By DOUG IRELAND, Journal Sports
RUSTON – Following season-long defensive struggles, notably in a six-game losing skid ending the fall, Louisiana Tech football coach Sonny Cumbie has parted ways with three assistant coaches, including defensive coordinator Scott Power.
The departures of Power and secondary coaches Myles Carelock and Nate Johnston were confirmed Monday in a text message to media from Tech athletic strategic communications director Kane McGuire. His text said they were “no longer on the football coaching staff” and added there “are no planned press conferences at this time.”
The Bulldogs, who finished 3-9 for a third straight season, are mired in their worst three-year span since joining the Football Bowl Subdivision ranks in 1988. Cumbie ended his second season with identical overall and Conference USA (2-6) records, as in 2022.
Tech also went 3-9 overall, 2-6 in CUSA games in 2021, resulting in the firing of head coach Skip Holtz, who had winning seasons in seven of his nine years, including three with 9 or 10 wins. The Bulldogs reached seven straight bowl games until his final season.
This fall, the Tech defense gave up 33.4 points per game while allowing 232.5 rushing yards and 418 total yards per contest. In the season-ending six-game losing streak, the points allowed average was 41.6, and it soared to 51.3 in the final three games.
Jacksonville State ran for 522 yards on Saturday in a 56-17 rout, opening a 42-10 halftime lead.
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