NSU names new football coaches

Nicholls State football coach Charlie Stubbs opened up his National Signing Day press conference Feb. 1 by applauding the work of his coaching staff.

This past week, Stubbs gave a couple members of that group a promotion.

The Colonels’ athletics department officially announced their 2012 football coaches for the upcoming season.

Those promoted are Chuck Hepola, who will now be the team’s associate head coach and Jeremy Atwell, who will transition from defensive coordinator to assistant head coach – moves Stubbs believe are vital to enhancing the team’s success.

“I believe that these two titles will help these coaches as they progress in their careers,” Stubbs said of the upgrades.

Hepola will be entering his third year in Thibodaux, and he is receiving his second major promotion in the past 12 months.

Originally a running backs coach and recruiting coordinator, the assistant coach became the Colonels’ assistant head coach prior to last season.

But when Nicholls’ prior associate head coach and offensive line coach Keith Uperesa left the team to join the coaching staff at the University of Hawaii, Stubbs again upped Hepola, officially making him his right-hand man.

As an assistant in Thibodaux, Hepola has coached an All-Southland Conference halfback for two-straight seasons.

“Coach Hepola’s promotion to associate head coach is well deserved,” Stubbs said. “It’s a position that I truly value because he’ll be in charge if I ever have to be away for any kind of circumstance. We share the same philosophy, so I know that he is perfect for the job.”

With Hepola the new associate head coach, Stubbs needed to find a new assistant head coach.

To do so, he again looked in-house and promoted Atwell, who was previously the team’s defensive coordinator.

In three seasons with the team, the Colonels’ top defensive mind has coached four All-Southland players, including first-team cornerback Bobby Felder.

Stubbs believes his assistant is more than ready to accept greater responsibility.

“Coach Atwell has worked very hard and the promotion was warranted,” Stubbs said.

To fill Uperesa’s position as offensive line coach, Stubbs announced he has hired Mario Jeberaeel.

A native of Las Vegas, Jeberaeel played at UNLV, before graduating and serving as a graduate assistant in Thibodaux for each of the past two seasons.

Jeberaeel said he is eager to fulfill his new role with the Colonels.

“I’m very grateful for this opportunity to work with Coach Stubbs and this staff in a larger capacity,” he said. “Coach Stubs has showed a great deal of trust in me and I look forward to working hard every day to make this program a success.”

In addition to the promotions, the Colonels will also welcome three new faces to the staff in 2012.

Former UL-Monroe graduate assistants Matt Clark and Tyler Donaldson will join the staff. Clark will serve as the team’s tight ends coach, replacing former coach Adam Gardner, who left the team to pursue other endeavors.

Donaldson will join the squad as defensive line coach, replacing Dustin Gisclair, who accepted a position at Missouri Southern.

“I was very excited when I got the call from Coach Stubbs,” Clark said. “I liked the staff here and when he offered me the job, I jumped on it. I had the opportunity to meet my tight ends [and] we definitely have some eager players, which I’m excited about. I can’t wait to get started.”

“I’m very excited to work under Coach Stubbs,” Donaldson added. “I think we have a great group of players. I’m just ready for spring ball to start, so we can get to work.”

Rounding out the team’s staff will be former Colonels player Mike Walker, who will join the coaching ranks as a defensive graduate assistant.

A three-year letterman at linebacker for the Colonels, Walker is currently pursuing his MBA.

“We’re very excited to have Mike stay in the program,” Stubbs said. “His work ethic and dedication will help us out tremendously.”

The team’s new staff will get its first look at the team’s 2012 squad in less than a month, as the team opens spring practice on March 21.

 

Colonels football inks two more recruits

In addition to new coaches, Stubbs announced that the team has signed two more players to its 2012 recruiting class, receiving National Letters of Intent from St. John offensive lineman Chris Bordelon and Southern Lab linebacker Jarrot Thomas.

A 6-foot, 5-inch offensive lineman, Bordelon was a Second-Team All-State selection as a senior, while also being a two-time All-District selection as a center.

Thomas was a four-year starter at linebacker for Southern Lab, recording 96 tackles and nine sacks with three interceptions as a senior.

He also was a two-time All-State selection for the Kittens and an honor roll student.