Despite three consecutive losing seasons, Louisiana Tech is bringing back football coach Sonny Cumbie for a fourth season. The Bulldogs went 5-and-7 this season, but 97.7 in Ruston Sports Director Sean Fox says an upset win over Western Kentucky and shutout victory over Kennesaw State likely saved Cumbie’s job.
“I think there are probably some disappointed Tech fans wishing there had been changed, but I don’t think we are too surprised based on the way they finished the season,” Fox said.
Louisiana Tech’s offense held them back in 2024. The Bulldogs ranked 113th in the country in scoring offense, averaging 22 points per game, while the defense allowed just 20 points a game after a dismal 2023 season. Fox says for Cumbie to keep his job, the offense must improve.
“So we know he’s capable of finding weaknesses and correcting it in the offseason, now what he did for the defense last year, he’s got to find a way to do that for the offense into 2025,” Cumbie.
After a disastrous season on defense in 2023, Cumbie fired defensive coordinator Scott Power and replaced him with Jeremiah Johnson, who led a remarkable turn around. Tech’s defense was 128th in scoring defense last year.
There are Bulldog fans who say athletics director Ryan Ivey kept Cumbie, because the buyout to fire him was too expensive. But Fox doesn’t see it that way.
“I honestly think if Tech wanted to go in another direction, they would have found the money to do it,” Fox said. “I really do think Ryan Ivey in his first full season as athletics director, wanted to give Sonny a chance,” Fox said.
In a letter to fans, Ivey said the program’s focus over the coming weeks and months would be:
Offensive schematic and tactical approach
Restructuring football personnel to maximize the ability to develop and grow student-athletes.
Off-season workouts grounded in competition, attention to detail and discipline.
Reimaging roster management, focused on the ability to recruit and retain top talent.
Strategic assessment of expenses to invest more in player acquisition and compensation.
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