After leading the program since 2011, Louisiana Lafayette has decided to dismiss head coach Mark Hudspeth.
Steven Albritton was among the first to report the move. We've heard the same, and numerous outlets are now also reporting it as well.
Director of Athletics Bryan Maggard will meet with the media at 12:00pm local time (CST).
Hudspeth was tabbed to lead the ULL program after a very successful run as the head coach at D-II North Alabama, where he put together five double-digit win seasons as a first-time head coach. During that time, Hud led the program to three national semifinal appearances and two additional appearances in the quarterfinals. From there he went on to Mississippi State, where he served as passing game coordinator while coaching the receivers. Earlier in his coaching career, he served as the offensive coordinator at Delta State, and Navy, as well as additional stops.
Hud helped to bring a share of the Sun Belt title to ULL in 2013, before having some wins vacated following NCAA violations by a former assistant that ended up vacating 22 wins from the program.
Sources in the profession have mentioned a number of potential candidates for this one including Penn State defensive coordinator Brent Pry and successful FCS head coaches Lance Guidry (McNeese State), Tim Rebowe (Nicholls) and Broderick Fobbs (Grambling). Sources add that LSU offensive coordinator Matt Canada would like an opportunity as well.
The next head coach of the ULL program will inherit a program that has a solid foundation in place, and smack dab in the middle of some of the most fertile recruiting ground for high school talent in America. Hud helped to build this program up to heights it had previously never seen. a There's no reason the right guy shouldn't come in and compete for conference titles in short order.
As always, stay tuned to The Scoop for the latest.