Rickey Bustle Retained for 2010
Posted: Dec 1, 2009 4:30 PM
Updated: Dec 1, 2009 4:42 PM
The University of Louisiana at Lafayette announced on Tuesday that head football coach Rickey Bustle will return in 2010 to lead the Ragin’ Cajuns.
“Coach Bustle and I have met to discuss this past season, as well as the future of our football program, and these discussions will continue.” Athletics Director David Walker stated.
“We will not know the final outcome of any bowl possibilities until next week, but both President Savoie and I felt it was important to make a timely decision so that our coaches could focus on recruiting.”
The Cajuns won 16 games in the five-year period from 1995-99, won 15 games in the following five-year period from 2000-04 and now boast 27 wins over the last five years from 2005-09. UL and Troy are the only two Sun Belt schools to win at least six games in four of the last five seasons. In addition, the Cajuns 27 victories from 2005-09 are second only to LSU as the most wins by a FBS school in the State of Louisiana.
“Having been bowl eligible four of the last five seasons, the bar has been raised,” Coach Bustle said. “It shows the stability and foundation of the program is moving the right direction.”
The discipline on the field and in the classroom is evident by the pure statistics.
On the field, the Cajuns have committed the fewest penalties in the league over the entire tenure of Coach Bustle and in the classroom, the football team’s APR, both single-year and four-year average has risen to its highest point since the NCAA started tracking academic performances in 2003.
“We were picked sixth in the Sun Belt preseason and knew this past season would be a rebuilding year after losing such a great group of talented seniors,” Bustle added. “BeatingKansasState raised expectations for a young football team that was much better than preseason expectations and made everyone forget that we were rebuilding. It shows the character of the student-athletes we recruit.”
CAJUNFAN at Dec 1st 2009 8:08 PM
FUZZY MATH HERE......STILL A LOSING PERCENTAGE
ChrisB at Dec 2nd 2009 9:37 AM
They like where the program is headed, but won't extend his contract. That is great for recruiting!
Olecajunfan87 at Dec 5th 2009 10:15 AM
Coach B is a great guy but 6-n-6 vs. mostly sub-par talented teams isnt good enough. It was imperative that we beat ULM (and we did !) but overall, they still outshined us in the SBC. Our D-fense allowed too many yards after the catch during too many games. We needed to make adjustments and didnt. Its past time to pay some bigger $$ (in the 400,000 range) and finally (hopefully) get the 'big named' coach that ULL has long deserved. This will in turn help recruiting which will = a much needed improved D. I wish Coach B all the best in 2010. Go ULL.