Would this be a good hire?
http://www.thenewsstar.com/sports/html/030FBEFD-801C-4C7F-9084-F3002E50F672.shtml
Southern coach leading candidate at GSU
Nick Deriso
[email protected]
January 21, 2004
A leading candidate has emerged for the Grambling State defensive coordinator position at Grambling State: Southern University linebackers coach Tom Lavigne.
GSU coach Doug Williams would not confirm that Lavigne has been offered the position. "We have spoken at length about the job," he said, "but I'm not ready to make any announcement."
Lavigne, who holds bachelor's and master's degrees from Grambling State, coached defensive backs for Coach Eddie Robinson in the early 1980s.
Calls to Lavigne's office in Baton Rouge were answered by a secretary, who said he was away on a recruiting trip.
Williams said he officially opened the position on Friday, after former defensive coordinator Michael Roach finally tendered his resignation. In accordance with state rules, the defensive coordinator job must be posted for five working days.
That would mean the announcement could come as early as Monday.
Roach left the coordinator's spot after Grambling State's 2003 season opener at San Jose State. He was replaced on an interim basis by defensive backs coach Heishma Northern. Williams elected not to keep Northern as coordinator at season's end, but did offer Northern his old job back.
Northern said Tuesday he has not yet decided whether he will remain on staff. "I'm going to wait until after recruiting, one way or another," he said. "I don't want to mess up that process."
Lavigne came to Southern in 2002 after serving as linebackers coach at Texas Southern in 2002. He was one of three assistants fired after a 2-10 season for TSU.
Lavigne also had stints with Ole Miss (as defensive backs, 1999-2000), Oklahoma State (running backs, 1995-98) and Northwestern Oklahoma State (defensive backs). He also coached at five different New Orleans high schools.
Spears to stay: With just two weeks to go before National Signing Day, the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff finally has begun the interview process for its head coaching position.
Grambling State offensive coordinator Melvin Spears was apparently not one of the final candidates - and that's just fine with him.
When he originally agreed to be interviewed, Spears insisted that he would only accept the position if he could get there early enough to have a significant influence on recruiting.
That time, he said Tuesday, has passed. "I'm staying here at home," Spears said.
UAPB is interviewing former Norfolk State coach Maurice "Mo" Forte (considered the frontrunner because he was a former college teammate of athletics director Craig Curry), interim coach Marty Steward, defensive backs coach Willie Fulton and "an unnamed candidate."
Lee Hardman resigned in December after an 11-year tenure in Pine Bluff. In the absence of a head coach, UAPB's recruiting efforts have been handled by Steward, the Golden Lions' defensive coordinator until he took over as interim.
The drawn-out process could cost UAPB there, too: According to The (Pine Bluff, Ark.) Commercial, at least two recruits said they wouldn't sign with the Golden Lions if neither Steward or Fulton were hired.
Tiger bites: Southern Methodist University in Dallas contacted Grambling State about playing this year, but could not move an Oklahoma State game to make it happen. ... Williams is pragmatic about the new Prince George's Classic set for D.C. in 2004: "This just lets our recruits know that we do travel," he told the Howard University school newspaper. ... Former GSU running back Walter Williams has been signed as a free agent by Green Bay, after spending the 2003 off-season with the New Orleans Saints.
?The News-Star
January 21, 2004
http://www.thenewsstar.com/sports/html/030FBEFD-801C-4C7F-9084-F3002E50F672.shtml
Southern coach leading candidate at GSU
Nick Deriso
[email protected]
January 21, 2004
A leading candidate has emerged for the Grambling State defensive coordinator position at Grambling State: Southern University linebackers coach Tom Lavigne.
GSU coach Doug Williams would not confirm that Lavigne has been offered the position. "We have spoken at length about the job," he said, "but I'm not ready to make any announcement."
Lavigne, who holds bachelor's and master's degrees from Grambling State, coached defensive backs for Coach Eddie Robinson in the early 1980s.
Calls to Lavigne's office in Baton Rouge were answered by a secretary, who said he was away on a recruiting trip.
Williams said he officially opened the position on Friday, after former defensive coordinator Michael Roach finally tendered his resignation. In accordance with state rules, the defensive coordinator job must be posted for five working days.
That would mean the announcement could come as early as Monday.
Roach left the coordinator's spot after Grambling State's 2003 season opener at San Jose State. He was replaced on an interim basis by defensive backs coach Heishma Northern. Williams elected not to keep Northern as coordinator at season's end, but did offer Northern his old job back.
Northern said Tuesday he has not yet decided whether he will remain on staff. "I'm going to wait until after recruiting, one way or another," he said. "I don't want to mess up that process."
Lavigne came to Southern in 2002 after serving as linebackers coach at Texas Southern in 2002. He was one of three assistants fired after a 2-10 season for TSU.
Lavigne also had stints with Ole Miss (as defensive backs, 1999-2000), Oklahoma State (running backs, 1995-98) and Northwestern Oklahoma State (defensive backs). He also coached at five different New Orleans high schools.
Spears to stay: With just two weeks to go before National Signing Day, the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff finally has begun the interview process for its head coaching position.
Grambling State offensive coordinator Melvin Spears was apparently not one of the final candidates - and that's just fine with him.
When he originally agreed to be interviewed, Spears insisted that he would only accept the position if he could get there early enough to have a significant influence on recruiting.
That time, he said Tuesday, has passed. "I'm staying here at home," Spears said.
UAPB is interviewing former Norfolk State coach Maurice "Mo" Forte (considered the frontrunner because he was a former college teammate of athletics director Craig Curry), interim coach Marty Steward, defensive backs coach Willie Fulton and "an unnamed candidate."
Lee Hardman resigned in December after an 11-year tenure in Pine Bluff. In the absence of a head coach, UAPB's recruiting efforts have been handled by Steward, the Golden Lions' defensive coordinator until he took over as interim.
The drawn-out process could cost UAPB there, too: According to The (Pine Bluff, Ark.) Commercial, at least two recruits said they wouldn't sign with the Golden Lions if neither Steward or Fulton were hired.
Tiger bites: Southern Methodist University in Dallas contacted Grambling State about playing this year, but could not move an Oklahoma State game to make it happen. ... Williams is pragmatic about the new Prince George's Classic set for D.C. in 2004: "This just lets our recruits know that we do travel," he told the Howard University school newspaper. ... Former GSU running back Walter Williams has been signed as a free agent by Green Bay, after spending the 2003 off-season with the New Orleans Saints.
?The News-Star
January 21, 2004
