Matt Viator (born September 3, 1963) is an American football coach. He served as the head football coach at McNeese State University from 2006 to 2015 and the University of Louisiana at Monroe from 2016 to 2020.[1][2] Viator began his coaching career in 1986 as a high school assistant coach, before leading several high schools in southwestern Louisiana as a head coach. He moved to the college ranks at McNeese State in 1999 and was elevated to head coach four games into the 2006 season after the firing of Tommy Tate.[3]

Matt Viator
Viator at 2018 Sun Belt Media Day
Current position
TitleQuality control assistant
TeamLouisiana
ConferenceSun Belt
Biographical details
Born (1963-09-03) September 3, 1963 (age 61)
Alma materMcNeese State University
Coaching career (HC unless noted)
1986–1988Sam Houston HS (LA) (assistant)
1989–1990Vinton HS (LA)
1991–1994Jennings HS (LA)
1995–1998Sulphur HS (LA)
1999McNeese State (LB)
2000–2006McNeese State (OC)
2006–2015McNeese State
2016–2020Louisiana–Monroe
2021–presentLouisiana (QC)
Head coaching record
Overall97–72 (college)
Tournaments0–5 (NCAA D-I playoffs)
Accomplishments and honors
Championships
4 SLC (2006–2007, 2009, 2015)
Awards
Southland Coach of the Year (2006–2007, 2015)

Coaching career

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High school

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Viator led Jennings High School to a Louisiana Class 3A State Championship in 1992, the school's first, and only, state title since 1939.

Head coaching record

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College

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Year Team Overall Conference Standing Bowl/playoffs
McNeese State Cowboys (Southland Conference) (2006–2015)
2006 McNeese State 6–2 5–1 1st L NCAA Division I First Round
2007 McNeese State 11–1 7–0 1st L NCAA Division I First Round
2008 McNeese State 7–4 4–3 T–3rd
2009 McNeese State 9–3 6–1 T–1st L NCAA Division I First Round
2010 McNeese State 6–5 5–2 2nd
2011 McNeese State 6–5 4–3 4th
2012 McNeese State 7–4 4–3 T–4th
2013 McNeese State 10–3 6–1 2nd L NCAA Division I Second Round
2014 McNeese State 6–5 4–4 T–6th
2015 McNeese State 10–1 9–0 1st L NCAA Division I Second Round
McNeese State: 78–33 54–18
Louisiana–Monroe Warhawks (Sun Belt Conference) (2016–2020)
2016 Louisiana–Monroe 4–8 3–5 7th
2017 Louisiana–Monroe 4–8 4–4 T–5th
2018 Louisiana–Monroe 6–6 4–4 3rd (West)
2019 Louisiana–Monroe 5–7 4–4 3rd (West)
2020 Louisiana–Monroe 0–10 0–7 5th (West)
Louisiana–Monroe: 19–39 15–24
Total: 97–72
      National championship         Conference title         Conference division title or championship game berth

References

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  1. ^ Hunsucker, Adam (December 15, 2015). "Viator "excited" to be ULM's new football coach". The News-Star. Monroe. Archived from the original on January 21, 2021. Retrieved December 16, 2015.
  2. ^ Hunsucker, Adam (December 15, 2015). "Viator ready for challenge of rebuilding ULM". The News-Star. Monroe. Archived from the original on April 7, 2022. Retrieved December 16, 2015.
  3. ^ Stark, Cody (October 5, 2006). "McNeese fires Tate after only 4 games". The Huntsville Item. Huntsville, Texas. Retrieved January 11, 2012.
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