Louisiana Fires Head Football Coach Mark Hudspeth
Mark Hudspeth has been fired as Louisiana Ragin' Cajun head football coach after 7 seasons.
Louisiana's 2017 season ended Saturday afternoon in a 63-14 loss to Appalachian State, leaving the Cajuns at 5-7, ensuring a third straight losing season.
Hudpseth was hired as the 26th coach in program history in December of 2010, leading Louisiana to a 9-4 record and thrilling R&L Carrier's New Orleans Bowl victory in his first season. It was the program's first Bowl berth since 1970.
The Ragin' Cajuns would go on to win the next 3 R&L Carrier New Orleans Bowls, posting 9-4 seasons in each of Hudspeth's first four seasons, and won a share of the Sun Belt Conference Championship in 2013.
In 2015, it was revealed the NCAA was investigating the Louisiana football program for violations by former assistant coach David Saunders. Saunders was guilty of providing payments for recruits living and education expenses, as well as exam fraud, and failure to comply with an NCAA investigation, all committed by former assistant David Saunders.
While the NCAA did not find Coach Hudspeth culpable for the NCAA infractions, the University vacated 23 wins between 2011-2014, including two of the four R&L Carrier New Orleans Bowl championships.
In 2015, Louisiana finished 4-8.
In 2016, Louisiana ended the regular season 6-6, but lost to Southern Miss in the R&L Carrier's New Orleans Bowl.
Hudspeth's record at UL was 51-38, but with vacated victories, technically finished 28-38.
Hudspeth is owed a $1.5 million buyout.