Toney joins Cajuns staff
- Published
LAFAYETTE — Louisiana-Lafayette head football coach Billy Napier added another coach with ties to Louisiana to his staff Wednesday when he named UTSA safeties coach Patrick Toney his latest hire.
Toney, a Southeastern Louisiana graduate, spent the past two seasons at UTSA after coaching at Sam Houston State in 2015.
“Today we made a great hire,” Napier said in a press release from the university. “In Patrick Toney we have acquired another quality football coach and recruiter. He will be relentless in his approach with our players and on the recruiting trail. He and Karl (Scott) have a prior relationship, and that will help with our transition. The Ragin’ Cajuns got better today.”
In 2017, UTSA’s defense ranked seventh in the Football Bowl Subdivision, allowing just 287.8 yards per game. The Roadrunners also finished eighth in scoring defense (17.0 ppg), second in first downs defense (166) and 19th in pass efficiency defense (112.19).
The Roadrunners allowed 156 fewer yards per game and 16.8 fewer points per game in 2017 compared to 2015.
In his first year with the Roadrunners, he helped lead the team to six wins and the program’s first bowl game, the 2016 Gildan New Mexico Bowl. His safeties teamed up for 282 tackles, 15.5 tackles for loss, four interceptions and 20 pass breakups, helping the defense set several school records.
Under Toney, Michael Egwuagu garnered second-team All-Conference USA honors after registering 83 tackles, 7.5 TFLs, seven PBUs, one interception, two forced fumbles, an 82-yard blocked field goal return for a touchdown and a 59-yard fumble return.
Prior to UTSA, Toney spent the 2015 season as the secondary coach at Sam Houston State, helping the Bearkats to an 11-4 record and a run to the semifinals of the Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) playoffs. The defense forced 24 turnovers, including 17 interceptions, 13 of which were recorded by his defensive backs. A pair of his cornerbacks — Trenier Orr (first team) and Mikell Everette (second team) — earned All-Southland Conference accolades.
Before joining Sam Houston State, Toney spent three seasons at Southeastern Louisiana. He was the safeties coach and special teams coordinator in 2014 after serving as a defensive assistant working with the secondary the previous two seasons. The Lions improved from a 3-8 record in 2011 to a 20-7 combined mark, a pair of Southland titles and back-to-back FCS playoff appearances in 2013-14.
During his time at Southeastern Louisiana, the Lions ranked first in the FCS in pass efficiency defense, second in interceptions, fifth in red zone defense, seventh in total defense and eighth in scoring defense. His special teams topped the nation in kickoff return average, sixth in blocked kicks and 13th in kickoff return defense.
In his first season with the Lions, he worked with All-America cornerback Robert Alford, who was the 60th overall pick (second round) in the 2013 NFL Draft by the Atlanta Falcons. Among the other players Toney oversaw during his time with the Lions were all-conference performers Theo Alexander, Harlan Miller, Marice Sutton, Tyler Stoddard and Todd Washington.
Toney spent two seasons as the offensive coordinator and offensive backfield coach at La Costa Canyon (California) High School before joining the staff at SLU. The Mavericks posted a 17-7 record and made back-to-back playoff appearances during his tenure.
A native of Poway, California, Toney served as wide receivers coach at Palomar (Calif.) College in 2009 and as defensive line coach at Fallbrook (Calif.) High School the year prior.
Toney earned his bachelor’s degree in kinesiology from Southeastern Louisiana in 2013.
Toney’s hiring is pending approval by the University of Louisiana System Board of Supervisors.
The Toney Files
Pertinent facts about Louisiana-Lafayette defensive assistant coach Patrick Toney.
Alma Mater: Southeastern Louisiana, 2013
Hometown: Poway, Calif.
Wife: Lindsey
Children: Thomas and Elle
2015 – Sam Houston State (Defensive Backs)
2014 – Southeastern Louisiana (Special Teams Coordinator, Safeties)
2012-13 – Southeastern Louisiana (Defensive Assistant, Defensive Backs)
2010-11 – La Costa Canyon (Calif.) HS (Offensive Coordinator, Offensive Backs)
2009 – Palomar College (Wide Receivers)
2008 – Fallbrook (Calif.) HS (Defensive Line)