Ex-UTEP DC Scott Stoker joins ULM staff
Former Texas-El Paso defensive coordinator and linebackers coach Scott Stoker is joining the staff of Louisiana-Monroe coach Matt Viator, according to sources.
The move is a return to near Stoker’s native Alexandria, La. He held his positions at UTEP the past three years before being dismissed after this season.
Prior to Stoker’s time in El Paso, he was Sam Houston State’s defensive coordinator from 2009–12, helping the Bearkats reach the FCS title game in ’11 and ’12. His unit in ’11 finished third in the FCS in total defense (279.9 yards per game).
A respected defensive mind, Stoker was coach at Northwestern State, his alma mater, from 2002–08, compiling a 43–38 record. During his tenure, the Demons claimed a share of the ’04 Southland Conference championship and made the FCS playoffs twice.
Stoker was an assistant at McNeese State from 1994–2002, including serving as the program’s offensive coordinator in ’99 and defensive coordinator his final two seasons. He was a star quarterback for Northwestern State from ’86–89.
The underrated Viator was hired as Louisiana-Monroe’s coach in mid-December after registering a 77–33 record in 10 seasons at McNeese State, including a 10–1 mark this past season.
He replaced former Warhawks coach Todd Berry, who was fired in November amidst a 1–9 start. Louisiana-Monroe finished with a 2–11 record this past season, including a 1–7 record in the Sun Belt, and had one of the FBS’s worst offenses.
Berry had a 28–43 record in his six seasons with the Warhawks, which included a lone bowl appearance in 2012.
