ULM Head Coach
CHARLIE WEATHERBIE
Charlie Weatherbie begins his sixth season at the
helm of the ULM football program after leading the
Warhawks to one of their most memorable seasons in
the program’s history.
The 2007 season marked the first year that ULM was
bowl eligible since it made the jump to Division I-A in
1994. The Warhawks won five of their last six games
on the season including one of the biggest upsets in
all of college football, knocking off Alabama 21-14 in
Tuscaloosa, Ala.
Weatherbie guided 10 players to Sun Belt AllConference honors this past season and oversaw
ULM running back Calvin Dawson’s climb to greatness
as he set the ULM career rushing record. Dawson and
the rest of the Warhawk offense posted the highest per
game scoring average in the ULM Division I-A era.
Under his direction, the Warhawks football program
has made significant strides in a short amount of time
improving from winning one game in 2003 to winning
the 2005 Sun Belt Conference Championship in just
three seasons.
Weatherbie, ULM’s 13th head coach, took over the
program a little less than three months before kicking
off the 2003 season.
The 2006 Warhawks finished the season by winning
three of their last four games, including a win over
Louisiana-Lafayette for the fourth time in five years,
and coming close to upsetting bowl-bound Kentucky.
Quarterback Kinsmon Lancaster and Dawson created
a high-powered offense for ULM with a league-leading
350.7 yards per game. It was the first time a Warhawk
had rushed for over 1,000 yards in the Weatherbie
era. Dawson and safety Kevin Payne joined the
growing list of all-Sun Belt first team members during
Weatherbie’s tenure.
The 2005 squad made its mark by winning ULM’s first
conference title since 1992. The Warhawks finished
the season with a 5-2 Sun Belt record and had 10
players receive all-Sun Belt honors, including Sun
Belt Player of the Year Steven Jyles. Jyles re-wrote
the ULM passing and total offense records book and
has gone on to play for the Edmonton Eskimos and
Saskatchewan Rough Riders in the Canadian Football
League.
The 2004 squad won five of their last seven games,
including four wins in Sun Belt play. ULM’s 4-3 Sun
Belt record put Weatherbie’s squad in a tie for third
place. The season also saw ULM beat intrastate rival
Louisiana-Lafayette for the third season in a row.
In 2003, his first season at the helm, ULM lost seven
games by seven points or less and highlighted the
season with a win over Louisiana-Lafayette.
ulmathletics.com
75
Charlie Weatherbie
Weatherbie continues to be excited about the challenge of winning
Sun Belt Conference championships at ULM and representing the
league in a bowl game.
The Weatherbie File
Birthdate: January 17, 1955
Hometown: Sedan, Kan.
High School: Fort Scott High School, 1973
College: Oklahoma State University, 1977 B.S. – Health, Physical Education and Recreation
Playing Experience: Oklahoma State (3-year starter at QB, 1974-76);
Hamilton Tiger Cats and Ottawa Rough Riders (1979-80)
Coaching Experience: Oklahoma State Graduate Assistant (1977);
Wyoming Assistant Coach (Quarterbacks/Receivers - 1981-83); Air Force
Assistant Coach (Quarterbacks/Fullbacks - 1984-89); Arkansas Assistant
Coach (Quarterbacks - 1990/Offensive Coordinator - 1991); Utah State
Head Coach (1992-94); Navy Head Coach (1995-2001); ULM Head
Coach (2003-present)
Head Coaching Record
1992
Utah State
1993
Utah State
1994
Utah State
1995
Navy
1996
Navy
1997
Navy
1998
Navy
1999
Navy
2000
Navy
2001
Navy
2003
ULM
2004
ULM
2005
ULM
2006
ULM
2007
ULM
Total
15 seasons
When asked at his first ULM press conference on May 7, 2003
whether he was an “offensive-minded” or “defensive-minded”
coach, Weatherbie responded, “I’m a win-minded coach”.
The enthusiasm that Weatherbie brings to a community is
continually shown at each of his stops. Since Weatherbie arrived
on the ULM campus, attendance at Warhawk games has seen a
significant increase of over 10,000 fans per game.
Weatherbie has twice proven that he can take over sub .500
football programs and transform them into winning teams. At Utah
State University, he inherited a program that had not had a winning
season in 12 years and took the Aggies to their first Big West
Conference championship in 15 years, their first bowl game in 32
years and their first bowl victory ever, after beating Ball State 42-33
in the 1993 Las Vegas Bowl. He was 13-10 in his first two seasons,
1992-93, leaving after the third season to take the same position
at the United States Naval Academy. The Aggies’ 1993 win over
Brigham Young still stands as Utah State’s only win in the last 18
meetings with their in-state rival.
At Navy, Weatherbie had similar success. He took the Midshipmen,
who had suffered through 12 consecutive losing seasons prior
to his arrival, to a 9-3 record and the championship of the 1996
Aloha Bowl in his second season. The nine wins were the most by
a Navy team in 18 years. At the time, he was just the third coach in
academy history to win a bowl game.
In 1997, Weatherbie led Navy to a 7-4 mark, the first time since the
1981-82 seasons that the Midshipmen had compiled back-to-back
winning seasons. The 16 wins over two years tied for the third most
76
5-6
7-5
Las Vegas Bowl
3-8
5-6
9-3
Aloha Bowl
7-4
3-8
5-7
1-10
0-7
1-11
5-6
5-6
Sun Belt Champion
4-8
6-6
66-101 (.395)
Career Highlights
1974: Quarterbacked OSU to Fiesta Bowl win over BYU.
1976: Quarterbacked OSU to Big 8 co-championship, victory over twotime defending national champion Oklahoma, and Tangerine Bowl victory
over BYU.
1981: Wyoming - QB led the nation with fewest interceptions.
1984: Air Force - Independence Bowl Champions.
1985: Air Force - finished season 12-1, ranked No. 5 in the nation; Bluebonnet Bowl Champions.
1987: Air Force led the nation in rushing; Freedom Bowl.
1988: Air Force ranked No. 2 in nation in rushing.
1989: Air Force ranked No. 2 in nation in rushing; Liberty Bowl.
1991: Arkansas - Independence Bowl.
1993: Utah State - Las Vegas Bowl Champions, first bowl win in USU history; Attendance increased from 9,000 in 1991 to 19,964 in 1993.
1996: Navy - Aloha Bowl Champions.
1997: Navy - ECAC Coach of the Year; Defensive Coordinator for BlueGray Game.
1999: Navy - led nation in rushing.
2004: ULM - Chris Harris drafted by the Chicago Bears, makes interception in Super Bowl XLI.
2005: ULM - Sun Belt Conference Champions; Steven Jyles named
Player of the Year; Jyles and Brandon Guillory sign on with the Edmonton
Eskimos.
2006: ULM - Calvin Dawson rushes for 1,210 yards to lead Sun Belt
Conference.
2007: ULM - First bowl eligible season since ULM moved to I-A.
2008 ULM Warhawk Football
Charlie Weatherbie
in academy history. He was named ECAC Coach of the Year and
was the head defensive coach at the Kelly Tire Blue/Gray Classic.
Weatherbie’s first team at Annapolis went 5-6 in 1995, after Navy
had won just nine games the previous four seasons combined.
Weatherbie entered the coaching ranks in 1977 as a graduate
assistant at his alma mater, Oklahoma State.
After three years playing professionally, Weatherbie was hired
as an assistant coach at Wyoming. Serving as the quarterbacks
coach, Wyoming led the nation in fewest interceptions in 1981.
He left Wyoming after the 1983 season to be an assistant coach
at the United States Air Force Academy. During his six seasons on
legendary head coach Fisher DeBerry’s staff, Air Force was an overall 48-25-1 and participated in four bowl games. The Falcons had
five winning seasons during his tenure, finishing 8-4 and winning
the Independence Bowl in 1984. The next season the Falcons went
12-1, finished the year ranked No. 5 nationally, and were Bluebonnet Bowl champions.
The native of Sedan, Kan., continued his playing career at
Oklahoma State, where he was a three-year starter and a team
captain from 1974-76. He earned a bachelor’s degree in health,
physical education and recreation from OSU in 1977. He was a
member of the Dean’s Honor Roll.
Weatherbie signed with the Houston Oilers in 1978 and the San
Diego Chargers in 1979 before spending his final two playing
seasons in the Canadian Football League. He played for the Hamilton Tiger Cats and Ottawa Rough Riders in 1979 and 1980.
Weatherbie, 53, is married to the former Leann Jonas of Stillwater,
Okla. They have two sons, Lance and Jonas, a granddaughter,
Hannah, and a grandson, Jonas, Jr.
The University of Arkansas would be the next stop on Weatherbie’s
coaching journey. He spent two seasons on the Razorback staff
before being named the head coach at Utah State in 1992.
During Weatherbie’s years as a head coach, he has had numerous
current NCAA Bowl Subdivision head coaches and NFL coaches
work under his tutelage, including Gary Patterson (TCU), Brent
Guy (Utah State), Paul Johnson (Naval Academy), and Jim Zorn
(Seattle Seahawks).
Weatherbie graduated from Fort Scott High School in Kansas in
1973. He was a quarterback during his scholastic playing days,
earning all-state and honorable mention All-America honors in
football. He also participated in basketball and track, serving as
team captain in all three sports.
Weatherbie celebrates with fans following
ULM’s 21-14 victory over Alabama
Weatherbie vs. All Opponents
Air Force ...................................1-6
Akron ........................................0-1
Alabama ...................................1-1
Alabama A&M .........................0-0
Alcorn State ..............................1-0
Arizona .....................................0-1
Arkansas .................................0-3
Arkansas State........................2-3
Army .........................................3-3
Auburn .....................................0-2
Ball State ..................................1-0
Baylor .......................................0-2
Boston College .........................1-4
BYU ..........................................1-2
California ..................................1-0
Cal State Fullerton ....................1-0
Clemson ...................................0-1
Colgate .....................................2-0
Colorado State..........................0-1
Delaware ..................................2-0
Duke .........................................2-1
Eastern Washington .................0-1
Florida Atlantic .......................3-1
Florida International ...............3-1
Fresno State .............................0-1
Georgia .....................................0-1
Georgia Tech ............................1-3
Grambling State........................1-0
Hawaii .......................................0-1
Idaho.........................................1-1
Kansas......................................0-1
Kansas State ............................1-0
Kent ..........................................3-0
Kentucky ...................................0-1
Louisiana-Lafayette ................5-2
ulmathletics.com
Louisiana Tech..........................2-0
LSU...........................................0-2
Middle Tennessee ...................1-3
Nevada .....................................0-3
New Mexico State.....................3-1
North Texas .............................2-3
Northwestern State ...................0-2
Notre Dame ..............................0-6
Ohio ..........................................1-0
Ole Miss ...................................0-1
Pacific .......................................2-1
Rice ..........................................0-2
Rutgers .....................................3-4
San Diego State .......................0-1
San Jose State .........................0-1
SMU..........................................3-1
Stephen F. Austin......................0-1
Temple ......................................1-2
TCU ..........................................0-1
Texas A&M................................0-1
Toledo .......................................0-2
Troy ..........................................1-3
Tulane ......................................3-2
Tulsa .........................................0-1
UNLV ........................................2-1
Utah ..........................................0-3
Utah State.................................1-1
Villanova ...................................1-0
VMI ...........................................1-0
Virginia Tech .............................0-1
Wake Forest .............................1-3
West Virginia ............................1-1
Wyoming...................................0-2
2008 opponents in bold.
77
Coaching Staff
BOB
LEAHY
ASSOCIATE HEAD COACH /
RUNNING BACKS
6TH SEASON AT ULM
Bob Leahy is in his sixth season with the ULM coaching staff,
continuing in his role as associate head coach. Leahy will coach the
Warhawk running backs for the second straight year after coaching
quarterbacks and receivers over the previous four seasons.
In his first season in charge of the running backs, Calvin
Dawson became ULM’s all-time leading rusher and rushing touchdown leader. Leahy groomed redshirt-freshman Frank Goodin into
a premier back as he rushed for 596 yards and four touchdowns
earning honorable mention all-Sun Belt honors.
As the receivers coach at ULM, Leahy tutored all-Sun Belt
honorees Charles Estes, Mack Vincent, and Drouzon Quillen.
Leahy is the first coach Charlie Weatherbie hired after he
became the head coach at ULM. The Weatherbie-Leahy connection
goes back four decades to days of youth in Kansas.
Weatherbie and Leahy have known each other since Leahy’s
college days as an All-America quarterback at Emporia State
University. Their acquaintance was renewed when Leahy coached
at Weatherbie’s alma mater, Oklahoma State University.
Throughout his career, Leahy has coached with the likes
of Jimmy Johnson, Johnny Majors, and Jackie Sherrill. He has
coached or played with such outstanding players as Tony Dorsett,
Jim Kelly, Andre Reed, Bobby Hebert, Terry Bradshaw, and Anthony Carter. He has coached for three professional league teams
and at several major college football programs.
After a successful All-America career at Emporia State, Leahy
played in the National Football League for two years with the
Pittsburgh Steelers (1970-71), playing behind Terry Bradshaw.
Leahy began his coaching career in 1973 at the University of
Pittsburgh. The Panthers were returning to national prominence
under Majors, resulting in a national title three years later. He
served as freshmen and wide receivers coach before leaving in
1976 for Washington State.
Leahy was the
offensive coordinator
for the Cougars under
Sherrill, then returned
to Pitt as the offensive
coordinator in 1977
with Sherrill. The
Panthers finished the
season ranked No. 7
in the nation.
In 1978, Leahy went to the University of California where he
coached quarterbacks and receivers. The following year, he went
to Oklahoma State as offensive coordinator under Johnson.
Leahy moved into the professional football ranks in 1983 when
he was named quarterbacks and receivers coach for the Michigan
Panthers of the new USFL. He helped guide the Panthers to the
first USFL championship that year with an offense that featured
Hebert at quarterback and Carter at receiver.
In 1984, Leahy jumped to the NFL ranks, first serving as
receivers coach with the Minnesota Vikings. He took the same job
with the Buffalo Bills in 1985 before being promoted to offensive
coordinator, tutoring the great aerial combination of Kelly to Reed.
Leahy returned to the college ranks in 1988 as the offensive
coordinator at East Tennessee State and moved the following
season to Liberty University where he directed the offense for 11
seasons. His next stop was at East Carolina in 2000 to coach wide
receivers for three seasons before joining Weatherbie in Monroe.
Originally from Lindenhurst, N.Y., Leahy is married to the
former Susan Heitschmidt of McPherson, Kan. They are the
parents of three children, Jack, Joe and Kristi. The couple also has
six grandchildren – Madison, Carson, Allison, Colson, Wilson, and
Tyson. Susan teaches at Swartz Upper Elementary School.
Leahy Year-by-Year
1973-75
1976
1977
1978
1979-82
1983-84
1984
1985-87
1988
1989-99
2000-02
2003-05
2006
2007-pr.
78
Pittsburgh (wide receivers)
Washington State (offensive coordinator)
Pittsburgh (offensive coordinator)
California (assistant coach)
Oklahoma State (offensive coordinator)
Michigan - USFL (wide receivers)
Minnesota Vikings (wide receivers)
Buffalo Bills (offensive coordinator)
East Tennessee State (offensive coordinator)
Liberty (offensive coordinator)
East Carolina (wide receivers)
ULM (wide receivers)
ULM (offensive coordinator / quarterbacks)
ULM (running backs)
2008 ULM Warhawk Football
Coaching Staff
STEVE
FARMER
OFFENSIVE COORDINATOR /
OFFENSIVE LINE
5TH SEASON AT ULM
Steve Farmer is in his fifth season at ULM and begins his
second year overseeing the Warhawk offense. He was promoted
to offensive coordinator this past offseason after sharing the duties
in 2007.
Farmer, who joined the ULM staff in 2004 as the offensive line
coach, will continue to coach the Warhawk linemen in addition to
his offensive coordinator duties.
In his first season at the helm of the offense, the Warhawks
posted their highest points per game average since moving to
Division I-A in 1994. ULM also posted the sixth-highest yards per
game average in school history, averaging 385.7 yards per contest.
The Warhawks ranked 16th in the NCAA in rushing and 31st in
fewest sacks allowed.
Farmer led one of the best offensive lines in the history of
the ULM football program last season. Outgoing seniors Kyle
Cunningham, Adam Hill and Patrick Avinger along with current
seniors Aaron Schutz and Larry Shappley paved the way for twotime Sun Belt rushing champion and ULM all-time rushing leader
Calvin Dawson.
The group combined to start 187 games throughout their
careers, while Cunningham and Hill started all 90 games of their
ULM careers. Cunningham was a two-time all-Sun Belt selection
and Hill was a second-team all-Sun Belt selection in 2007.
In 2006, the offensive line made room for Dawson and gave
ULM quarterback Kinsmon Lancaster room to maneuver for over
1,700 yards in the air. The line ranked fifth nationally and first in the
Sun Belt Conference with only 13 sacks allowed on the year.
The 2005 offensive line allowed quarterback Steven Jyles the
opportunity to earn Sun Belt Player of the Year honors and led the
Warhawks to a Sun Belt Championship. ULM only gave up eight
sacks on the season, third nationally, and only one in Sun Belt
action.
In, 2004, his first season with the Warhawks, ULM added 41
yards per game to its offense and only allowed seven sacks, the
lowest total in the Sun
Belt and second fewest
in the nation.
Farmer came to ULM from Eastern Michigan where the
offensive line made the blocks enabling tailback Anthony Sherrell to
run for 1,531 yards, setting an EMU single-season rushing record.
Prior to EMU, Farmer was the offensive line coach at Eastern
Illinois, where in two years his lines allowed a total of only 17
quarterback sacks and helped EIU average over 35 points per
game. He tutored eight all-Ohio Valley Conference linemen in
those two seasons. EIU won the 2000 and 2001 OVC titles and
advanced to the NCAA I-AA playoffs both seasons.
Farmer’s coaching career began at his alma mater, Illinois
State. He coached the ISU defensive tackles in 1999 and tight
ends in 2000. In 1999, ISU reached the I-AA semifinals.
He began his collegiate playing career at one of the most
successful junior college programs in the country, Northeastern
Oklahoma A&M.
Farmer went on to play at Illinois State where he was a first
team all-Gateway Conference selection in 1998.
Farmer and his wife, Amy, have a daughter, Rebekah (5), and
a son, Luke (3). Amy is the director of the preschool at McGuire
United Methodist Church in West Monroe.
Farmer Year-by-Year
1999
2000
2001-02
2003
2004-05
2006
2007
2008
ulmathletics.com
Illinois State (defensive tackles)
Illinois State (tight ends)
Eastern Illinois (offensive line)
Eastern Michigan (offensive line)
ULM (offensive line)
ULM (offensive line / run game coordinator)
ULM (co-offensive coordinator / offensive line)
ULM (offensive coordinator / offensive line)
79
Coaching Staff
PHIL
ELMASSIAN
CO-DEFENSIVE COORDINATOR /
BANDITS
1ST SEASON AT ULM
Phil Elmassian begins his first season as the co-defensive
coordinator at ULM after four seasons at Nebraska as the secondary
coach.
The veteran coach has been a part of championships in four
conferences and has served as the defensive coordinator at four
Division I schools: LSU, Virginia Tech, Boston College and West
Virginia.
In his career, he has coached 17 players who received allconference honors and two All-Americans. Elmassian has coached
in a bowl game in 17 of the last 23 seasons and coached 16 players
with NFL experience.
Elmassian came to Nebraska from Purdue where he was
the defensive backs coach in 2003. Purdue ranked second in the
Big Ten and 19th in the nation in pass efficiency defense in his
only season on the sideline for the Boilermakers and ranked 13th
nationally in total defense (302.5 ypg).
Prior to Purdue, he
coached for one season
at Marshall (2002) after
his seasons as the
defensive coordinator for
the Mountaineers (2001)
and Tigers (2000).
Before taking over
the defense at LSU, he
served as defensive
backs coach at Wisconsin
(1997-99). Elmassian was
also a secondary coach
at Washington (1995),
Syracuse (1991-92), Virginia Tech (1985-86),
Minnesota (1984) and
East Carolina (1983).
He
began
his
coaching
career
at
William & Mary (197475) before moving on
to Richmond (1976-78).
Elmassian coached the
quarterbacks and running
backs at both schools, before switching to defense
at
Ferrum
College
where he was defensive
coordinator from 197982. He also coached
the inside linebackers at
Virginia from 1987-90.
80
His five league titles have come at schools in four conferences
and include Marshall’s MAC Championship in 2002; Washington’s
Pac-10 Championship in 1995; and Virginia’s ACC Championship
in 1989. He also helped lead Wisconsin to the Rose Bowl and Big
Ten Championship in 1998 and 1999, as his defense led the nation
in scoring defense in 1998 and ranked fifth in 1999.
Elmassian played at Ferrum (Va.) College as a quarterback,
then transferred to William & Mary (Va.) where he played defensive
back under Lou Holtz. He earned a bachelor’s degree in physical
education from William & Mary in 1974. He and his wife, Mary, have
three children, Claire, Dylan and Olivia.
elmassian Year-by-Year
1974-75
1976-78
1979-82
1983
1984
1985-86
1987-90
1991-92
1993-94
1995
1996
1997-99
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004-07
2008
William & Mary (quarterbacks / running backs)
Richmond (quarterbacks / running backs)
Ferrum College (defensive coordinator)
East Carolina (secondary)
Minnesota (secondary)
Virginia Tech (secondary)
Virginia (linebackers)
Syracuse (secondary)
Virginia Tech (defensive coordinator)
Washington (secondary)
Boston College (defensive coordinator)
Wisconsin (defensive backs)
LSU (defensive coordinator)
West Virginia (defensive coordinator)
Marshall (outside linebackers / kickers)
Purdue (defensive backs)
Nebraska (secondary)
ULM (co-defensive coordinator / bandits)
2008 ULM Warhawk Football
Coaching Staff
MANNY
MICHEL
CO-DEFENSIVE COORDINATOR /
DEFENSIVE LINE
10TH SEASON AT ULM
The longest tenured coach on the ULM staff, Manny Michel
begins his 10th season with the Warhawks.
Michel, who has spent the past nine seasons as the defensive
line coach, was promoted to co-defensive coordinator this past offseason. He will continue to work with the ULM defensive line in
addition to his new duties.
During his career at ULM, Michel has tutored all-Sun Belt
Conference performers Donald Malveaux (2001), John Thompson
(2002), Brandon Guillory (2004 and 2005), David Cooper (2007)
and Aaron Morgan (2007). Under Michel’s direction, Guillory
became ULM’s all-time leader in career tackles for loss and has
gone on to make a name for himself quickly as a member of the
Edmonton Eskimos.
In 2007, Michel guided the Warhawks to the best rush defense
in the Sun Belt Conference and the third best scoring and overall
defense in the league.
Prior to coming to ULM, Michel had spent most of his coaching
career near his roots in the New Orleans area. The native of
Metairie, La., graduated from John Curtis High School in 1979 after
playing on the school’s first two state championship teams in 1975
and 1977.
He is a 1984 graduate of Tennessee Tech where he was a
four-year starter for the Golden Eagles and later was a graduate
assistant coach.
Michel began his full-time coaching career at Cumberland
County High School in Tennessee in 1985. A year later, he
returned to Louisiana and to John Curtis, becoming an assistant
coach. He remained until
1994 helping coach four
state championship teams
and two state runner-ups.
He moved into the
collegiate coaching ranks
in 1995 when he became
the defensive line coach at
Nicholls State in Thibodaux,
La. After one season, he
was promoted to defensive
coordinator, while also
serving as linebackers coach for the Colonels in 1998.
In 1999, Michel moved up to the I-A ranks when he came to
ULM. His defensive lines have been characterized by quickness
and aggressiveness.
Michel and his wife, Marge, have one daughter, Hannah (14).
Marge is the Manager of the Student Health Clinic at ULM.
Michel Year-by-Year
1984
1985
1986-94
1995
1996-97
1998
1999-2007
2008
ulmathletics.com
Tennessee Tech (graduate assistant)
Cumberland County HS (Tenn.) (defensive line)
John Curtis HS (La.) (defensive line)
Nicholls State (defensive line)
Nicholls State (defensive coordinator / defensive line)
Nicholls State (defensive coordinator / linebackers)
ULM (defensive line)
ULM (co-defensive coordinator / defensive line)
81
Coaching Staff
MARK
TOMMERDAHL
ASSISTANT HEAD COACH /
TIGHT ENDS & SPECIAL TEAMS
1ST SEASON AT ULM
Mark Tommerdahl begins his first season as the assistant head
coach at ULM after five seasons at Texas A&M.
Tommerdahl will work with the Warhawk tight ends and serve
as the special teams coordinator.
He went to Texas A&M with former Aggie head coach Dennis
Franchione after stops at Alabama (2001-02) and TCU (1998-00).
The 23-year coaching veteran has spent the last 13 seasons
working directly with the tight ends and special teams at Texas
A&M, Alabama, TCU, New Mexico and Minnesota.
Tommerdahl began his career at Wyoming where he acted in
a number of positions. After graduating with a degree in business
administration and physical education from Concordia College in
1983, Tommerdahl was a graduate assistant for the Cowboys for
two seasons.
He spent the next nine seasons working with Wyoming’s tight
ends and backfield. He served as the offensive coordinator for the
1990 season leading the Cowboys to the Copper Bowl.
He joined Minnesota for two seasons (1995-96) coaching the
tight ends and special teams before taking a similar position at New
Mexico for one season (1997).
Tommerdahl has coached in 11 different bowl games including
the 2006, 1990 and 1987 Holiday Bowls and the 2005 Cotton
Bowl.
The Grafton, N.D., native is married to the former Annette
Jondahl.
Tommerdahl Year-by-Year
1984-85
1986
1987-89
1990
1991-94
1995-96
1997
1998-2000
2001-02
2003-07
2008
82
Wyoming (graduate assistant)
Wyoming (recruiting coordinator)
Wyoming (tight ends / recruiting coordinator)
Wyoming (offensive coordinator / tight ends)
Wyoming (offensive backfield)
Minnesota (tight ends / special teams /
recruiting coordinator)
New Mexico (tight ends / special teams)
TCU (tight ends / special teams)
Alabama (tight ends / special teams)
Texas A&M (tight ends / special teams)
ULM (assistant head coach / special teams /
tight ends)
2008 ULM Warhawk Football
Coaching Staff
DEMETRIUS
ADAMS
ASSISTANT COACH / LINEBACKERS /
COORDINATOR OF PLAYER DEVELOPMENT
1ST SEASON AT ULM
Demetrius Adams begins his first season as the linebackers
coach and coordinator of player development for the ULM Warhawks
after two seasons at North Carolina A&T in Greensboro, N.C.
When North Carolina A&T head coach Lee Fobbs needed a
defensive coordinator to take over two games into the season, he
turned to Adams on a interim basis. Fobbs was so impressed with
how Adams handled himself in a situation where he led a defense
made up mostly of freshmen and sophomores that he decided
to name Adams the permanent defensive coordinator during the
off-season.
In his first season with the Aggies, Adams coached defensive
linemen. In addition to his defensive coordinator duties in the 2007
season, he coached the linebackers.
Adams, a four-year member of Southern Mississippi’s Dean’s
List, has accumulated a wealth of coaching experience in a short
time. Adams spent four years at Ouachita Baptist University in
Arkansas before arriving at North Carolina A&T.
In 2005, he served as Ouachita Baptist’s defensive coordinator.
He was also responsible for coaching the defensive line. His duties
also included recruiting the Louisiana, Mississippi and Arkansas
areas.
Adams started his coaching career in 1997 when he accepted
a position as the defensive line coach at Jacksonville State.
After spending one season at Jacksonville State, Adams
coached at Pearl River Community College where he performed a
variety of dutie. He first served as the linebackers coach and a few
months later, was named co-defensive coordinator and secondary
coach.
In 2001, Adams became the defensive coordinator and
continued his duties as recruiting coordinator. He worked at
Pearl River until 2002 when he accepted the position at Ouachita
Baptist.
He is married to the former Alexis Hall. The couple has two
boys, Jaylen (11) and Jordyn (8).
Adams Year-by-Year
1997
1998-00
2001-02
2002-04
2005
2006
2007
2008
ulmathletics.com
Jacksonville State (defensive line)
Pearl River CC (co-defensive coordinator / secondary)
Pearl River CC (defensive coordinator / secondary)
Ouachita Baptist (defensive line)
Ouachita Baptist (defensive coordinator / defensive line)
North Carolina A&T (defensive coord./ defensive line)
North Carolina A&T (defensive coord./ linebackers)
ULM ( linebackers)
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Coaching Staff
DARRELL
PERKINS
ASSISTANT COACH / DEFENSIVE BACKS /
COORDINATOR OF PLAYER COMMUNITY RELATIONS
1ST SEASON AT ULM
Darrell Perkins begins his first season at ULM coaching the
Warhawks secondary and serving as the coordinator of player
community relations.
Perkins joins ULM after one season as the defensive coordinator
at Charleston Southern, a Division I-AA school competing in the Big
South Conference. Under his guidance, the Buccaneers allowed
just 202.3 yards through the air last year.
Last year was his second stint at Charleston Southern after
serving for one season as the special teams and linebackers coach
at Northern Colorado.
His first tenure with the Buccaneers had him coaching the
secondary and special teams from 2004-05. Charleston Southern
finished second in the nation in pass defense allowing just 131
yards per game in 2004 and he coached first team all-conference
selection Tavares Shorter.
He began his coaching career as a graduate assistant at
Purdue from 2000-02, where he helped lead the Boilermakers to
their first Rose Bowl appearance in 33 years.
After his time in West Lafayette, Ind., Perkins coached for
two seasons as the secondary and special teams coach at Ferris
State University. Under his guidance, the Bulldogs led the Great
Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference in pass defense in 2002
allowing just 196.1 yards per game and he coached pair of first
team all-conference players.
As a player, Perkins was a two-year starter at running back at
Wyoming leading the Cowboys to back-to-back WAC championships
in 1987 and 1988 going a perfect 16-0.
During his playing and coaching career, Perkins has participated
in three bowl games and won three conference championships.
Perkins is married to the former Elena Zbitskaya and the
couple has one son, Jordan (17).
Perkins Year-by-Year
2000-02
2004-05
2006
2007
2008
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Purdue (graduate assistant)
Charleston Southern (special teams / secondary)
Northern Colorado (special teams / linebackers)
Charleston Southern (defensive coordinator)
ULM (defensive backs)
2008 ULM Warhawk Football
Coaching Staff
JONAS
WEATHERBIE
ASSISTANT COACH / QUARTERBACKS /
PASSING GAME COORDINATOR
2ND SEASON AT ULM
Jonas Weatherbie begins his second season at ULM working with the
Warhawk quarterbacks and first as the passing game coordinator. In addition to
his football coaching duties, Weatherbie is ULM’s director of campus ministry for
the Fellowship of Christian Athletes.
In his first season, quarterback Kinsmon Lancaster completed nearly 60
percent of his pass attempts -- second best in the Sun Belt -- and was the thirdhighest rated passer in the league. Under Weatherbie’s guidance, Lancaster
improved his TD-INT ratio, passing efficiency, completion percentage and total
offense output.
Prior to joining the ULM staff, Weatherbie spent the 2006 season on the
LSU staff, working with wide receivers and returners, while overseeing offensive
quality control. His work helped the Tigers finish ranked No. 3 in the nation, with
an 11-2 record and a Sugar Bowl win over Notre Dame.
In the summer of 2006, Weatherbie worked as an intern for the Cleveland
Browns during training camp. His time in Cleveland reunited him with his college
quarterback coach, and current Browns assistant head coach/quarterback
coach, Rip Scherer.
While in Baton Rouge, Weatherbie attended Southern University Law
Center and earned his Juris Doctor degree in May 2007. He also holds a
master’s degree in business administration from ULM and a bachelor’s degree
in education from the University of Kansas.
Weatherbie was a quarterback at Kansas from 1998-2002, earning the
starting job as a senior. He also worked as an administrative assistant to the
athletics director in the spring of 2003.
Weatherbie has had the opportunity to play and work under numerous
outstanding coaches in his young career, including Les Miles, Todd Monken, Rip
Scherer, Jimbo Fisher, and Mark Mangino.
Weatherbie and his wife, Brittany, were married in May 2006 -- the couple
have a newborn son, Jonas, Jr. He is the youngest son of ULM head coach
Charlie Weatherbie, and his wife, Leann.
ulmathletics.com
Weatherbie Year-by-Year
2006
2007-08
LSU (wide receivers / kick returners)
ULM (quarterbacks)
85
Coaching Staff
LUKE
WELLS
ASSISTANT COACH / WIDE RECEIVERS
RECRUITING COORDINATOR
6TH SEASON AT ULM
Luke Wells begins his sixth season on the ULM staff and fifth
as a full-time coach. In addition to his responsibilities coaching
the wide receiving corps, Wells is the Warhawks recruiting
coordinator.
Last season Wells led a group of receivers that caught 16
touchdown passes. Junior wide out Darrell McNeal received Sun
Belt Player of the Week honors after catching two touchdowns and
rushing for another against Florida International.
McNeal finished the season ranked seventh in the Sun Belt
in receptions per game, while McNeal and teammate LaGregory
Sapp finished in the top 10 in receiving yards per game.
Wells took over the wide receivers in 2007 and mentored
all-Sun Belt second team selection Sapp. Sapp led the league in
yards per reception with 18.5 on 43 receptions for 796 yards.
In 2004 and 2005, Wells worked with the tight ends and allSun Belt first teamer Joey Trappey. Trappey was the top receiving
tight end in the league in 2005 with 42 receptions for 425 yards.
Wells, a former University of Oklahoma quarterback, spent the
2003 season as a ULM graduate assistant before being promoted
to assistant coach.
Prior to ULM, Wells coached wide receivers at Denton
High School in Texas, helping his team win the 2002 bi-district
championship.
Before that, Wells was a student assistant coach at Oklahoma
from 1999-2001. His responsibilities included assisting with
quarterbacks and wide receivers, coaching and coordinating scout
team defense and special teams, and assisting with recruiting. His
work helped the Sooners win the 2000 Big 12 Conference title and
national title. The Sooners also won the 2001 Cotton Bowl and
participated in the 1999 Independence Bowl.
Wells worked under several outstanding coaches during his
time at OU – Bob Stoops, Mike Leach, Mark Mangino and Chuck
Long.
Wells played quarterback at OU from 1997-99. He earned his
bachelor’s degree from OU in secondary education and has done
graduate work at ULM.
Wells is married to the former Coby Groves. They have a
son, Walker, who was born in February 2007. Coby is a free-lance
marketing consultant.
Wells Year-by-Year
1999-01
2002
2003
2004-05
2006-08
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Oklahoma (student coach -quarterbacks, wide receivers)
Denton High School (Texas) (wide receivers)
ULM (graduate assistant)
ULM (tight ends)
ULM (wide receivers)
2008 ULM Warhawk Football
Support Staff
Phil Shaw
Assistant AD / Head
Athletic Trainer
Phil Shaw is in his fifth year as the
head athletic trainer at ULM. He was
promoted to Assistant Athletics Director
for Operations in October 2006.
Shaw, who received his master’s
degree from ULM in 1995, returned to
oversee the Warhawks’ sports medicine
department in January 2004. In addition
to his athletic training responsibilities, Shaw coordinates the usage,
maintenance and improvements of all ULM athletics facilities.
Prior to his return to ULM, Shaw spent two seasons as the
head athletic trainer at Coffee High School in Douglas, Ga. Before
moving to CHS, Shaw served on the staff at Coffee Regional Sports
Medicine Center as a certified athletic trainer in its high school outreach program. He served in a similar capacity at West Monroe’s
Glenwood SportsCare from 1996-2000.
After completion of his master’s degree, Shaw was a staff
athletic trainer at The Rehabilitation Center in Monroe and was the
head athletic trainer for the Bayou Bandits football team in Monroe.
He served as the athletic trainer for the Athletes In Action tour
in Brazil in 2003 and has served as the head athletic trainer for
several high school all-star football games in Georgia (2001) and
Louisiana (1999).
He is certified by the National Athletic Trainers Association and
earned his bachelor’s degree from the University of West Alabama
in 1993. He and his wife, Cindy, have two children, Caycee (10)
and Zachary (6).
Martin joined the ULM staff after a successful undergraduate
career at Texas A&M University. He was a walk-on wide receiver
and member of the 12th man kickoff team from 2003-05. The
Aggies played in the 2005 Cotton Bowl. In the spring of 2006,
Martin served an internship in the A&M compliance department.
He was also a staff member of a local Nike camp. In his spare time
as a student-athlete, Martin worked as an accounting assistant
for Durst, Milberger, Nesbitt, & Ask LLP, preparing tax returns for
clients.
Martin was involved in several volunteer activities while an
Aggie, including Aggie Athletes Involved, Big Event, and HOSTS
(Help One Student To Succeed).
The native of Giddings, Texas, earned his bachelor’s degree
in sport management in 2006. He is married to the former Melissa
Johnson.
Matt BraunschEidel
Video Coordinator
Peter Martin
Director of
Football Operations
Peter Martin begins his first season
as the director of football operations
after two years as a graduate assistant
for the Warhawks.
He spent the 2007 season working
with the offensive coaches, after
working with the defensive coaches in
2006. Martin received master’s degree
in instructional technology from ULM in
August 2008.
Matt Braunscheidel begins his
second year as the video coordinator
for ULM and third overall with the
department.
Braunscheidel’s
(brawn-shy-dul)
primary responsibilities include filming
and editing all football and basketball
practices and games and other sports,
management of a staff of graduate and
undergraduate students.
He was promoted to his current position after serving as a
graduate assistant in the video department in 2006.
Before coming to ULM, Braunscheidel spent a year working for
SBU-TV Channel 9 in St. Bonaventure, N.Y. While at SBU-TV, he
spent time in front of the camera as a news and sports anchor and
reporter as well as behind the scenes as a producer, editor and as
the news director.
In 2005, Braunscheidel worked as an intern with the Allegany
County Nitros, a member of the New York Collegiate Baseball
League in a public relations capacity.
Braunscheidel received his bachelor’s degree in journalism and
mass communication in 2006 from St. Bonaventure University.
ulmathletics.com
87
Support Staff
Kim Sword
Head Strength &
Conditioning coach
Kim Sword is in his fifth season
directing the ULM Warhawk strength
and conditioning program.
Sword came to ULM from the NHL’s
San Jose Sharks, where he served as
an assistant strength coach. Before
taking the NHL position, Sword was the
strength coach at UCLA for 18 months
and the strength and conditioning coach
at San Jose State for three years. He also spent six years as a
member of the strength and conditioning staff at Utah State during
ULM head coach Charlie Weatherbie’s tenure with the Aggies.
During his time at San Jose, Sword was instrumental in the
planning, development and construction of a new 10,000-square
foot, $3 million athletic training center. He used that experience
to oversee a $20,000 renovation to the ULM weight room upon his
arrival.
Sword is a licensed strength and conditioning specialist by the
National Strength and Conditioning Association and certified by the
Collegiate Strength and Conditioning Coaches Association.
The native of Detroit, Mich., was an all-American offensive lineman for Missouri Western State College. He earned his bachelor’s
degree in physical education from MWSC in 1993, and went on to
earn his master’s degree in kinesiology from Utah State in 1995.
Sword and his wife, Jennifer, have a son, Braden (2). Jennifer
is the ULM cheer coach.
Kappeler came to ULM from the University of South Dakota
where he was a student assistant coach and played his senior
season in 2004. At USD, Kappeler played free safety and on special
teams for the 19th-ranked Coyotes. He earned his bachelor’s
degree in history with a minor in English in 2006.
The Denver, Colo., native played his first three season of
collegiate ball at Colorado State University from 2001-03 where he
was a strong safety and cornerback. During that time, the Rams
won the Mountain West Conference title in 2002 and received three
bowl invitations – 2001 New Orleans Bowl, 2002 Liberty Bowl, and
2003 San Francisco Bowl.
A member of Athletes in Action from 2001-03, Kappeler is
a 2001 graduate of Regis Jesuit High School where he was an
honorable mention all-state quarterback in 2000.
Brett Miksch
Offensive GA
Brett Miksch begins his first
season as a graduate assistant for
the Warhawks and will work with the
offensive staff.
Miksch joins the ULM staff from the
University of Texas where he earned
his bachleor’s degree in kinesiology in
2007.
While at Texas, Miksch was part of
four bowl victories, including the 2005
BCS National Championship at the Rose Bowl. The Longhorns
won another Rose Bowl as well as an Alamo Bowl and Holiday
Bowl while he was in Austin.
Miksch was involved in several school mentoring activities
while a Longhorn and did his student teaching for the Round Rock
Independent School District.
His hobbies include sporting events, boating, and golf.
The native of Sweeny, Texas, is the son of Randy and Marian
Miksch and is working on his masters degree in educational
administration at ULM.
Dr. Kathy Parker
Coordinator of
Academic Counseling
JD Kappeler
Defensive GA
J.D. Kappeler begins his second
season on the ULM staff as a graduate assistant working with the Warhawk
defense.
He joined the ULM staff after
interning in the strength and conditioning
department at ULM in 2006. He is
working on his master’s degree in
instructional technology.
88
Dr. Kathy Parker, a graduate of
ULM, begins her third year working
with the Warhawk student-athletes.
She spent the past 26 years working in
a variety of roles with different service
organizations. Following the completion
of her master’s degree from North
Texas and her doctoral degree from
Tennessee, Parker moved into the area
of athletic academic services.
She served as the Associate Athletics Counselor at Wyoming
from 1993-98, then moved on the Athletics Academic Programs
Coordinator position at New Mexico State from 1998-2000. Most
recently she served at North Carolina as the associate director of
the academic support program for Student Athletes from 2000-02.
In 2002, she returned to Louisiana, spending two years at
Southeastern Louisiana as the director of student enhancement
services and moving to Monroe in 2005 to work with the State of
Louisiana Office of Community Services.
2008 ULM Warhawk Football
Support Staff
Doug Mosley
Linda Tarver
Sharon Traxler
Assoc. Athletics Director
Administrative Assistant
Events & Ticket Manager
Adam Prendergast
Rhiannon Neff
Nancy Derrick
Director of Media Relations
Assistant Athletic Trainer
Assistant Strength Coach
Chief Larry Ellerman
Officer Micah Harper
Officer Dan Chason
ULM Police
ULM Police
ULM Police
Lieutenant Jessie Wells
Sr. Trooper Bobby Brinkerhoff
Louisiana State Police
Louisiana State Police
ulmathletics.com
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