D.J. Looney Joining Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns Football Coaching Staff

(Photo Courtesy: ULL Athletics)

LAFAYETTE, La. (WCBI/ULL Athletics) – Louisiana football head coach Billy Napier has announced the hire of D.J. Looney to his staff as the assistant offensive line coach.

“D.J. Looney is the perfect final piece of the puzzle for our staff on offense,” Napier said. “His experience recruiting in the state of Mississippi will be imperative for us going forward. I’m excited about his experience and knowledge both as a successful player and coach. I can’t wait for the people of Lafayette to get to know D.J.”

Looney spent the 2017 season as a tight ends coach at his alma mater Mississippi State. This past season, the Bulldogs posted a 9-4 record including a win at the Taxslayer Bowl.

Prior to MSU, Looney spent the 2016 season serving as an offensive graduate assistant at Georgia on Kirby Smart’s squad that reached the Liberty Bowl.

Looney held the position of tackles and tight ends coach at Central Arkansas for two seasons from 2014-15. The Bears went 7-2 in 2015 in the Southland Conference, finishing tied for second in the league.

Looney was the offensive line coach and recruiting coordinator at East Mississippi Community College where his team won a national championship in his second and final season in 2013. He spent the 2012 and 2013 seasons in that role. The Birmingham, Ala., native played a key role in helping guide the Lions’ potent offensive unit to a No. 8 NJCAA team statistical national ranking in rushing offense in 2012 (239.1 ypg) and No. 8 in 2013 (253.5 ypg).

Looney developed current Jacksonville Jaguar Avery Gennesy into an NJCAA first-team All-American in 2013. That year, EMCC put up a nation-leading 62.2 points per game, which included 45 rushing scores.

Looney got his coaching start as an offensive graduate assistant on Dan Mullen’s staff in 2011 that won the Music City Bowl. The former three-year Bulldog letterman worked with the Bulldogs’ offensive linemen and quarterbacks in addition to assisting with MSU’s special teams.

During his undergraduate days at MSU, Looney was associated with two bowl-game winning teams as an offensive lineman. As a redshirt freshman, the 2007 Bulldogs claimed a 10-3 Liberty Bowl victory over UCF. He was on Mullen’s 2010 State squad that earned a 52-14 Gator Bowl triumph over Michigan.

Looney was just as active off the field as a collegian, serving three years as an SEC Student Advisory Council Representative. After serving as vice president of MSU’s Campus Student Advisory Council in 2008, he was elevated to the president’s position the following year.  Looney was also a three-year member of the NCAA Football Issues Committee.

Looney earned his degree from Mississippi State in arts and sciences in 2010.

Looney’s hiring is pending approval by the University of Louisiana System Board of Supervisors.

LOONEY AT A GLANCE
Alma Mater: Mississippi State, 2010
Hometown: Birmingham, Ala.

COACHING EXPERIENCE
2017, Mississippi State (Tight Ends)
2016, Georgia (Offensive Graduate Assistant)
2014-15, Central Arkansas (Tackles/Tight Ends)
2012-13, East Mississippi Community College (Offensive Line/Recruiting Coordinator)
2011, Mississippi State (Offensive Graduate Assistant)