Coaches Profiles
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LOUISIANA FOOTBALL INTRODUCTION SEASON PREVIEW STUDENT-ATHLETES COACHING STAFF head coach RICKEY BUSTLE coaching staff The Bustle File Personal Coaching Duties: Head Coach Year at UL: Seventh Joined UL Staff: 2002 Louisiana head coach With five straight wins to close the 2005 season, Bustle’s Coaching Record: Rickey Bustle has guided 26-44 Overall (19-22 the Cajuns for six seasons and Ragin’ Cajuns won a share of the Sun Belt title and were a Sun Belt) enters his seventh year in Cajun field goal away from a berth in the New Orleans Bowl. Born: August 23, 1953 Country in 2008. Hometown: Coach Bustle won 23 The Cajuns rocked the Indians 54-21, claiming the first Summerville, S.C. games in his first five seasons with the Cajuns from school title since the 1994 Big West crown. 2002-06, including 11 of the last 17 games. UL won Family: wife Lynn, son Bustle was rewarded with a two-year contract only nine games in the five seasons prior to Bustle’s extension following the 2005 campaign, which Brad arrival from 1997-2001. lengthens his contract through 2010. Bustle saw his winning percentage increase Attendance has also been on the rise, as the Cajuns Education each of the first four seasons since taking the job in began 2003 with an attendance of 24,211 vs. Louisiana Clemson, 1976 2002, but regressed to .500 in 2006. His 6-6 record in Tech, one of the twenty best in the history of Cajun 2006 was only deemed a regression because of the Field, and largest crowd in seven seasons. Then, in Playing Experience high standards and raised levels of expectations by 2004, UL saw a crowd of 25,083 for the Sun Belt opener Clemson (receiver, 1973-76) the Cajuns and their fans. In fact, Bustle’s 12 wins from vs. Middle Tennessee and a five-game total of 107,006, 2005-06 were the most in a two-year period since the most since 1996 and the eighth best average 72 Noteworthy 1994-95. (21,401) in Cajun Field history. In 2005, UL played Louisiana went 3-3 at home in 2006, marking the before a homecoming crowd of 21,204 en route to Captured the 2005 Sun Belt Championship with fifth straight season – all under Bustle - that the Cajuns a solid two-season average of 19,496 – the best two a season-ending five-game winning streak had been .500 or better at home. Bustle boasts a 16- year average at Cajun Field since 1992-93. In 2006, First career win came on September 21, 2002 17 (.485) career record at Cajun Field. By comparison, the Cajuns homecoming crowd increased to 22,093, with a 34-0 win over UAB at Cajun Field the Cajuns were 6-19 (.240) at home from 1997-01. marking the third straight season with 20,000+ fans Finished second in the Sun Belt in 2003 In addition to raised expectations, Bustle for homecoming. Last season, Cajun Field witnessed UL won six straight home games between the has brought professionalism and discipline to the its’ third biggest crowd ever, as 33,828 jammed the 2003-04 seasons and went .500 or better at program. Since 2002, the Cajuns 440 penalties are the stadium for the Cajuns vs. McNeese State. home for five consecutive seasons under Bustle fewest in the Sun Belt Conference and UL boasts the During his tenure at UL, 15 of Bustle’s players have fewest penalties per game over that span. The first four-year average attendance at Cajun either been drafted or signed NFL contracts, including The Cajuns went 6-5 (.546) in 2005 to mark UL’s Charles Tillman and Ike Taylor. Both were selected in Field under Bustle was 16,867 - the previous four- first winning record since 1995. the 2003 NFL Draft and both have played in the Super year average was 13,230 Along with a winning season in 2005 came a Bowl. Taylor signed a five-year, $22.5 million contract Since 2002, the Cajuns 440 penalties are the share of the Sun Belt Conference championship. After extension in Sept. 2006 that included a $6.4 million fewest in the Sun Belt Conference and UL boasts starting 1-5 (0-2), Louisiana roared back into the SBC signing bonus. In addition, nine players have been the fewest penalties per game over that span race with a come-from-behind road win at Middle invited to play in post-season all-star bowl games, Tennessee. From there came a homecoming win over with a handful of those players earning multiple Troy in overtime and a second comeback road win, invitations. this time at North Texas. A Senior Day victory over The Summerville, S.C., native, became the 24th head Florida International set-up the season finale at ULM. coach in Louisiana’s Ragin’ Cajuns football history on 2008 LOUISIANA RAGIN’ CAJUNS FOOTBALL OPPONENTS 2007 IN REVIEW HISTORY AND RECORDS THE UNIVERSITY MEDIA INFORMATION head coach RICKEY BUSTLE coaching staff Rickey Bustle Year-by-Year as Head Coach Year School Overall Sun Belt Notes 2002 Louisiana 3-9 2-4 2003 Louisiana 4-8 4-3 Finished Second in Sun Belt 2004 Louisiana 4-7 2-5 Team flagged for just 61 penalties - the lowest since 1990 2005 Louisiana 6-5 5-2 First Sun Belt Football Championship in school history 2006 Louisiana 6-6 3-4 First Back-to-Back six-win seasons since 1994-95 2007 Louisiana 3-9 3-4 Six Seasons 26-44 19-22 as Assistant Coach Year(s) School Position Postseason 1977-78 Clemson Graduate Assistant 1977 Gator Bowl (vs. Pittsburgh); 1978 Gator Bowl (vs. Ohio State) 1979 Gardner-Webb Defensive Coordinator 1980-81 East Carolina Defensive Backs 1982 East Carolina Wide Receivers 1983 Arizona (USFL) Running Backs 1984-85 ULM Running Backs 1986 ULM Quarterbacks/Offensive Coordinator 1987-92 Virginia Tech Quarterbacks/Wide Receivers 1993 Virginia Tech Quarterbacks/Offensive Coordinator 1993 Independence Bowl (vs. Indiana) 1994 South Carolina Quarterbacks/Offensive Coordinator 1994 Carquest Bowl (vs. West Virginia) 1995-00 Virginia Tech Quarterbacks/Offensive Coordinator 1995 Sugar Bowl (vs. Texas); 1996 Orange Bowl (vs. Nebraska); 1997 Gator Bowl (vs. UNC); 1998 Music City Bowl (vs. Alabama); 1999 Sugar Bowl* (vs. Florida State); 2000 Gator Bowl (vs. Clemson); 2001 Gator Bowl (vs. Florida State) * - National Championship Game December 13, 2001. head coach of the Cajuns, Bustle served as offensive game. Bustle earned his first collegiate victory as a head coach coordinator and quarterbacks coach at Va. Tech. With the In Bustle’s first seven seasons as offensive coordinator, on Sept. 21, 2002 with a 34-0 victory over UAB. Louisiana Hokies, Bustle developed some of the finest quarterbacks the Hokies fielded seven of the eight highest-scoring held the Blazers to just eight first downs and only 94 the college football world has seen in recent years. teams in school history. yards passing. The list includes former 49ers quarterback Jim The team posted a 67-17 record and won three Big In 2002, Bustle helped the Cajuns to their first winning Druckenmiller and Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael East Conference championships. VT went to a bowl record at Cajun Field in six seasons with impressive back- Vick. Vick was the first overall selection in the 2001 NFL game every year he served as offensive coordinator, to-back victories over Sun Belt foes Idaho and Arkansas Draft. winning the 1993 Independence Bowl, 1995 Sugar State. In fact, Bustle coached the top three quarterbacks Bowl, 1998 Music City Bowl and 2001 Gator Bowl. In 2003, UL won four of their last five games en route to on Tech’s career list for touchdown passes and guided Bustle spent all but one season at Va. Tech from 1987- a second place finish in the Sun Belt. players who have accounted for eight of the Hokies’ Top 2001, leaving the Hokies in 1994 for a one-year stint More importantly, Bustle’s popularity across Acadiana 10 all-time single-season offensive totals and seven of as the offensive coordinator and QB’s coach at South had a significant impact in the stands. As a result, the Tech’s Top 10 all-time single season passing totals. Carolina. While at SC, Bustle helped the Gamecocks go Cajuns’ season ticket base rose by substantial amounts. The 1999 Hokies averaged a national-best 41.4 points from a 4-7 record in 1993 to a 7-5 record and a Carquest For seven seasons prior to his appointment as per game, as Tech played in the national championship Bowl Championship. From 1987-92, he was the quarterbacks and receivers coach at Tech before moving to offensive coordinator and QB’s coach in ‘93. His ties to Louisiana include a three-year stint at ULM from 1984-86, where he started as the running backs coach for two seasons before becoming the offensive coordinator and QB’s coach. 73 He has also had coaching stints with East Carolina as a wide receivers and secondary coach (1980-82) and the USFL’s Arizona Wranglers as a running backs coach (1983). He broke into the full-time coaching ranks as the defensive coordinator at Gardner-Webb in 1979. Bustle is a 1976 graduate of Clemson, where he received a bachelor’s degree in parks and recreation administration. He was a four-year letterwinner as a wide receiver for the Tigers. As a graduate assistant coach, Bustle earned 27 hours toward a master’s degree in Special Education. Bustle’s wife, Lynn, of Charleston, S.C., received her PhD.