Desormeaux appoints Paschall to lead special teams unit

Published 2:00 am Wednesday, March 23, 2022

LAFAYETTE — University of Louisiana football head coach Michael Desormeaux has named Luke Paschall as the program’s special teams coordinator and director of quality control & analytics, the school announced on Tuesday afternoon.

Paschall joins the Ragin’ Cajuns from Massachusetts, where he worked as Assistant Coach, Special Teams Coordinator and Wide Receivers coach for the last three seasons. He also owns four years of experience in the Sun Belt Conference and has had stops at three Power 5 schools.

“Luke comes to Louisiana with an excellent history of successful special teams play under his belt,” Desormeaux said. “Luke sees the special teams role as an opportunity to create favorable matchups for our players by creating multiple variables for the opponent to try to sort through. Having coached against Coach Paschall in the past, I have seen the problems his schemes create, and I am excited to add this new element to our Game Changers! Luke has knowledge of the Sun Belt, an impressive resume coaching wide receivers and Assistant Head Coach experience. We are thrilled to welcome Luke, his wife Lauren, Emma Rose, and Myles, to the #cULture.”

Under Paschall’s tutelage, UMass punter George Geogopoulos averaged 44.75 yards per boot, sending 19 balls over 50 yards and pinning 21 of his 64 punts inside the 20. He also saw long snapper Evan Deckers, who appeared in all 12 games for the Minuteman in 2021, earn Second Team All-Independent honors from Phil Steele.

During the 2019 campaign, Paschall coached Isaiah Rodgers, who was named a First Team All-American as the top kick return specialist in the nation after leading the country in kickoff return yardage (1,295). Rodgers went on to be drafted by the Indianapolis Colts.

“I am excited and honored to join Coach Desormeaux’s staff and be part of the Ragin’ Cajuns #cULture,” Paschall said. “The University of Louisiana is one of the best programs in the country and has been for a long time. My family and I are excited and grateful for this opportunity to be a part of this community and this great University.”

Prior to joining the Minutemen, he coached wide receivers and special teams in his second stint at North Carolina. During the 2018 season, the UNC special teams group posted quality numbers among the nation’s leaders in kickoff return defense (19.35; 35th), punt return defense (3.5; 10th) and punt return average (14.3; 16th).

Individually, return specialist Dazz Newsome ranked No. 4 in FBS for punt return average (15.1) and sixth with three punt return touchdowns, while kicker Freeman Jones ranked 11th in the country for field goals per game (1.64).

He spent four successful seasons at Arkansas State from 2014-17, which included four bowl games and a pair of Sun Belt Championships. The Red Wolves won at least seven games in each of Paschall’s four seasons and took home their conference crowns in 2015 and 2016.

Under his direction, the Red Wolves’ receiving corps and special teams units excelled and helped the team break the school record for total offense and scoring offense while they also ranked among the top teams in the nation in numerous special teams’ statistical categories.

During his time in Jonesboro, he coached numerous All-Sun Belt performers, including Omar Bayless, Justin McInnis, and J.D. McKissic, among others.

In his first stint at UNC, he worked primarily with the special teams while also assisting with the wide receivers. During his two seasons at North Carolina as a graduate assistant, Paschall was part of a coaching staff that led the Tar Heels to 15 victories and a win over Cincinnati in the 2013 Belk Bowl.

Paschall’s time at North Carolina saw him work with some of the team’s most productive players at the wide receiver and special teams positions. All-ACC wide receiver Quinshad Davis ranked 22nd in the nation with 10 touchdown receptions and 13th in the ACC with 730 receiving yards in 2013. Davis led the team in receiving in 2012 with 61 receptions for 776 yards and five touchdowns to earn freshman all-America honors from College Football News as well.

Heavily involved with UNC’s special teams, Paschall coached FWAA Freshman All-American and CFPA Punt Returner of the Year Ryan Switzer in 2013. Switzer turned in one of the most impressive seasons in school history when he broke the ACC record and tied the NCAA’s best mark for punt returns for touchdowns (5). He finished the season with a school-record 502 punt return yards and a 20.9 average per attempt.

The Tar Heels’ 2012 special teams unit included Second Team All-Conference punter Tommy Hibbard and their punt return team, led by All-ACC return man Giovani Bernard, ranked 10th in the country. Bernard was also named the CFPA Punt Returner of the Year.

Paschall arrived at UNC after spending one season at Ole Miss as an offensive graduate assistant coach under Houston Nutt. He was primarily responsible for working with the wide receivers and tight ends, but also assisted with the Rebels’ special teams.

Ole Miss ranked third in the nation in punt returns and 24th in net punting Paschall’s lone season at the school, where he worked with wide receiver Donte Moncrief during his freshman All-America season.

Paschall spent the 2008-10 seasons at Oklahoma State in a quality control position (2010) and as an offensive graduate assistant (2008-09).

While at OSU, Paschall was primarily responsible for helping coach the wide receivers and quarterbacks positions as a graduate assistant, working with future NFL quarterback Zac Robinson and NFL wide receiver Dez Bryant during his tenure. He helped lead OSU to the 2008 Holiday Bowl and the 2009 Cotton Bowl, while the Cowboys also played in the 2010 Alabama Bowl.

Oklahoma State’s 2008 team ranked sixth in the nation in total offense (487.7 ypg) and ninth in scoring offense (40.7 ppg).

The 2007 season saw Paschall serve as wide receivers coach at Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College (MGCCC), where he helped lead the Bulldogs to an NJCAA National Championship victory over Kilgore in the H.O.T. Bowl played in Copperas Cove, Texas.

The Bulldogs ranked 20th in the NJCAA in total offense that season.

Prior to joining MGCCC, Paschall was a four-year letterman at the wide receiver position at Middle Tennessee. The former walk-on, who earned a scholarship as a sophomore, hauled in 13 receptions for 156 yards and a touchdown as a senior.

A native of Dickson, Tennessee, Paschall earned a psychology degree in 2006 from Middle Tennessee and a master’s in sports management in 2007 from Middle Tennessee.

Luke and his wife, Lauren, have two children, Emma Rose and Myles.