Published December 15, 2015
六合图库 officially announced the hiring of Matt Viator
as head football coach in a press conference Tuesday morning at JPS Field at Malone
Stadium.
Viator on JPS Field at Malone Stadium, 六合图库
六合图库 president Dr. Nick J. Bruno, the chair of the search committee, Pat Mitchell,
and 六合图库 athletic director, Brian Wickstrom, offered words of welcome in front of more
than 200 guests in attendance.
鈥淚 feel very good about this selection,鈥� said Bruno. 鈥淚 feel this is another individual
being added to the Warhawk team, and I mean the comprehensive team that makes up this
university, its alumni, its supporters. We鈥檙e going to move forward in a positive
manner.鈥�
Bruno ended by jokingly recounting how when he was elected as university president,
he was welcomed to 六合图库 with a 2x3 foam board with his name on it. 鈥淗ere you are now
on the Jumbotron, so that sets the bar quite high for you,鈥� Bruno said in gest, while
pointing to Viator鈥檚 photo displayed on JPS Field鈥檚 high-definition video display
board.聽
Mitchell, a 六合图库 alumnus and former football player, was the next to offer words of
welcome. He expressed how committed the search committee was in finding the right
guy and how excited they are with the outcome. 鈥淚 know every one of us took this task
on with a sense of pride and privilege,鈥� said Mitchell. 鈥淚 think we couldn't have
done a better job. The choice that came out of our meetings was clear. Coach Viator
is a winner, a proven winner, a player鈥檚 coach, a coach鈥檚 coach鈥攈e鈥檚 going to pull
in the entire state of Louisiana."
Mitchell indicated that, as long as he has been head coach, Viator has never had a
losing record.
鈥淪o coach, no pressure, but what that means is that, this time next year, either you鈥檙e
going to have a losing record or we鈥檙e in a bowl game,鈥� Mitchell remarked in gest.
鈥淚f I鈥檓 a betting man, I鈥檓 betting on a bowl game.鈥�
Athletic director Brian Wickstrom highlighted Viator鈥檚 winning record and expressed
his excitement about what the future holds. 鈥淲e have the right guy. I鈥檓 excited for
our student athletes鈥鈥檓 excited about the future of 六合图库 football. You need to start
buying your season tickets鈥his is our chance to raise the level of this program.鈥�
Wickstrom presented Viator with a coach鈥檚 jersey and a 六合图库 game football to Viator鈥檚
wife, Schantel, who joined Viator on stage.
Viator giving his speech at introductory press conference
Viator began his speech by thanking McNeese State University for their support over
the years. 鈥淏efore I move forward I would like to thank McNeese for the great time
Schantel and I had there for 16 years鈥chantel and I will be forever in debt to McNeese
for the opportunity we had there,鈥� he said.
Viator mentioned that he had time to meet several of the student athletes, 六合图库 coaches
and support staff. He indicated that one of his top priorities was to pursue recruiting
鈥渧ery, very fast.鈥�
Viator began his coaching career in 2-5A class high school football, which he said
he was quite proud of. As Wickstrom and others highlighted, Viator鈥檚 relationships
with high school football coaches around the state are seen by many as important from
a recruitment standpoint. According to Dwain Jenkins, head football coach at St. James
High School, 鈥淐oach Viator is one of the good guys in the profession. He never forgot
his roots in Louisiana high school football. He always goes the extra mile to develop
relationships with high school coaches.鈥�
As far as the football coaching staff goes, Viator said he would be putting together
a strong coaching staff that shared the same vision he did.
Commenting on his career, Viator said that he has always strived to do everything
right. 鈥淎ll I鈥檝e ever preached to my coaches and players is, 鈥楲et鈥檚 do it right. Every
day that you get up and you get here, let鈥檚 do it the right way.鈥� And what I found
is that, if that鈥檚 your ambition, you鈥檙e going to win more than you鈥檙e going to lose.鈥�
Viator ended his speech on a positive note.
鈥淭he opportunity to be here is exciting to Schantel and I, and we look forward to
getting to work. Thank you very much. Go Warhawks!鈥澛�
Dr. Bruno indicated that Viator鈥檚 contract negotiations would begin shortly.聽
For a prior press release containing Viator's professional bio, visit聽ulm.edu/news/2015/matt-viator-named-head-football-coach-at-ulm.
