McNeese Officially Announces Matt Viator as New Head Football Coach

On Wednesday inside a packed Endzone club which was filled with boosters, fans, former players, alum, and many others McNeese Athletic Director Heath Schroyer officially announced the return of Head Coach Matt Viator.

In the search for a new man to lead the Cowboys, Heath Schroyer made it a point that he wanted someone who understood the rich history and pride to be at McNeese.

There were many viable options for the AD, but all of the signs kept pointing back to one person. That one person just happened to be the Winningiest Head Coach in McNeese History.

Re-Enter McNeese Legend, Matt Viator.

Matt Viator was officially announced as the 19th Head Football Coach at McNeese on Wednesday in front of hundreds of spectators. Viator makes his triumphant return to McNeese after spending three seasons assisting the staff at Louisiana-Lafayette, and before then, as the head coach at ULM. But now, Viator is back where he belongs in Lake Charles.

During Viator's time at McNeese, the Cowboys had three seasons with 10 or more wins and never had a losing record. He led the team to undefeated regular seasons twice, in 2007 and 2015. McNeese also beat three FBS teams during his time, including a huge 53-21 win against South Florida. That victory is still the largest margin of victory by an FCS team over a BCS opponent.

Viator's overall record was 78-33 (.703), tying Bobby Keasler for the most wins in school history. He was named Southland Conference Coach of the Year three times (2006, 2007, 2015), Louisiana Coach of the Year twice (2006, 2015), and a finalist for National Coach of the Year three times (2006, 2007, 2015).

Throughout the day, Viator reiterated the phrase "I felt like it was the right time" when asked about his return back to McNeese. But why? "I feel great, I love McNeese and I see the vision that Coach (Heath Schroyer) has been able to lay out. This is a much different place than it was, but it is still McNeese," said Viator.

The first task at hand for Viator will be trying to retain guys that have already entered into the Transfer Portal, which of course wasn't around whenever Viator was the Head Coach in the past. "We want those guys, they are Cowboys. They are all McNeese Football Players. Being able to retain the guys in the portal is huge."

Viator had met with the team on Tuesday and he did mention that the portal guys were all in the team meeting and that he has met with each and every one of them in hopes of getting them back.

In the grand scheme of things, it was a win on all accounts for Athletic Director Heath Schroyer and the entire McNeese Athletics Department. If you wanted to win over the fans, you've certainly got them. Each and every one of them. Now it begins the long offseason for the new 61-year-old head man of the McNeese Cowboys.

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