Woodard fired after seven seasons at Lamar

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After winning the fewest games since relaunching its football program six years ago, Lamar has begun a national search to replace head coach Ray Woodard, who was fired Monday.

The dismissal of Woodard, the Southland Conference's longest-tenured head coach, was the culmination of a tumultuous few weeks, which included a five-game losing streak to end the season.

"I don't agree with the decision, but I respect it," said Woodard, who had one winning season out of seven.

"I thought we progressed well as a program until the last two years," he said. "We should have been competing for a Southland title and we had opportunities but we didn't do it."

Woodard, 34-46 at Lamar, said he suspected during the season that he would be fired at its conclusion.

Athletic Director Jason Henderson said contract extension talks between the school and Woodard, whose contract was scheduled to run through Nov. 2017, never took place.

Henderson said a decision on Woodard's future wasn't made until after Saturday's 41-10 season-ending loss to McNeese.

Lamar University head football coach Ray Woodard addresses the media to announce that he will not be returning as coach of the Cardinals. Woodard was hired in 2008 and helped resurrect the university's football program, with the Cardinals making their return to the field in 2010 after a 21-year absence. Athletic Director Jason Henderson says they will begin searching immediately for the best head coach to help lead the team forward. Woodard, who noted the strong ties his family has built within the Golden Triangle, says he will be carefully considering his future and which direction that may take. Woodard met first with the team after learning of his termination before issuing a public statement. Photo taken Monday, November 21, 2016 Kim Brent/The Enterprise less Lamar University head football coach Ray Woodard addresses the media to announce that he will not be returning as coach of the Cardinals. Woodard was hired in 2008 and helped resurrect the university's football ... more Photo: Kim Brent Photo: Kim Brent Image 1 of / 30 Caption Close Woodard fired after seven seasons at Lamar 1 / 30 Back to Gallery

Woodard, 55, will receive $100,000.

"It's never easy to make a decision like this," Henderson said. "But we felt like we needed to take the program in a different direction."

Lamar's 2016 season was filled with injuries, including all-conference running back Kade Harrington and starting quarterback Carson Earp.

Lamar finished with the Southland's worst offense and managed just three offensive touchdowns in its final three games.

Harrington tweeted his support of Woodard after the coach was dismissed.

"Thank you Coach Woodard for allowing me to live out my dream and play college football when no one else did," Harrington tweeted. "Love you coach!"

Other factors, like decreased attendance, probably factored into Henderson's decision.

Lamar's final home game drew 5,566 - the lowest single-game total since the program's return in 2010 - and the season average of 7,429 was the lowest of those seven years.

Frank Messina, a Lamar season ticket holder since 1967, said injuries and losses were too much to overcome.

"Coach Woodard said at the preseason banquet we'd win the conference championship," Messina said. "I believed him, and a lot of others did too.

"Injuries made a huge difference this season, in my opinion, but at the end of the day it's about wins and losses."

Henderson didn't set a timetable for hiring a new coach, saying instead he was more focused on finding the correct fit for the program.

Lamar has had only eight head football coaches since the school became a four-year institution.

"We want to make sure we make the right choice for Lamar University," Henderson said. "We want someone who will be good on the field, takes pride in academics and can lead this program."

DShapiro@BeaumontEnterprise.com Twitter.com/DannyShapiro13