Southeastern extends contract of football coach Ron Roberts
by: Rene Abadie
HAMMOND – Southeastern Louisiana University has extended the contract of its head football coach Ron Roberts, university officials announced Thursday (Nov. 7).
The contract extension is subject to approval by the University of Louisiana Board of Supervisors, said Lions Director of Athletics Jay Artigues. He said the agreement extends Roberts' contract through the next three seasons.
"Getting Ron a contract extension was a high priority for our athletic program," Artigues said. "He is a proven head coach and has demonstrated his skills in the short time he has been at Southeastern. Ron and his entire staff are huge assets to the university and excellent mentors for our student-athletes."
"I sincerely thank the administration at Southeastern for having confidence in me," Roberts said. "I look forward to continuing to build something special for the Lion nation."
Now in his second year as head coach, Roberts has led the Lions to its current 7-2 overall record and 4-0 in Southland Conference play, putting Southeastern in sole possession of the top spot in the conference with three games remaining. The Lions, off to their best start since 1981, are now ranked No. 16 in the Sports Network Top 25 and 17th in the FCS Coaches poll.
In his inaugural season last year, Roberts guided the Lions to an overall 5-6 record (5-2 in conference play), marking the most wins in conference play since 1978 when Southeastern was then a part of the Division II Gulf South Conference. With wins last season over McNeese State, Northwestern State and Nicholls State, the Lions had their first-ever sweep of in-state rivals in a season. In addition, he coached All-American cornerback Robert Alford of Hammond, named to the 2013 Senior Bowl and a second-round draft choice of the Atlanta Falcons.
Named the 16th head coach in school history on December 19, 2011, Roberts brought a proven record of success to Hammond after a five-year tenure at Division II Delta State University in Cleveland, Miss.
"Coach Roberts is clearly delivering on his commitment to move Southeastern football forward in a significant way," said Southeastern President John L. Crain. "It is a pleasure to recommend an extension of his contract to our Board of Supervisors."
Roberts is a 1990 graduate of the University of Tennessee-Martin with a bachelor's degree in sociology. He received a master's in education from the University of Memphis in 1992. He is married to the former Didi Walker of Germantown, Tenn., and they are the parents of three children; Reed, Reilly, and Ryan.
