The Louisiana Ragin Cajuns got an early Christmas present on Friday morning with the announcement that Billy Napier being announced as the new head coach for the football program.
“We are absolutely thrilled to identify a Head Football coach with the experience and success that Billy Napier brings to the University of Louisiana,” Dr. Maggard said in a press relase by the University. “Coach Napier is highly respected within the coaching profession and brings tremendous experience from nationally-ranked programs. He is widely considered to be one of America’s top recruiters and offensive minds and will instill the values of a Championship program into Ragin’ Cajuns Football.”
Napier was most recently the offensive coordinator for Arizona State, helping the Sun Devil offense be ranked towards the top in the nation in several categories, including the 10th highest-graded passing attack in the nation according to Pro Football Focus. He also has coached under some of the best coaches in the nation in recent years like Nick Saban at Alabama from 2013-2017 and Dabo Swinney at Clemson from 2009-2010.
“My family and I are excited and humbled for the opportunity to serve Cajun Nation and our Louisiana football program,” Napier said. “We will make it a priority to bring in the best talent from the state of Louisiana and the nation.”
“I wish Bill nothing but the best in his coaching career,” Sun Devil head coach Herm Edwards said in a statement. “I can assure all Sun Devil fans that I am working diligently on hiring a coaching staff that will fit what we are trying to accomplish at ASU, led by incredible senior quarterback Manny Wilkins. Assistant head coach and running backs coach John Simon and co-offensive coordinator and wide receivers coach Rob Likens will be a part of my staff going forward.”
An interesting wrinkle in the statement is that Edwards didn’t mention offensive line coach Rob Sale. That could possibly mean that the Monroe, Louisiana native could be coming over to the program.
A press conference will be held on Monday December 18th at noon at the Cajundome.
-Clint Domingue