Head coach Jeff Dow parts ways with ULM, criticizes program support
Some acrimony amid a departure.
Louisiana-Monroe head coach Jeff Dow is parting ways with the university at the end of March, the final day of his five-year contract at the helm, Hoop Dirt reported.
In Dow’s official statement, he expresses his gratitude to the city of Monroe, how his wife received her doctorate from ULM and how the community has been like a family from the very beginning. He goes on to explain that it was a difficult decision, but eventually shifts his attention to the program not getting the support it needed to be successful year in and year out.
"“Many things have changed over the course of my time at ULM, and I hope the university will provide the support needed for the next coach so the program can compete consistently in the Sun Belt. Winning has not been easy for any of our sports since joining the conference, but our student-athletes are blessed with Warhawk faithful who support them no matter what.”"
He ends by saying he hopes he finds “a program whose aspirations are matched by both the resources and leadership” in his next job.
This year, the Warhawks are 8-14 overall and 2-9 in the Sun Belt in Dow’s fifth season. Before coming to ULM, he was the head coach at IUP (2008-2013), Anderson University (2005-2008) and Texas A&M-Kingsville (1990-1992) and is 255-170 as head coach—a .600 winning percentage.
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In year one at ULM, the Warhawks finished 12-17 and the next three years finished 12-17, 6-24 and 4-26. Although they’ve bested their 2017-18 record by double this year, it’s still an interesting fluctuation of success under his leadership—something Dow points out in his statement about being unable to compete consistently in the Sun Belt.
His first year as head coach was the most success the program had seen since the 2010-11 campaign, even after graduating the team’s top four scorers. In year two, he led the program to its first winning record again non-conference foes since 2009-10. He’s a proven winner as a head coach—but clearly, something was missing for him in Louisiana.