The Rebowe Show: Colonels make Rebowe head coach

Tim Rebowe rose from his chair and walked toward the podium with a quiet confidence on Friday morning.

As he reached his destination, he steadied himself, cleared his throat and started to speak, gently unfolding a white sheet of paper glistened with hand-written notes and bullet points. He opened by thanking his family and friends for all of the support along the way. He also thanked Nicholls Interim Coach Steve Axman for being a consummate professional along the way.

“I know I get kind of emotional,” Rebowe said, rubbing his hands through his neatly kept bright white hair as he thanked his wife Kim and his children Samantha and Tyler.

Once the pleasantries were over, Rebowe got to the part he’d be looking forward to most. He finally got to say the words he’s been waiting for decades to say – dating back to when he was a small boy watching Nicholls State University football games with his father.

He spoke loud – his words echoed throughout the Harold J. Callais Recreation Center. His Cajun accent served as a refreshing change and a fitting touch to the Colonels’ alumni present.

“I can finally say it out loud,” Rebowe said, fighting back a giant grin that began to overtake his face. “I am the head football coach at Nicholls State University.”

The Colonels officially introduced Rebowe, a UL-Lafayette assistant coach, as their 10th-ever head football coach on Friday morning before a crowd of about 200 Colonels supporters and athletes gathered at the school’s recreation building.

Rebowe received a four-year deal worth around $130,000 annually.

Rebowe said he knows the program isn’t where it needs to be currently, but added that he’s willing to “fight like crazy” in the coming months to ensure that things get turned around in short order.

The Colonels finished 0-12 in 2014, the latest loss a 62-3 smashing at the hands of Southeastern Louisiana University on Thursday night.

Rebowe said he pays no mind to the past, but is focused only on the future – one he thinks will be filled with victories and success.

For the time being, the coach will be pulling double duty, as he said he will finish the season coaching UL-Lafayette – his home for the past 10-plus years.

The Cajuns have one regular season game to play and then a fourth-straight bowl bid. From there, the focus will shift solely on the future and turning Nicholls around.

“We can build this program,” Rebowe said. “I know where this program has been, and we can come in and take this thing to another level. We’ve got to work to earn respect – not only of the people in this area, but also of the people all throughout Louisiana and across football in the Southland Conference.

“I know, and I’ll say this today: The Colonels will be a force in the future.”

Nicholls President Dr. Bruce Murphy agrees. He said that once Charlie Stubbs resigned in the middle of the season, he invited several friends of the Colonels program into his office to seek input on the qualities the Colonels’ future coach should possess.

Murphy said that the school pondered several names, but that one guy was a constant in all conversations – Tim Rebowe.

“During a community huddle held last month, Colonel fans expressed to me the importance of hiring a coach who would be active in the community, aggressively recruit local and regional student athletes and build a competitive program on a tight budget,” Murphy said. “With those qualities in mind, Coach Rebowe rose to the top of a highly qualified applicant pool. … I’m confident that he will bring a competitive spirit to the football program, while spreading Colonel pride throughout the Bayou Region.”

This isn’t Rebowe’s first rodeo when it comes to rebuilding a struggling Louisiana-based football program. He’s been a part of two successful rebuilding projects in his career, including one that took place at Nicholls.

Rebowe, 51, cut his teeth at the college ranks with Nicholls. He was an assistant coach with the Colonels from 1995-2000 under head coaches Darren Barbier and Daryl Daye. Prior to that, Rebowe, a Norco native, was the head coach at Destrehan High School.

In his first season in Thibodaux, the Colonels went 0-11. A year later, the team rebounded and posted an 8-4 year, making the Football Championship Subdivision Playoffs.

“My first time here, I was part of one of the greatest turnarounds in NCAA history at that time,” Rebowe said. “So I know it can be done, and I know that it can be done right here at Nicholls.”

After a three-year stay at UL-Monroe from 2001-03, Rebowe was a part of another successful program reformation at UL-Lafayette, helping turn the Ragin’ Cajuns from a four-win team in his first season (2004) to a team that has now won three-straight bowl games with a shot at a fourth forthcoming.

UL-Lafayette head football coach Mark Hudspeth said Nicholls hired “the right man for the job,” adding that he knows that Rebowe will turn Nicholls around in short order.

“Tim is going to bring Nicholls State University a wealth of excitement, a winning attitude and great experience of recruiting in the state of Louisiana,” Hudspeth said. “I have no doubt that they will be successful and will be one of the top teams in the Southland Conference.”

Rebowe said the key to making Hudspeth’s proclamation hold true will be recruiting and changing the mentality of players and folks around the team.

He said he will stop at nothing to make sure that every stone is turned across Louisiana in his effort to lure the most talented and athletic players possible to Thibodaux.

He added that he will work in the coming weeks to build a confidence in his new team that their mission is possible, despite how gloomy the past season may have been.

“We have to build a foundation and we have to commit to each other,” Rebowe said. “We have to commit to the program, and we have to change the expectations.

“And we will. We’re going to create a culture of winning and we’ll do that both on and off the field.”

But more important than his past coaching experiences, Rebowe said the Nicholls job feels like home. The Colonels’ new coach talked about his love for eating crawfish with family and friends, drinking several “Diet Cokes” as the night grows long.

He also reminisced about his childhood in the 1970s when he watched his brother Rusty play for the Colonels.

“Every Saturday we were at John L. Guidry Stadium watching the Colonels play,” Rebowe said.

Rebowe said that love for the community is a big reason for his allure to Nicholls. He said he’s never coached for a team outside of Louisiana, adding that he never plans to, either – calling Nicholls both his present and his future.

“This is not some stepping stone for Tim Rebowe,” Rebowe said. “This is a destination job. This is where I want to be.

“I know we’ll be successful,” Rebowe added. “And I’m not talking about five years from now. We’ll be successful starting today. I don’t take this lightly. These jobs are hard to come by. These jobs are few and far between. I appreciate this opportunity, and I’m going to make you proud that I’m your next head football coach.”

New Nicholls State University head football coach Tim Rebowe comes to the Colonels with local ties. The longtime collegiate head coach has spent almost two decades as an assistant coach at three programs in the state (Nicholls, UL-Lafayette, UL-Monroe). His love for the state and his ability to recruit top-level players are the reasons the Colonels gave Rebowe a four-year deal to coach the team into the future.

CASEY GISCLAIR | THE TIMES