Matt Viator it out as ULM football coach as the school and Viator have decided to part ways as the team is mired in an eleven game losing streak that dates back to last season. KNOE-TV sports director Aaron Dietrich says victories have been hard to come by for Viator.
“You look at the fact they are 0-10 this season and the fact they have to lead one minute this season, which is pretty historic,” said Dietrich.
Viator was hired five years ago after a successful run as the head coach at McNeese. He was just 19-and-39 at ULM. Dietrich says right before the season started, ULM alumnus Ron Berry was named the school’s new president and it appears he does not like the direction of the program.
“The lack of fan interest certainly has not helped this program in the last couple of years,” said Dietrich.
ULM has the lowest athletic budget among F-B-S schools and the football program has had only one winning season since becoming an F-B-S school in 1994. Dietrich says it’s been difficult for coaches to build a winner at ULM as several have tried, but failed.
“You can always say you can bring in a youngster and he’ll make a name for himself and can move on, but that’s not the track record at ULM, nobody has moved on from this gig after being the coach at ULM,” said Dietrich.
ULM defensive coordinator Scott Stoker will serve as interim head coach for the regular-season finale versus Troy on December 17th. Athletics Director Scott McDonald says a national search for Viator’s successor will begin immediately.
The Monroe News-Star says possible replacements include Grambling coach Broderick Fobbs, Southeastern Louisiana Coach Frank Scelfo, and former Cajuns Coach Mark Hudspeth.
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