Colonels football, baseball programs make several hires

Nicholls Notes

Nicholls and head football coach Jay Thomas announced the hiring of David Cunningham to coach special teams, Thomas Koutsos to oversee running backs, and Skylor Magee to administer the defensive ends.

Former running backs coach Kent Keith will supervise the wide receivers for the 2007 season.

&#8220It is a great privilege to add guys of their caliber to the coaching staff,” said Thomas. &#8220They have hit the ground running and have already been a great asset to our program.”

Cunningham comes to Nicholls from McPherson College where he served as the head coach from 2002-06. The Campbellsville, Kentucky native led the Bulldogs to a 24-26 record during his tenure that saw McPherson College crack the NAIA Top 25 twice.

The highest ranking that the Bulldogs received under Cunningham’s guidance came in 2004 when his squad was ranked No. 18 in the nation.

He is married to the former Latasha Townsend of Winoma, Mississippi.

Working with the running backs this season will be Koutsos, who is the all-time leading rusher at Southern Illinois University.

He is also the Gateway Conference’s all-time leading rusher, was a two-time First Team All-American, and holds the Salukis’ all-time rushing touchdown record with 52.

The Oswego, Illinois native comes to Nicholls after working for Kforce Professional Staffing.

Magee will coach defensive ends for the Colonels in 2007, and the Poplarville, Mississippi native comes to Nicholls after working as a Defensive Graduate Assistant at the University of South Carolina.

For the Gamecocks in 2006, Magee assists special teams while helping organize the scout team.

Magee played at the University of Southern Miss on the defensive line from 2000-03, and helped lead the Golden Eagles to back-to-back bowl appearances including a GMAC Bowl Championship.

* Nicholls State University and head baseball coach Chip Durham announced the hiring of Seth Thibodeaux as an assistant baseball coach for the upcoming 2007-08 season.

&#8220I am very happy to have him here and I know that the players will be as well,” said Durham. &#8220He brings a well-rounded resume to Nicholls, and is a big asset to our program.”

Thibodeaux comes to Nicholls from in-state and Southland Conference foe Southeastern Louisiana where he was responsible for coordinating camps and assisted with catchers, outfielders, and some aspects of recruiting from 2005-07.

While assisting SLU, the Lions posted a school record 34 overall wins and 16 conference victories in 2007.

Before working at SLU for three seasons, Thibodeaux served as the head coach for the Poplarville Riverfish from the 2004-05. The Riverfish, who are members of the Cotton State Collegiate Wooden Bat League, were Cotton State League Champions in 2004 and 2005 under Thibodeaux’s guidance.

His coaching career began in 2003 when he was an assistant at Pearl River Community College.

During his tenure there, the Wildcats were conference champions, ranked No. 2 nationally, and won the Mississippi State Championship in 2004.

Pearl River Community College repeated as conference champions in 2005 with a No.1 national ranking.

Thibodeaux played collegiate baseball for Louisiana State University at Eunice from 2000-01 before finishing his playing career at William Carey University with a degree in Physical Education in 2003.

The Church Point, Louisiana native resides in Thibodaux.