Tommy Badon - Cross Country Coach - Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns

Tommy Badon

Title:
Head Coach
Email:
tbadon@louisiana.edu
Phone:
(337) 482-5020

Tommy Badon, one of the most renowned track and field coaches in the country, was named the eighth head coach in the Louisiana track and field program's Division I era on March 4, 2024. Badon, a 1981 graduate of then USL, served as an assistant for the Ragin’ Cajuns from 1989-97 under legendary coach Charles Lancon, also served as an assistant coach with the program from 2018 until becoming the head coach.

The 2025 season has been historic for the Ragin' Cajuns. Badon coached the men to the Sun Belt Conference Indoor Championship, their first indoor title since 1996. The Cajuns won five events and nearly swept running events. The Cajuns won the men's 200, 400, and 800, while placing second in the 60 and the mile. Badon was named the Sun Belt Conference Men's Coach of the Year as well as the USTFCCCA South Central Region Coach of the Year for his efforts.

Lawson Jacobs stole the show at the SBC Indoor Championships, winning two events and finishing second in another to earn SBC Male Track Athlete and Freshman of the Year honors. Jacobs broke the school and meet record in the 400 at 45.92 and ran the final leg of the championship clinching 4x400 relay.

Louisiana set six school records in indoor action in 2025. Jacobs in the 400, Joe Patterson in the 800, Alexandra Johnson in the 800, Ella Segura in the 3000, and Lily Murray in the weight throw. They've continued that momentum into the outdoor season where they've set five more school records in just three weekends. Patterson's set two more records in the 800 and 1500, while Johnson lowered her own school record in the 800 early in the outdoor season. Murray also broke her own record in the hammer while Isabelle Russell shattered the program's 5000 mark.

Badon’s first season in charge built off the historic 2023. The men recorded a pair of third-place finishes at the Sun Belt Conference Indoor and Outdoor Championships while the women placed second at the Outdoor Championships. The team combined for 214.7 points, their most combined since 2012. It was the first time since 1997, when the men and women won the SBC Outdoor Championships, that they both finished among the top three in the conference.

Louisiana was well represented at the national championships in Eugene, Oregon, qualifying in three events. Javed Jones earned Second Team All-American honors in the 400-meter hurdles, while Jeremy Nelson (triple jump) and the quartet of Trejun Jones, Zakhy Munro, Floyd Pond, and Trejun Jones (4x100) also represented the Ragin’ Cajuns.

The team set seven school records in 2024, including five on the women’s side. Kennedy London claimed the 60-meter hurdle indoor championship with a school record 8.27. Moseiha Bridgen won the SBC Championship in the 400-meter hurdles and set the program record in the event at 57.65. Alexandra Johnson set the school 800-meter record (2:08.97), while Lily Murray claimed the hammer record (189-11), and the 4x800-meter relay record fell (9:16.92). Two records fell on the men’s side, with the 4x100-meter relay record falling for the second straight year (39.41) and Javed Jones set the 400-meter hurdle record at 49.44.

The 2023 outdoor season was a historic one for the Cajuns who set five school records and 23 other top-five scores. Of those 12 of them were set by the sprinters and hurdlers, coached by Badon. On the men's side, the 4x100-relay team of Trejun Jones, Brock Appiah, Kashie Crockett, and Booth reached the NCAA Championships and broke the school record with a time of 39.38 seconds. Bridgen also set a program record in her first season as a Cajun in the 400-meter dash with a time of 53.62 seconds.

During his first stint at Louisiana, Badon was part of a team that claimed 14 indoor and outdoor conference championships while producing 27 NCAA All-Americans. Badon coached Hollis Conway, the world’s No. 1 high jumper in the early 1990’s and the current United States record holder in the indoor high jump. His relay teams were ranked third nationally in the Track and Field Relay rankings for the 1993 season.

Badon also coached another Olympian during his first stint with the Ragin' Cajuns - Ndaba Mdhlongwa - who competed for his native Zimbabwae in the 1992 and 1996 Summer Olympic Games.

Along with Conway and Mdhlongwa, Badon was was also responsible in the progression of eventual UL Athletics Hall of Fame members Neal Guidry, Larry Moore, Grady Labbe, Winston Sinclair, Keisha Ray Owens, Twilet Malcolm, Beverley Langley and JoJo Harris.

Before his return to campus in August in 2018, Badon spent the previous four years as head track coach and assistant football coach at Lafayette Christian Academy. During his tenure, Badon led LCA to a combined eight district titles in track, the 2018 Girls’ Class 1A state title and the 2017 LHSAA Division IV state championship in football.

One of the most decorated and respected track coaches in Acadiana, Badon moved to LCA after a 12-year stint at Westminster Christian Academy. Badon oversaw an athletic department at Westminster that grew and matured into one of the most respected programs in Louisiana. As head football coach at Westminster, Badon compiled a 90-41 record and led his team to five state quarterfinal appearances, eleven consecutive playoff appearances and an undefeated regular season in 2010.

In track, his girls’ teams at Westminster won 10 straight district titles, four regional championships and the Class 1A state championship in 2013. His boys’ teams captured five district crowns and two regional titles while Badon coached multiple individual state champions, including the only hurdler to win three consecutive 300 hurdles titles in any division.

Badon was named the Class 1A state Coach of the Year in 2013 and was presented the Outstanding Coach Award at the district level 15 times.

Badon’s coaching career began in 1981 at his alma mater, Teurlings Catholic High School. He was part of the Rebels’ district championship squad in football, where he served as defensive coordinator for a team that went undefeated and unscored upon for 11 straight games in 1982.

After a six-year stint at Teurlings, Badon moved across town to Lafayette High School where he coached a pair of track standouts – Mike St. Julien, one of the best high school jumpers in the country, as well as Pat Frederick, a member of the 1988 U.S. National Junior Team.

In 1987, Badon moved to Blinn (Texas) College and helped the Buccaneers capture two NJCAA indoor national championships and two outdoor national titles

Badon has been active in Coaching Education since 1987. He was a USATF Level I and Level II Instructor for 20 years, and has served as both a TFTC Instructor and an SCC Instructor in the USTFCCCA Coaches Education program since the inception of that program. Badon is an active member in the LTFCA, and has spoken at numerous state association conventions throughout his career, as well as presenting at the USTFCCCA Annual Convention in 2013.

Badon earned a bachelor's degree in social studies education from then USL in 1981 before receiving his masters' degree in physical education from Prairie View A&M in 1989. During his undergraduate days, Badon was a student assistant in the UL Sports Information Office under LSWA and CoSIDA Hall of Fame member Dan McDonald.

Badon and his wife, the former Susan Domingues, live in Lafayette and are the parents of three children.