University of Louisiana at Lafayette Athletics
Cajuns Promote Munoz To Offensive Coordinator; Add John Simon To Staff
2/5/2016 7:23:00 AM | Football
Munoz served as pass game coordinator in 2008-10; Simon guided pair of 1,000-yard rushers in 2015
LAFAYETTE – Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns football coach Mark Hudspeth announced on Friday the promotion of current assistant coach Jorge Munoz to offensive coordinator and the addition of Louisiana native John Simon to the staff.
The hiring of Simon, a Baton Rouge native, is subject to approval from the University of Louisiana Board of Supervisors.
Munoz, who will enter his ninth season at Louisiana in 2016, served the past five seasons as the Ragin' Cajuns receivers coach while adding pass game coordinator duties in 2015. He served as passing game coordinator and quarterbacks coach for the Ragin' Cajuns from 2008-10.
During his tenure at Louisiana, Munoz has been responsible for the development of receivers Jamal Robinson, Darryl Surgent, Harry Peoples, Javone Lawson and current receivers Al Riles and Gabe Fuselier.
As passing game coordinator in 2008, Munoz helped orchestrate the Cajuns' "Play Station" attack that shattered school records for total offense (5,390 yards) and touchdowns (54), and helped former quarterback Michael Desormeaux record the second-most yards of total offense in school history and finish as Sun Belt Conference Offensive Player of the Year.
Before his arrival at Louisiana, Munoz spent three seasons at Eastern Illinois, where he helped the Panthers to three appearances in the FCS playoffs and was offensive coordinator in 2007. Munoz also coached at Charleston Southern (2004-05), Anderson College (2001-02) Southeast Missouri (1999-00) and his alma mater, Bethany College (1998).
"I have all the confidence that Jorge will do a great job," Hudspeth said. "During this process of interviewing coaches, it became more clear that we already had the best person for the job on staff. Jorge is very creative, diligent and organized. We share a lot of similar ideas and philosophies."
Simon, who will coach the Ragin' Cajuns wide receivers, spent the past three seasons at Southern Miss where he served as running backs coach under former head coach Todd Monken and helped the Golden Eagles to a nine-win season, the Conference USA West Division title and their first bowl appearance in four years.
During the 2015 season, Simon was responsible in the development of a pair of All-Conference C-USA performers – first-team selection Jalen Richard and second-team pick Ito Smith. The duo combined for 2,226 yards rushing and 24 touchdowns on the ground for the Golden Eagles while combining for 79 receptions and five scores. The duo became the first pair of Golden Eagle running backs to rush for 1,000 yards in a season since 1981.
"John not only is an excellent teacher, he is an excellent recruiter and will be especially effective in the state of Louisiana, most notably in the Baton Rouge and New Orleans area," Hudspeth said. "He was a part of one of the most effective scoring offenses in the country last season at Southern Miss."
In Simon's first year at USM, the duo of running backs Richard and Kendrick Hardy received the bulk of the carries, combining for 741 yards on 178 carries for a combined average of 4.2 yards per carry. In addition to carrying the rock, Simon's 2013 running backs also aided the passing game as Tyre Bracken and Richard combined for 52 receptions on the year.
During the 2014 season, the running back position saw considerable improvement as that grouped totaled 1,149 rushing yards, including 536 yards from true freshman Ito Smith and six rushing scores from George Payne.
Prior to joining the USM football staff, Simon had a successful run as a coach and administrator at Franklin D. Roosevelt High in the Dallas ISD.
Simon, a four-year starter at Louisiana Tech, spent three years in the National Football League - two seasons with the Washington Redskins and one with the Tennessee Titans.
Over his playing career at Louisiana Tech, Simon was a team captain during his senior season, helping the Bulldogs to their first WAC Championship and bowl appearance in 11 years.
On the ground, Simon generated 4,852 all-purpose yards and moved to wide receiver during his senior campaign where he extended his streak of games with a catch to a then-NCAA record 46 games.
The hiring of Simon, a Baton Rouge native, is subject to approval from the University of Louisiana Board of Supervisors.
Munoz, who will enter his ninth season at Louisiana in 2016, served the past five seasons as the Ragin' Cajuns receivers coach while adding pass game coordinator duties in 2015. He served as passing game coordinator and quarterbacks coach for the Ragin' Cajuns from 2008-10.
During his tenure at Louisiana, Munoz has been responsible for the development of receivers Jamal Robinson, Darryl Surgent, Harry Peoples, Javone Lawson and current receivers Al Riles and Gabe Fuselier.
As passing game coordinator in 2008, Munoz helped orchestrate the Cajuns' "Play Station" attack that shattered school records for total offense (5,390 yards) and touchdowns (54), and helped former quarterback Michael Desormeaux record the second-most yards of total offense in school history and finish as Sun Belt Conference Offensive Player of the Year.
Before his arrival at Louisiana, Munoz spent three seasons at Eastern Illinois, where he helped the Panthers to three appearances in the FCS playoffs and was offensive coordinator in 2007. Munoz also coached at Charleston Southern (2004-05), Anderson College (2001-02) Southeast Missouri (1999-00) and his alma mater, Bethany College (1998).
"I have all the confidence that Jorge will do a great job," Hudspeth said. "During this process of interviewing coaches, it became more clear that we already had the best person for the job on staff. Jorge is very creative, diligent and organized. We share a lot of similar ideas and philosophies."
Simon, who will coach the Ragin' Cajuns wide receivers, spent the past three seasons at Southern Miss where he served as running backs coach under former head coach Todd Monken and helped the Golden Eagles to a nine-win season, the Conference USA West Division title and their first bowl appearance in four years.
During the 2015 season, Simon was responsible in the development of a pair of All-Conference C-USA performers – first-team selection Jalen Richard and second-team pick Ito Smith. The duo combined for 2,226 yards rushing and 24 touchdowns on the ground for the Golden Eagles while combining for 79 receptions and five scores. The duo became the first pair of Golden Eagle running backs to rush for 1,000 yards in a season since 1981.
"John not only is an excellent teacher, he is an excellent recruiter and will be especially effective in the state of Louisiana, most notably in the Baton Rouge and New Orleans area," Hudspeth said. "He was a part of one of the most effective scoring offenses in the country last season at Southern Miss."
In Simon's first year at USM, the duo of running backs Richard and Kendrick Hardy received the bulk of the carries, combining for 741 yards on 178 carries for a combined average of 4.2 yards per carry. In addition to carrying the rock, Simon's 2013 running backs also aided the passing game as Tyre Bracken and Richard combined for 52 receptions on the year.
During the 2014 season, the running back position saw considerable improvement as that grouped totaled 1,149 rushing yards, including 536 yards from true freshman Ito Smith and six rushing scores from George Payne.
Prior to joining the USM football staff, Simon had a successful run as a coach and administrator at Franklin D. Roosevelt High in the Dallas ISD.
Simon, a four-year starter at Louisiana Tech, spent three years in the National Football League - two seasons with the Washington Redskins and one with the Tennessee Titans.
Over his playing career at Louisiana Tech, Simon was a team captain during his senior season, helping the Bulldogs to their first WAC Championship and bowl appearance in 11 years.
On the ground, Simon generated 4,852 all-purpose yards and moved to wide receiver during his senior campaign where he extended his streak of games with a catch to a then-NCAA record 46 games.
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