University of Louisiana at Lafayette Athletics
Football
Lucas, Mike
Mike Lucas
- Title:
- Defensive Coordinator/LBs
- Phone:
- (337) 482-6318
- Sport Administration:
- @coachMikeLucas
Mike Lucas, a veteran coach that has made stops at three Southland Conference schools, begins his third season on the Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns staff and his first full season as defensive coordinator.
Lucas took over defensive coordinator duties on an interim basis in week two of the 2016 season before being officially named after the season.
During the 2016 season, Lucas molded a defense that finished 23rd among FBS schools in run defense (129.2) and 43rd overall in total defense (379.1)
In his 38th season as a coach at the collegiate level, has been responsible for a linebacking corp at Louisiana that has included a pair of first-team All-Sun Belt Conference selections - Dominique Tovell (2015) and Otha Peters (2016).
Lucas spent the 2014 season at Northwestern State where he served as defensive coordinator and linebackers coach under Jay Thomas. In his lone season in Natchitoches, Lucas spearheaded a defensive unit that was fifth nationally among FCS schools in takeaways (30) and saw a pair of defensive backs – Adam Jones and Imoan Claiborne – rank among the national FCS leaders in interceptions.
Claiborne, who was invited to play in the 66th Annual Reese’s Senior Bowl after the 2014 season, was a first-team All-Southland Conference selection and was joined by linebacker Marion Chapman.
Lucas, the 2009 Louisiana Coach of the Year, was head coach at Southeastern Louisiana from 2007-11 after two seasons as the Lions’ defensive coordinator. He earned a reputation as a dynamic coordinator under legendary coach Ron Randleman from 1987-2001 at Sam Houston State. Lucas spent the 2013 season as the defensive line coach at Indiana State and earlier in his career coached at his alma mater, Liberty, along with William and Mary, UTEP, and Eastern New Mexico.
Lucas was defensive coordinator at SLU from 2005-06 before moving into the head coaching post on an interim basis for the last three games of 2006, and was head coach from 2007-11. A tireless recruiter, Lucas’ 2010 class at SLU was ranked No. 1 among FCS schools by Rivals.com with many of the newcomers later contributing to the Lions’ 2013 Southland Conference championship - the school’s first in over 50 years.
Under Lucas’ leadership, SLU improved its overall record each season from 2006-09 while the Lions, for the first time since their program was restarted in 2003, became highly competitive in the Southland. SLU developed a school-record setting offense and a typically tough-to-attack defense guided by Lucas.
During his tenure in Hammond, Lucas had 21 players earn All-Southland Conference honors, highlighted by safety Tommy Connors, who was a three-time selection and 2008 All-American. Among the players recruited by Lucas to SLU included wide receiver Simmie Yarborough, a four-time All-Southland Conference performer and the 2008 Southland Conference Freshman of the Year, and defensive back Robert Alford, a current member of the NFL’s Atlanta Falcons.
At SHSU as defensive coordinator and assistant head coach under Randleman, Lucas coached the Bearkats among the top 15 in FCS stat categories 11 times, and led the Southland Conference in defense five times. Among school records set under Lucas: 52 sacks in 2001, fewest points per game (13.2) in 1991.
His SHSU defenses produced 65 All-Southland Conference honors by 41 different players, among them seven who signed NFL contracts and two who were NFL Draft picks.
Prior to joining the SHSU staff in 1987, Lucas previously served as defensive coordinator at Eastern New Mexico where his squad led the Lone Star Conference in total defense and scoring defense and ranked third nationally in punt returns.
In 1984, he coached wide receivers at UTEP. From 1980 to 1983, he coached the secondary, defensive line and linebackers and assisted in the strength and conditioning program at Liberty University in Lynchburg, Va. He began his coaching career at the College of William and Mary in 1979 as a defensive student assistant.
Lucas was a three-year letterman in football at Pemberton (N.J.) High School and also lettered in baseball and wrestling. He earned a Bachelor of Science degree from Liberty in 1982, majoring in physical education and psychology.
He and his wife, Wendy, have two sons, Tyler, a former quarterback and 2009 graduate of Cornell University, and Torin, a former catcher and 2012 graduate of Southeastern Louisiana.
Lucas took over defensive coordinator duties on an interim basis in week two of the 2016 season before being officially named after the season.
During the 2016 season, Lucas molded a defense that finished 23rd among FBS schools in run defense (129.2) and 43rd overall in total defense (379.1)
In his 38th season as a coach at the collegiate level, has been responsible for a linebacking corp at Louisiana that has included a pair of first-team All-Sun Belt Conference selections - Dominique Tovell (2015) and Otha Peters (2016).
Lucas spent the 2014 season at Northwestern State where he served as defensive coordinator and linebackers coach under Jay Thomas. In his lone season in Natchitoches, Lucas spearheaded a defensive unit that was fifth nationally among FCS schools in takeaways (30) and saw a pair of defensive backs – Adam Jones and Imoan Claiborne – rank among the national FCS leaders in interceptions.
Claiborne, who was invited to play in the 66th Annual Reese’s Senior Bowl after the 2014 season, was a first-team All-Southland Conference selection and was joined by linebacker Marion Chapman.
Lucas, the 2009 Louisiana Coach of the Year, was head coach at Southeastern Louisiana from 2007-11 after two seasons as the Lions’ defensive coordinator. He earned a reputation as a dynamic coordinator under legendary coach Ron Randleman from 1987-2001 at Sam Houston State. Lucas spent the 2013 season as the defensive line coach at Indiana State and earlier in his career coached at his alma mater, Liberty, along with William and Mary, UTEP, and Eastern New Mexico.
Lucas was defensive coordinator at SLU from 2005-06 before moving into the head coaching post on an interim basis for the last three games of 2006, and was head coach from 2007-11. A tireless recruiter, Lucas’ 2010 class at SLU was ranked No. 1 among FCS schools by Rivals.com with many of the newcomers later contributing to the Lions’ 2013 Southland Conference championship - the school’s first in over 50 years.
Under Lucas’ leadership, SLU improved its overall record each season from 2006-09 while the Lions, for the first time since their program was restarted in 2003, became highly competitive in the Southland. SLU developed a school-record setting offense and a typically tough-to-attack defense guided by Lucas.
During his tenure in Hammond, Lucas had 21 players earn All-Southland Conference honors, highlighted by safety Tommy Connors, who was a three-time selection and 2008 All-American. Among the players recruited by Lucas to SLU included wide receiver Simmie Yarborough, a four-time All-Southland Conference performer and the 2008 Southland Conference Freshman of the Year, and defensive back Robert Alford, a current member of the NFL’s Atlanta Falcons.
At SHSU as defensive coordinator and assistant head coach under Randleman, Lucas coached the Bearkats among the top 15 in FCS stat categories 11 times, and led the Southland Conference in defense five times. Among school records set under Lucas: 52 sacks in 2001, fewest points per game (13.2) in 1991.
His SHSU defenses produced 65 All-Southland Conference honors by 41 different players, among them seven who signed NFL contracts and two who were NFL Draft picks.
Prior to joining the SHSU staff in 1987, Lucas previously served as defensive coordinator at Eastern New Mexico where his squad led the Lone Star Conference in total defense and scoring defense and ranked third nationally in punt returns.
In 1984, he coached wide receivers at UTEP. From 1980 to 1983, he coached the secondary, defensive line and linebackers and assisted in the strength and conditioning program at Liberty University in Lynchburg, Va. He began his coaching career at the College of William and Mary in 1979 as a defensive student assistant.
Lucas was a three-year letterman in football at Pemberton (N.J.) High School and also lettered in baseball and wrestling. He earned a Bachelor of Science degree from Liberty in 1982, majoring in physical education and psychology.
He and his wife, Wendy, have two sons, Tyler, a former quarterback and 2009 graduate of Cornell University, and Torin, a former catcher and 2012 graduate of Southeastern Louisiana.
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