Blog: Walker, Farmer get it done…again

For the second time in eight months, Louisiana Athletic Director David Walker and Senior Associate Scott Farmer were faced with the task of hiring a coach in a major sport.

And, for the second time, it appears they've done well.  Very well.

Their approach was basically the same both times.  Hire the search firm of Carr and Associates and let them do the leg work.  The firm identified potential candidates given the parameters set up by Walker and Farmer.  It checked out candidates identified by the two as well.  The firm found out who was interested, who wasn't and how much it would cost.  Walker and Farmer received the list and looked over resumes.  They narrowed their search to a finite number of candidates.  They interviewed those that they were most serious about and those that were most serious about becoming a head coach at Louisiana.

And, again, they have  appeared to hit it out of the park.

Head basketball coach Bob Marlin was very well received when he was named men's basketball coach back at the end of March.  And, although the Cajuns have struggled mightily in his first season, any fan with any intelligence understands the process.  The Cajuns lost the Sun Belt Conference Player of the Year in Tyren Johnson.  They lost leading returning scorer Chris Gradnigo who transferred to Coastal Carolina.  Marlin and his staff have instituted a new system, both on and off the court.  Some have adapted better than others.  And, the Cajuns have battled injuries, having had their entire compliment of players for exactly one game this year.

But Cajun fans believe Marlin will get it done and the right hire was made.

Farmer introduced new football coach Mark Hudspeth today.  Farmer spoke of everything that UL was looking for in a head football coach.  He spoke of qualities that the average fan probably didn't think of when voting on the "Who do you want/who don't you want" poll on raginpagin.com.  And then he said that the new coach possessed each and every quality the school was looking for. 

And, for the first time in its football history, Louisiana hired a coach who had been the CEO of a college football program, and a successful one at that.

And, if today's press conference was any indication, the fans generally believe that UL's Dynamic Duo has made another home run hire.

Long suffering Cajun fans, critical of what they perceive to be past administration failures, have a saying when things aren't handled very well.  "We really USL'd that one," they say.  Today, no one was saying that.  In fact, no one has said that in quite a while.

When you look at all the things that have happened in the three years Walker and Farmer have worked together, you see something that makes you stop and take notice.

Commitment.  Attention to detail.  Facilities.  Increase in season ticket sales.

And now, one good personnel move after another.

Thanks to Walker and Farmer, the train is on the track.  The right track.

Now it's up to Marlin and Hudspeth to turn that train into a locomotive.

The smart money says they will.

And Cajun fans will have Walker and Farmer to thank.