ULM assistant to join Ragin' Cajuns staff

ULM football coach Matt Viator now has two staff openings to fill.

Tim Leger, ULM’s wide receivers coach/recruiting coordinator, is leaving the program for a similar position at in-state rival UL Lafayette. He spent 11 seasons on Viator’s staffs at McNeese State and ULM.

Defensive line coach Manny Michel retired following the 2017 season after two stints with the Warhawks.

Leger told Viator and the receivers that he was leaving ULM on Tuesday night.

“If it wasn’t for coach Viator I wouldn’t be in college coaching,” said Leger, a Lafayette-native and Acadiana High School graduate.

“He gave me an opportunity and took care of me and I can’t thank him enough for that. I was in a good situation at ULM but it’s hard not to come home.”

UL Lafayette announced Leger's hire on Wednesday afternoon.

Leger joins Rob Sale, another member of Viator's inaugural ULM staff, in 'Cajun Country.' New UL Lafayette coach Billy Napier, previously the offensive coordinator at Arizona State, brought Sale with him from Tempe as offensive coordinator and offensive line coach.

Leger’s son, Gunner, the reigning Sun Belt Conference Pitcher of the Year, is a preseason All-American for the Ragin’ Cajuns baseball team.

“Having an opportunity to be at the same school as Gunner is something I always wanted to do but it never worked out that way,” Leger said. “It was hard to pass up a chance to come back to the place I grew up and be with Gunner for his last year.”

Wide receivers Marcus Green and R.J. Turner flourished under Leger’s direction. Green (54 catches, 812 yards, five touchdowns) and Turner (38 catches, 693 yards, six touchdowns) each finished among the Sun Belt’s Top-10 in receiving yards per game this season.

Green was fifth in the Sun Belt in receptions, led the league in kick return and all-purpose yardage and garnered several All-American honors.

ULM’s wide receivers had their most productive season as a position group since 2012.

“I enjoyed coaching those guys more than any single group I’ve ever had,” Leger said. “From Marcus and R.J. to the guys that didn’t get on the field, they were everything I could have asked for.”

Leger began his coaching career at McNeese in 1999 as a student assistant and later graduate assistant before he moved to the high-school ranks at St. Thomas More as offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach. The Cougars won six district championships and made the semifinals four times from 2001-06.

Viator brought Leger back to McNeese as an assistant coach in 2007 and later promoted him to offensive coordinator.

"I want to thank Tim for his hard work and dedication," Viator said. "I've been blessed to work with Tim for the past 12 years. He is both a great coach and a first-class person."

Leger was drafted out of high school by the Pittsburgh Pirates in 1992 and spent three seasons in the organization before beginning his college-football career at McNeese. He played quarterback for the Cowboys from 1995-98 and was an All-Southland Conference pick in 1996.

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