University of Louisiana - Monroe Men's Football

Antony Blackburn was named head coach of the women's soccer program on January 17, 2026.   Blackburn spent three seasons with LSU Soccer from 2023 to 2025. Blackburn, a native of Derby, England, served as an analyst for the team in 2023 before being hired as a full-time coach for the Tigers in the Spring 2024. Blackburn assisted with international and domestic recruitingm session planning and delivery, individual development plans and opposition preparation for the soccer program.   Before him time in Baton Rouge, Blackburn served as head coach of Valencia C.F. U14, one of the most prestigious academies in the world of professional soccer. He led the team to a successful 2023 season both in the league and cup, reaching the final of the Madrid Cup against Atletico Madrid and winning the Crevillent Cup beating Villarreal CF. Along the way, Blackburn's U14 team beat Spanish powerhouses such as FC Barcelona, Sevilla FC, and Levante UD.    While in Spain, Blackburn also served as the Assistant Coach of UD Vall D'Uxo. He played a key role in opposition analysis and game preparation that helped lead the team to the league title for the first time in 28 years.   Upon Blackburn's move to Spain in 2019, he became the head coach of the U19s at the International Development Academy. In only his second season, Blackburn became the Technical Director and led a team of staff including the coaching staff, education staff, medical, S&C and analysis. He also led the U23 age group, oversaw the strategic direction of the academy and managed worldwide recruitment. In 2019, Blackburn was instrumental in the recruitment and development of Jeremy De Leon, who competes for Hercules CF, on loan from Real Madrid CF.    From 2015 to 2019, Blackburn was an Academy Coach at Sunderland AFC, a Category 1 Football Academy in the United Kingdom. Blackburn coached the Academy U9, U10 and U13 boys and U16 girls. Additionally, Blackburn served as the Premier League Coordinator of Physical Education at Sunderland AFC.    Blackburn also played at the collegiate level with the St. Scholastica Saints, in Duluth, Minnesota. As a team captain for the Saints, Blackburn won the UMAC Conference regular season title four times, the conference tournament three times and made three NCAA tournament appearances in four years. Blackburn earned his bachelor's degree in business marketing and management from The College of St. Scholastica in 2014, completing both his master's in professional practice in sport coaching from Northumbria University in 2016 and his master's in sport psychology from Esneca Business School in 2022. He currently holds his UEFA B License with both the English and Spanish Football Associations.   Blackburn's hire is pending the approval of the UL System Board.   THE BLACKBURN FILE   PERSONAL Hometown: Derby, England College: The College of St. Scholastica (2014) PLAYING EXPERIENCE 2010-13: The College of St. Scholastica  COACHING CAREER 2015-19: Sunderland AFC (Academy Head Coach) 2019-22: International Development Academy U19 (Head Coach) 2020-23: International Development Academy Technical Director and U23 Head Coach 2021-22: UD Vall d'Uxo (Assistant Coach) 2022-23: Valencia CF (Head Coach, Academy) 2023: LSU (Analyst) 2024-25: LSU (Assistant Coach)   What They're Saying About Antony Blackburn Sian Hudson, LSU Head Soccer Coach "I am thrilled for Antony to be taking this step in his coaching career and getting the chance to lead his own program. ULM has hired a very talented coach, who prides himself on preparation and executing a game model at the highest level. I have no doubt, that his eye for talent on the recruiting front, the diversity in his coaching journey and his relationships with the players will lead to continued success for the Warhawk program."   Jane Alukonis, USC Head Soccer Coach "Antony brings some of the most impressive experience in college soccer. He has worked within professional club environments in both England and Spain, with a diverse background that includes head and assistant coaching roles, player development, scouting, and performance analysis. Beyond his extensive soccer knowledge, Antony is an outstanding human being who is deeply committed to the growth and well-being of his student-athletes. ULM is gaining not only a highly knowledgeable soccer leader, but someone who will go above and beyond to ensure his players have a positive and meaningful experience."

After serving as both an assistant coach and interim head men's golf coach at ULM, Nathan Weant was named the head men's golf coach of the University of Louisiana Monroe, Director of Athletics John Hartwell announced on May 8, 2024. Weant served as the interim head coach at the 2024 Sun Belt Conference Golf Championships and helped lead the Warhawks to a runner-up finish. Weant was previously an assistant coach for the ULM golf program and has coached for over five seasons at the Division I level. "We are thrilled to welcome Nathan Weant as our new head men's golf coach," remarked Hartwell. "I was fortunate to get to witness Nathan's 'audition' when he served as our interim head coach a couple of weeks ago in the Sun Belt Championships. His knowledge of the game and interaction with our student-athletes was outstanding. His skill set as a recruiter and a strong player development guy will be great assets for our program. The fact that Nathan has been an assistant coach here at ULM, and has strong relationships at Bayou Desiard Country Club and throughout Northeast Louisiana, will serve both him and our program well. The future of ULM men's golf and Warhawk athletics is bright!" Weant previously served as an assistant coach for his alma mater, Texas Tech, for three seasons on the men's golf coaching staff. While at Texas Tech, the Red Raiders advanced to the NCAA Championship and finished at No. 8 in the 2022 national rankings, as Texas Tech advanced to the 2022 NCAA Championship quarterfinal, making the match play at the tournament after finishing eighth through stroke play.  Along with team success, Weant has helped individuals improve their game. Weant mentored Ludvig Aberg, who earned All-American honors and was named the 2022 Ben Hogan Award winner.  Weant helped the Warhawks win two tournament titles and earn the best national ranking in program history during his stint as an assistant coach. The team finished as the 2019 Sun Belt Conference Championship runner-up. In two seasons, ULM won three tournaments and had 17 team and individual school records established. The team earned a top-5 victory over Vanderbilt and he was also part of helping the program build the state-of-the-art ULM Golf House on its campus. Before his time in Monroe as a coach, Weant was the head men's golf coach at Indian Hills Community College in Ottumwa, Iowa and led the program to the 2018 NJCAA Division I National Championship. Weant was named the NJCAA Dave Williams National Coach of the Year, the Delnor Poss National Coach of the Year and NJCAA District 3 Coach of the Year. His team had four All-American selections with three being named Jack Nicklaus Award finalist. Weant was a student-athlete at Texas Tech for three seasons where he played for head coach Greg Sands. He redshirted his first season before playing in eight tournaments over two years. A Hallsville, Texas native, Weant returned to East Texas when he transferred to Stephen F. Austin to play his final two seasons of collegiate golf. He played in 20 tournaments as a Lumberjack, including earning top-10 finishes at the Bob Sitton Invitational as a senior and as a junior at the Texas A&M Reveille Challenge.

Taylor Dupuis begins his second season as the Quarterbacks Coach for ULM football in 2025.  In 2024, Dupuis mentored a trio of quarterbacks that contributed to the Warhawks ranking sixth in the nation in red zone offense with 26 scores in 28 attempts (92.9%). ULM’s quarterbacks threw for 1,617 yards and 11 touchdowns, and redshirt freshman quarterback Aidan Armenta’s 12.42 passing yards per completion ranked fifth out of all quarterbacks in the Sun Belt Conference.  Dupuis joins the ULM coaching staff after spending the past five years on the UAB football coaching staff. Dupuis most recently served as the Blazers' senior offensive analyst and also was a graduate assistant and offensive analyst in Birmingham. During the 2022 season, Dupuis helped UAB set new school offensive records for total yards (5,697), yards per game (438.2), rushing yards (3,063) and rushing yards per game (235.6). The Daphne, Alabama native began his coaching career as a student assistant at South Alabama from 2015-17.

Brady Vincent was added to the ULM football coaching staff in 2024 as the team’s tight ends coach.  The Warhawks had two tight ends (Rylan Green and Julian Nixon) named All-Sun Belt Honorable Mention. Vincent’s tight ends played a significant role in ULM’s rushing attack and helped pave the way for Sun Belt Freshman of the Year Ahmad Hardy, who led the conference in rushing yards and touchdowns.  Vincent, son of ULM head football coach Bryant Vincent, most recently served as the senior offensive analyst at New Mexico during the 2023 season and helped the Lobos achieve national top-20 rankings in red zone offense (14th) and rushing offense (19th). He was an offensive coordinator at Spanish Fort High School (Ala.) in 2022 and Orange Beach High School (Ala.) in 2021. Vincent spent three seasons at UAB both as a student assistant (2018-19) and a graduate assistant (2020). During his time at UAB, the Blazers won a pair of Conference USA Championships, a trio of division titles and won the first bowl game in school history. Vincent began his coaching journey as a student assistant at South Alabama, where he helped the Jaguars appear in their second bowl game in program history. 

Olivia Schmidt joined the women's golf staff as the newest assistant coach on August 7, 2025.   Schmidt arrives in Monroe after competing with Arkansas State from 2018-23. Her first three seasons at Arkansas State coincided with Pollock’s time as assistant coach for the Red Wolves.    While in Jonesboro, Schmidt claimed Sun Belt Player of the Year in 2022, was a 2022 regional qualifier and was named All-Sun Belt three times. She holds seven Arkansas State school records and contributed to eight single season records while with the Red Wolves. The Edmond, Okla., native also picked up four individual wins and registered 46 rounds of par or better.    Since completing her time at Arkansas State, Schmidt competes on the Epson, WAPT, Ladies European Tour and LET Access Experience.   

Isaac Lopez was added to the ULM strength & conditioning staff in January 2025. Lopez arrives in Monroe after completing a stint at Kansas State as the football team's assistant strength and conditioning coach in 2024. He served as Notre Dame's football assistant strength and conditioning in 2023 and was a graduate assistant in 2022 at New Mexico. At New Mexico, Lopez was the head strength coach for the Lobos track and field program. Lopez also worked as a sports performance intern for the Arizona State football program in the summer of 2022.   The Albuquerque native graduated from Adams State in May of 2020 with a bachelor's degree in kinesiology and earned his master's degree in exercise science from New Mexico in December 2023.

Earnest Hill was named the defensive coordinator/safeties coach for the Warhawks in 2024 after spending two seasons as the stars/nickels coach at UAB.  Hill was selected as a nominee for the 2024 Broyles Award, which is given to college football’s top assistant coach. In his first season leading the ULM defense, Hill improved the Warhawks’ average points allowed total by nearly seven points from the 2023 season and Hill’s defense led the Sun Belt Conference in allowing the fewest average passing yards per game (183.9). The Warhawks scored two defensive touchdowns, which ranked third in the conference.   Four of Hill’s players earned All-Sun Belt accolades including Kevontay Wells being named All-SBC Second Team and the trio of Billy Pullen, Carl Glass Jr., and Wydett Williams earning All-SBC Third Team. Junior defensive back David Godsey Jr. joined the group after racking up All-Sun Belt Honorable Mention. Williams Jr. was voted Sun Belt Defensive Player of the Week and became ULM’s first SBC Player of the Week recognition since 2021 after making a game-high 10 tackles and recording an interception. In addition, cornerback Car’lin Vigers signed an undrafted free agent contract with the NFL’s Washington Commanders.  Before his time in Birmingham, Hill served as the running backs coach at South Alabama during the 2021 season. He was the head football coach at McGill-Toolen Catholic High School in Mobile and guided the team to a 40-8 overall record and a state championship game appearance in his first season. Hill also led Greenville (Ala.) High School and accumulated 19 wins, including an 11-1 season in 2011. Additionally, Hill held the role of defensive coordinator at Handley (Ala.) High School (2001-05), Greenville High School (2006), Spanish Fort (Ala.) High School (2007-10) and Walker (Ala.) High School (2014). In his final season at Spanish Fort, his team captured the state 5A championship and he was named the Alabama Football Coaches Association Assistant Coach of the Year.

No stranger to ULM football fans, Troy Reffett begins his second season on Bryant Vincent's coaching staff in 2025 after arriving in Monroe for his second stint with the Warhawks after previously serving on staff from 2009-2014. Reffett will coach the Warhawks’ inside linebackers coach in 2025 after coaching outside linebackers in 2024. Reffett was also named defensive run game coordinator in the summer of 2025. In 2024, Reffett mentored All-Sun Belt Conference Third Team honoree Billy Pullen, who was one of the top edge rushers in the conference. Pullen ranked sixth in the league with 0.5 sacks per game and led ULM with 6.0 sacks while adding 7.5 tackles for loss, 47 total tackles and five quarterback hurries. Reffett was on the defensive staff that led the league in passing yards allowed per game (183.9).  Reffett came to ULM after serving as the Defensive Coordinator & Cornerbacks Coach at the University of New Mexico since 2020 as cornerbacks coach, his second stint with the university after previously serving on staff from 2004-08.  Before New Mexico, Reffett was the defensive coordinator and safeties coach at the University of North Texas. Reffett joined the Mean Green ahead of the 2016 season as the co-defensive coordinator and safeties coach He was promoted to defensive coordinator prior to the 2017 season. In 2019, the Mean Green allowed just 410 yards per game, the second-best mark for the program in the previous five seasons.  His defense also recorded 30.0 sacks and 74.0 tackles for loss.  Three players were named to the All-Conference USA honorable mention squad, and a fourth was named honorable mention by Pro Football Focus. In 2018, Reffett’s defense took a major step forward, holding opponents to 10.8 points per game less than in 2017 (24.2 ppg). The defense played a key role in helping the Mean Green to their second straight nine-win season and third consecutive bowl appearance. UNT intercepted 18 passes, which ranked fifth in all of FBS (18) and forced 22 turnovers (third in Conference USA). The Mean Green also ranked fourth in the league in defensive third-down percentage, holding opponents to just a 35.0 percent success rate. Cornerbacks Nate Brooks (6) and Kemon Hall (5) were each in the top-10 nationally in total interceptions and Hall ranked third in FBS in passes defended (1.7 per game). Linebacker E.J. Ejiya (121 tackles, 25.0 tackles for loss, 9.0 sacks, a fumble recovery, forced fumble and 11 quarterback hurries), Hall (48 tackles, five interceptions, 14 pass break-ups) and defensive end LaDarius Hamilton (33 tackles, 11 tackles for loss, 7.5 sacks and three quarterback hurries) were all named First Team All-Conference USA. Ejiya ranked third in the country in tackles for loss. Brooks (67 tackles, six interceptions, 10 pass break-ups, a fumble recovery, forced fumbles and 4.0 tackles for loss) was a second team selection, while linebacker Brandon Garner (68 tackles, 18.0 tackles for loss, 6.5 sacks, a fumble recovery and nine quarterback hurries) and safety Khairi Muhammad (67 tackles, four interceptions, five pass break-ups, a forced fumble, fumble recovery and 1.5 tackles for loss) were each named honorable mention selections by the conference. In 2017, Reffett’s first as the defensive coordinator, North Texas won nine games and reached the Conference USA Championship Game and the R&L Carriers New Orleans Bowl. Ejiya (team-high 109 tackles, 12.0 tackles for loss and 7.0 sacks) and safety Kishawn McClain (96 tackles, 4.5 tackles for loss, two interceptions, a forced fumble and fumble recovery) were each named All-Conference USA honorable mention selections. Linebacker Joe Ozougwu was also named to the league’s all-freshman team. In his first season in Denton, Reffett helped to oversee a defense that held opponents to 8.7 points per game fewer than the 2015 team. That turnaround in scoring defense was the 13th-best mark in the country. Reffett also coached second-team All-Conference USA safety Kishawn McClain, who led the Mean Green in tackles (91) and intercepted a career-high three passes. He joined the Mean Green coaching staff after spending one season with Memphis as the cornerbacks coach. At Memphis in 2015 the Tigers had 12 interceptions en route to a 9-4 season and a berth in the Birmingham Bowl. Prior to joining the Tigers, Reffett spent six years with ULM. In his final season at ULM, Reffett’s defense ranked among the top-20 nationally in passing yards allowed (189.9 ypg/14th), third-down conversion defense (0.326/11th) quarterback sacks (3.00 pg/13th) and tackles for lost yardage (7.5 pg/10th). Under his watch, ULM ranked in the top four in the Sun Belt Conference in 10 defensive team statistical categories. The Warhawks led the Sun Belt in total defense, allowing 373.3 yards per game. ULM also led the SBC in third down percentage defense, quarterback sacks and tackles for loss. The team’s 26.3 points allowed per game ranked second in the SBC. ULM had two players named to the All-Sun Belt Conference First Team Defense at the conclusion of the 2014 season. In addition to serving as ULM’s defensive coordinator, Reffett coached the Warhawks’ corners since the team’s appearance in the 2012 AdvoCare V100 Independence Bowl. In 73 games in charge of the defense, Reffett’s defense forced 123 turnovers and had at least one in 67 of 73 games. The Warhawks’ attacking defense also recorded 135 quarterback sacks and 364 tackles for loss during Reffett’s tenure. The 2014 squad had 36 quarterback sacks and 90 tackles for lost yardage. ULM’s defense led the Sun Belt and ranked 25th nationally in red zone defense (.767) in 2013. The unit also ranked second in the Sun Belt and 10th in NCAA in fourth down conversion percentage defense (.333). Against Texas State, senior safety Isaiah Newson became just the fourth player in FBS history to return two interceptions for touchdowns of 70 yards or more during the 2013 season. ULM had a player at each level of the defense earn All-Sun Belt Conference honors. Under Reffett’s direction, the 2012 Warhawk defense led the Sun Belt in interceptions (16) and ranked 20th in the NCAA. Meanwhile, ULM finished third in the conference and 39th nationally in rushing defense (142.2 ypg). The squad also finished third in the Sun Belt and 33rd nationally in turnover margin (.540). The Warhawk defense held four opponents, including No. 8 Arkansas, below 100 rushing yards during the season. Three Warhawks earned All-Sun Belt honors after the team’s record setting season in 2012. In 2011, the Warhawk defense finished ranked number one in the Sun Belt in both rushing defense (100.0 ypg) and total defense (326.2 ypg). The 100.0 rushing yards per game was a new Sun Belt record and it marked the third season in a row that ULM led the conference in rush defense. The club finished tied for third in the conference in sacks with 28. In the final NCAA rankings the Warhawk defense finished eighth in rushing defense and 21st in total defense (326.2 ypg). The squad also finished 47th in total sacks (2.08 per game). A total of four defensive players earned All-Sun Belt honors. In Reffett’s first season in charge of the Warhawk defense, the unit was the best in the Sun Belt Conference against the run (110.1 ypg) and the second best in total defense (347.0). The Warhawks were the third-best scoring defense in the league allowing 27.3 points per game –an improvement of nearly four points per game from 2008. The Warhawks finished 20th in the NCAA against the run just one season after ranking 112th – the Reffett-led defense allowed 102.6 fewer yards per game on the ground in 2009 compared to 2008. ULM posted the NCAA’s second best defensive turnaround from 2008 to 2009 as it improved by 97.7 yards of total defense between the two seasons – only Kansas State (139.2 yards) had a better turnaround. Reffett was one of just 34 coaches in the country to be on the final nomination list for the Frank Broyles Award which is presented to the top assistant coach in the NCAA as five of his defensive players earned All-Sun Belt honors. Linebacker Cardia Jackson was named Sun Belt Defensive Player of the Year after breaking the league’s career tackles record. Reffett’s second season saw a trio of all-conference selections and another solid defensive campaign. The Warhawks led the Sun Belt for the second straight year against the run (159.1) and ranked second overall (378.3), taking out a pair of games against BCS Bowl participants (Auburn & Arkansas) the Warhawks allowed just 353.6 yards per game. Reffett spent five seasons at New Mexico beginning in 2004 where he coached the Lobos cornerbacks — he was promoted to defensive coordinator prior to the 2008 season. He mentored DeAndre Wright and Glover Quin and the pair earned first team All-MWC honors in the final two seasons under Reffett’s guidance. Quin was a fourth round selection by the Houston Texans in the 2009 NFL Draft and Wright was a sixth round selection by the New York Giants in the same draft. In addition to Jackson and Morgan, Reffett has worked with David Terrell, who was taken in the seventh round of the 1998 NFL Draft by Washington, as well as Michael Hicks and Crance Clemons, free agent signees by Dallas and Detroit, respectively. In his first season as the Lobos’ defensive coordinator, New Mexico ranked 26th nationally in rush defense and in the top 50 in both total defense and scoring defense. His 2004 cornerback tandem was possibly one the best in school history. Brandon Payne was a second team All-America selection by the Walter Camp Football Foundation after leading the nation in passes defended (23) and tying for the league lead with six interceptions. Payne also set a school record with 17 pass deflections. Reffett coached 14 seasons at UTEP, including 2002 and 2003 as the Miners’ defensive coordinator under head coach Gary Nord. In Reffett’s first year as defensive coordinator (2002), D.J. Walker led the Western Athletic Conference in stops and ranked sixth in the country in solo tackles. UTEP ranked first in the WAC and 21st in the nation in pass defense in 2001 as opponents completed a league-low 49.6 percent of their passes. After graduating from UTEP with a bachelor’s degree in education in 1990, Reffett immediately joined the UTEP coaching staff as a graduate assistant. Reffett came to UTEP in 1985 as a walk-on and two years later, as a junior he helped the Miners to a 10-2 record, including an Independence Bowl berth. His playing career at UTEP was highlighted by academic and athletic superlatives. As a junior and senior he was named a WAC Scholar Athlete and to the WAC All-Academic team, and was recognized as the team’s Defensive Back of the Year. He and his wife, Molly, have a son, Ty Christopher, and a daughter, Camille Kay.   Troy Reffett Profile: Born September 7, 1967 Hometown Cynthiana, Ky. Alma Mater UTEP, 1990 (B.S., Education); UTEP, 1992 (M.A., Education) Playing Experience UTEP, 1985-1989 Family Married to Molly. Children are Camille, Ty   Coaching Experience: 2024 ULM (Outside Linebackers) 2023 New Mexico (Defensive Coordinator/CBs) 2020-22 New Mexico (Cornerbacks) 2017-19 North Texas (Defensive Coordinator/Safeties) 2016 North Texas (Co-Defensive Coordinator/Safeties) 2015 Memphis (Cornerbacks) 2013-14 ULM (Defensive Coordinator/Cornerbacks) 2009-12 ULM (Defensive Coordinator/Linebackers 2008 New Mexico (Defensive Coordinator/Cornerbacks) 2004-07 New Mexico (Cornerbacks) 2002-03 UTEP (Defensive Coordinator/Safeties) 1997-01 UTEP (Recruiting Coordinator/Secondary 1993-96 UTEP (Outside Linebackers) 1992 UTEP (Graduate Assistant/Linebackers) 1991 UTEP (Graduate Assistant/Receivers) 1990 UTEP (Graduate Assistant/Running Backs)   Postseason Coached (corresponding to the season, not the actual year of game): 2018 New Mexico Bowl 2017 R+L Carriers New Orleans Bowl 2016 Zaxby’s Heart of Dallas Bowl 2015 Birmingham Bowl 2012 Independence Bowl 2007 New Mexico Bowl 2006 New Mexico Bowl 2004 Emerald Bowl 2000 Humanitarian Bowl