Sources: Louisiana Monroe closing in on a hire
ULM is close to hiring their next head football coach, sources told FootballScoop on Wednesday morning.
Former Auburn head coach Terry Bowden has been the leading candidate for days and is expected to accept the position if offered.
Bowden, who served as head coach at Auburn from 1993-1998, most recently served as head coach at Akron from 2012-2018. He has also been a head coach at Salem University (a Division II school in West Virginia) North Alabama, and Samford, accumulating a career record of 175-114-2.
Bowden led Salem to two WVIAC championships; Samford to two FCS playoff appearances (including a semifinal trip in 1991); Auburn to two SEC titles and an undefeated season; North Alabama to thee Division II playoff trips; and Akron to two of the three bowl appearances in school history
After being let go at Akron, Bowden told Dabo Swinney he wanted to join his staff. Swinney offered him an unpaid role, which Bowden was happy to accept while pursuing an advanced degree in Athletic Leadership.
If the deal is completed, Bowden would step into a program Matt Viator has run the past five seasons, accumulating only 19 wins.
A former junior college, ULM has been an FBS member since 1994. The program, who routinely competes with one of FBS's smallest budgets, has one Sun Belt co-championship and one bowl appearance while booking 22 losing seasons over that span. The program peaked in 2012 under Todd Berry; the Warhawks beat No. 8 Arkansas, came within a score of Auburn and Baylor and finished 8-5, within a game of the Sun Belt title.
It won't be an easy task; but Bowden believes he's up for job. Bowden loves coaching football.
As always, stay tuned to The Scoop for the latest coaching news.
UPDATE > It's official. ULM has announced the hire.
