Cajuns Make It Official: Bustle Fired

Louisiana officially announced today that Rickey Bustle has been terminated as Ragin' Cajuns football coach.

At a press conference today, Athletics Director David Walker said the University would pay the $100,000 buyout on Bustle's contract.

Walker said the decision was made based on the won-loss record.  Walker praised Bustle and his staff for doing things "the right way."  Players have done better in the classsroom than at any other time in the program's history.  Walker said that Bustle ran his program with "honesty and integrity."

Walker said it was the toughest decision he has had to make in five years as Athletics Director.

Walker said that the search firm of Carr and Associates was hired four weeks ago to identify potential candidates.  He said that out of thirty or more potential candidates, there are seven or eight at this time that the University wants to explore further.  Walker did not give a timetable for the search, saying only that the University would move as fast as possible to hire the new coach, given the importance of recruiting.

Walker also declined to indentify particular candidates.  He did say that although head coaching experience would be a plus, it was not a requirement.  Nor was coordinator experience, although that would be a plus as well.

Walker said that, thanks to the RCAF, the University was prepared to pay a more than competitive Sun Belt salary.  When asked if that meant doubling Bustles salary of $225,000, Walker said, "somewhere around there."  Walker also stated the salary pool for assistant coaches, currently third in the Sun Belt, could be tweaked as well.

The outgoing athletics director, scheduled to retire on Dec. 31, said Senior Associate Athletics Director Scott Farmer would be named Interim AD upon Walker's retirement and a search committee would then look for a permanent successor.  He said he did not believe the lack of a permanent Athletics Director would be a hindrance in finding a new coach.

Louisiana officially announced today that Rickey Bustle has been terminated as Ragin' Cajuns football coach.

At a press conference today, Athletics Director David Walker said the University would pay the $100,000 buyout on Bustle's contract.

Walker said the decision was made based on the won-loss record.  Walker praised Bustle and his staff for doing things "the right way."  Players have done better in the classsroom than at any other time in the program's history.  Walker said that Bustle ran his program with "honesty and integrity."

Walker said it was the toughest decision he has had to make in five years as Athletics Director.

Walker said that the search firm of Carr and Associates was hired four weeks ago to identify potential candidates.  He said that out of thirty or more potential candidates, there are seven or eight at this time that the University wants to explore further.  Walker did not give a timetable for the search, saying only that the University would move as fast as possible to hire the new coach, given the importance of recruiting.

Walker also declined to indentify particular candidates.  He did say that although head coaching experience would be a plus, it was not a requirement.  Nor was coordinator experience, although that would be a plus as well.

Walker said that, thanks to the RCAF, the University was prepared to pay a more than competitive Sun Belt salary.  When asked if that meant doubling Bustles salary of $225,000, Walker said, "somewhere around there."  Walker also stated the salary pool for assistant coaches, currently third in the Sun Belt, could be tweaked as well.

The outgoing athletics director, scheduled to retire on Dec. 31, said Senior Associate Athletics Director Scott Farmer would be named Interim AD upon Walker's retirement and a search committee would then look for a permanent successor.  He said he did not believe the lack of a permanent Athletics Director would be a hindrance in finding a new coach.