Matt Viator was named McNeese State's head coach on Sept. 13, 2006 after leading the Cowboys to a 5-1 record as interim coach. He went on to lead the Cowboys to the Southland Conference championship in 2006 and into the NCAA championship playoffs.

The Cowboys produced a 7-5 overall record and a 5-1 mark in league play. Viator was 6-2 in his first season as head coach.

He was named both the Southland Conference Coach of the Year and the Louisiana Sports Writers Association Coach of the Year and was a finalist in the balloting for the national 1-AA Eddie Robinson Coach of the Year award.

He is one of the top offensive minds in 1-AA football. While serving as offensive coordinator, the Cowboys ranked among the national leaders in offense for five of the past seven years and the university has also produced the Southland Conference's top offensive performer two of the last four seasons. His offenses have led the league in scoring three times.

Prior to joining the Cowboys he was one of the top prep coaches in the state, producing an 81-37 won-lost record, winning one state crown and five league titles.

He joined McNeese in 1999 as linebacker coach and was made offensive coordinator in 2000, the Cowboys leading the league in both scoring offense and total offense that year.

Year at McNeese: eighth (joined in 1999)

Age: 43, born September 3, 1963

High School: Sam Houston High '82

College: McNeese State '86

High School Athletics: all-district QB in football; also track letter

Coaching Career: assistant Sam Houston High '86-88; head coach Vinton High '89-90 (13-9 record); head coach Jennings High '91-94 (38-12, state title); head coach Sulphur High '95-98 (30-16)

Married: wife is Schantel

Other: was named the Southland Conference Coach of the year for 2006 and was also named the Louisiana collegiate coach of the year by the Louisiana Sports Writers Association; state coach of year '92, '98; father is the late Nolan Viator, a former McNeese coach and player (QB) and member of the McNeese Hall of Fame