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ULM is a tough job. Aside from competing with LSU, Louisiana Tech, Louisiana-Lafayette, and Tulane for in-state talent, the school simply doesn't have the resources to match up with most of their FBS counterparts - ULM spends less on athletics than any FBS program.
Despite the systematic difficulties, Todd Berry brought the ULM program to some of the highest highs the school had ever seen, culminating in that terrific 2012 season in which the Warhawks upset then-#8 Arkansas before going 8-4 in the regular season and earning a spot in the Independence bowl, its first since joining 1-A/FBS in 1994.
Since then, though, the Warhawks have struggled. Berry has notched a 11-23 record since the beginning of the 2013 season, including 7-14 in Sun Belt play. The rumblings started late last season, and after the first couple of conference games of 2015 it was clear that a change needed to be made. Injuries and other outside factors certainly contributed to the disappointing 2015 campaign, but even the defense, expected to be maybe the best in the conference, never came close to living up to expectation.
"It’s been a really unusual year but the way the season was going on the field we felt like it was time for a change," ULM athletic director Brian Wickstrom said. "I want to thank Todd for his services. He and his staff raised the level of the program, brought national attention to the university in 2012 and throughout his time directing the program."
I will be interested in seeing where Berry ended up. Things clearly were not working out in Monroe, but he is still an innovative and creative playcaller. With all of the head coaching openings at major programs, I wouldn't be surprised to see Berry take over a vacated OC position that might open up as a result of this offseason's coaching carousel.
That carousel will now include ULM, which will be looking for a new coach for the first time since December 2009. Who might they be looking at?