science in Sport Management degree from A&M. Upon graduation, Fontenot was promoted to Assistant Director of Operations for the Texas A&M Football program where he was responsible for daily distribution of player and staff schedules, roster maintenance, aiding in NFL scouts visits, and assisting in team travel and bowl week scheduling and coordination, among other duties. Prior to the 2016 season, he was again promoted to the Director of Football Operations role. In this role, Fontenot oversaw the day-to-day operations of the football program, academic progress, coordinated team travel, roster and scholarship management, as well as serving as the program's liaison to the NFL. He also oversaw the team's travel, logistics, and activities for the post season. He coordinated team charity and community service projects and aided in football-specific fundraising initiatives planning and executing donor events throughout the year.
 
Prior to his time at Texas A&M Football, Fontenot worked with the AT&T Cotton Bowl operations and marketing staff for the 2012 season, which featured Texas A&M and Oklahoma.
 
A native of Lake Charles and a 2009 McNeese graduate, Fontenot and his wife, Mallory, have one son, Beckett.