Lou West tabbed to take over ISU Sycamores football program

TERRE HAUTE (12-13-2004) - Indiana State University Director of Athletics, Andrea Myers, announced today (Dec. 13), that Lou West has been named the new head football coach at ISU. West takes the reigns of the Sycamore program with over a quarter century of coaching experience at the Division I level.

"We welcome Coach West to the Indiana State University community," said ISU President Lloyd W. Benjamin III. "Given his background, I feel strongly that he is an excellent choice as head football coach for Indiana State. I enjoyed meeting Lou and look forward to watching him build this team into a winning program."

For the past four years, West has worked as the defensive coordinator at the University of Toledo. While on staff with the Rockets, Toledo posted a 36-14 record, the eighth-best mark in all of Division I over the past four years. West will coach the Rockets' defense in the Motor City Bowl on December 27, when Toledo faces the University of Connecticut. Toledo knocked off Miami (Ohio) 35-27 for the Mid-American Conference championship earlier this month.

"I've always dreamed of having the opportunity to become a head coach," said West. "I am very excited about the opportunity to join an outstanding institution such as Indiana State."

Over the past four years the Rockets have won two MAC championships, and three MAC-West titles. Toledo has earned three bowl game invitations over the past four years. The Rockets have defeated five Top 25 teams and have recorded eleven comeback wins when trailing by double digits with West on the coaching staff.

"I am excited that Coach West has agreed to become the head coach of the Sycamores," said Myers. "Throughout the search process we were looking for a candidate that had been part of successful programs, had ties to the Midwest and wanted to be at Indiana State. In Lou we are hiring a coach with an extremely successful background and a man of great integrity."

During the 2004 season, the Rockets finished fourth in the league in rush defense (113.4) and had two defenders earn All-MAC honors. In 2003, the Rockets finished fifth in scoring defense (23.8) and fifth in rush defense (150.1), while two Rockets garnered All-MAC plaudits. In 2001, the Rockets' defense was second in the MAC in rushing yards allowed (105.6), second in total defense (321.8), and third in scoring defense (25.5). Toledo claimed the MAC and Motor City Bowl Championships in his first season on staff. During the 2002 season, the Rockets produced a pair of All-MAC linebackers in Tom Ward and David Gardner, as they made their second-consecutive bowl appearance.

"Lou West will do a great job at Indiana State," noted Toledo head coach Tom Amstutz. "He has been on a steady track working at a number of successful programs during his coaching career. The young men Coach West has worked with are better people and better football players after having been under his guidance."

Prior to joining the Rockets staff, West worked as the safeties coach at the University of Notre Dame for two seasons (1999-2000). In West's first year, A-Jani Sanders led the team in tackles for loss and was named to the All-Independent squad. Sanders, along with fellow safety Deke Cooper signed free agent contracts with NFL teams. Cooper is in his third full season with the Jacksonville Jaguars. During West's second season (2000) in South Bend, Ind., the Fighting Irish went 9-3 and made an appearance in the Tostitos Fiesta Bowl. Tony Driver, a free safety for the Irish, was drafted in the sixth round of the 2001 NFL Draft by the Buffalo Bills after earning All-Independent squad honors.

From 1995-98, West served as the defensive backs coach at Virginia Tech. In 1998, the Hokies ranked second nationally in interceptions (23), fourth in scoring defense (12.9), seventh in total defense (284.9), and 11th in pass efficiency defense (103.4 rating). Virginia Tech also led the Big East in scoring defense, total defense, rushing defense and passing defense during the 1998 campaign. The Hokies picked off three passes en route to a 38-7 win over Alabama in the Music City Bowl that season.

"I think without a doubt that Lou West will do a great job at Indiana State," said Virginia Tech head coach Frank Beamer. "Lou has a very good football mind and a great way with the players. I wish him the very best of luck."

During his four years at Virginia Tech, the Hokies appeared in four consecutive bowl games and posted a combined win-loss mark of 36-12 (.750). In 1995 (Sugar) and 1996 (Orange) the Hokies participated in New Year's Day Bowl games under the Bowl Alliance. VT ranked in the Top 25 in three of his four years on staff. Under his tutelage, five Hokies garnered First Team All-Big East honors, while one player earned second team accolades. Two players (Torrian Gray and Antonio Banks) were selected in the first four rounds of the 1997 National Football League Draft by the Minnesota Vikings, while Pierson Prioleau was a fourth-round selection of the San Francisco 49ers in 1999.

West spent one season as the secondary coach at Kent State (1994) after six seasons (1988-93) as defensive backs, outside linebackers, and tight ends coach at Cincinnati. He began his career as a graduate assistant with Arizona in 1977 before working as the defensive backs coach at Arizona Western JC from 1979-80. West took over as defensive backs coach at Middle Tennessee State for two seasons (1981-82) before spending the 1993 season with the University of Minnesota. From 1984-85, he worked at Western Michigan University as defensive backs coach.

A product of Niles, Ohio, West graduated from McKinley High School before attending the University of Cincinnati (1973-76), where he played defensive back. West earned three letters and recorded four interceptions and six fumble recoveries during his career. Following his senior campaign, he played in the Blue-Gray Classic and the North-South Shrine Bowl. West earned his bachelor's degree from Cincinnati and his master's degree from Arizona in 1980.

West and his wife Gail, are the parents of three children - Andre, Adrian, and Alexandria.

 
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Revised: December 13, 2004 .