RUSTON – Head football coach Sonny Cumbie announced the hiring of Dexter McCoil Sr., who will coach safeties for the Bulldogs in 2026.
 
McCoil, a Louisiana native, comes to Ruston after a three-year stint at Texas State in San Marcos, Texas, including the past two seasons as defensive coordinator. He was promoted to the coordinator role after serving as the Bobcats' safeties coach in 2023.
 
"We are excited to welcome Coach Dex to our staff," stated Cumbie. "A Louisiana native with success at the highest level as a player, he will have a significant impact on our players and staff through his ability to teach, lead and connect."

In his first season as defensive coordinator, the Bobcats finished 8-5 overall and 5-3 in Sun Belt play, capped by a win over North Texas in the SERVPRO First Responders Bowl. Defensive end Steven Parker and cornerback Jordan Polk earned All-Sun Belt Conference honorable mention honors, as McCoil's defense held three opponents under 10 points.

Texas State allowed 24.54 points per game and 358.9 yards per contest. The Bobcats recorded 97 tackles for loss, 36 sacks and nine interceptions. The defense finished first in tackles for loss and eighth in sacks in the Sun Belt.
 
The 2025 season saw McCoil produce three All-SBC selections, highlighted by linebacker Treylin Payne who earned Second Team All-SBC after leading the Bobcats with 107 tackles. TXST collected 96.0 tackles for loss, 27.0 sacks and nine interceptions.  Payne registered the 5th most tackles in the SBC in 2025 including a career-high 24 against Marshall, good for the TXST single-game record and 2nd overall in Sun Belt history.
 
In his first season at Texas State in 2023, McCoil helped develop a group of safeties who were in their first season with the Bobcats and at the FBS level after team captain Tory Spears went down with an injury early in the season.
 
Holton and Culp, who were both starters that transferred in from UIW, wreaked havoc in the secondary. Holton was tied for third in the country in forced fumbles while Culp was first in fumbles recovered. Both helped the Bobcats finish 26th in the nation in turnovers gained. Holton and Culp were also second and third on the team, respectively, in tackles.
 
McCoil joined the Bobcats after coaching at Incarnate Word in 2022 with Texas State head coach GJ Kinne. As the safeties coach and NFL/CFL liaison for the Cardinals, he helped the program win a Southland Conference championship and reach the FCS Playoff semifinals for the first time in program history. He also tutored Culp to all-conference honors after he was second on the team in tackles and forced two fumbles.
 
With high-level playing experience in college and in the pros, McCoil began his coaching career at the high school level in his home state of Louisiana. He started out as the defensive backs coach at his alma mater, Lutcher High School in 2018. In 2020 and 2021, he was the defensive backs coach at East Ascension High School (LA) and helped three of the four starting cornerbacks earn all-district honors.
 
McCoil played professional football for nine years, including three years in the NFL and four years in the CFL. In 2014, he was named the CFL Rookie of the Year and helped the Edmonton Eskimos win the 2015 Grey Cup. In the NFL, he played for the San Diego Chargers and San Francisco 49ers.
 
His professional playing career followed an award-ridden career at Tulsa, where he was teammates with Kinne and set the program and Conference USA career interception record. He was a CUSA Second Team honoree, Freshman All-America Honorable Mention selection, and the 2011 Armed Forces Bowl Defensive MVP.
 
In his four seasons at Tulsa, he finished with a total of 315 tackles, 18 Interceptions, 43 passes break ups, and one forced fumble.
 
At Lutcher High School as a student, McCoil helped the school win two state championships. He helped lead the Bulldogs to the 2008 3A State Championship. McCoil was named the District MVP following his senior season and while earning honorable mention all-state honors. McCoil also earned all-district, all-metro and all-River Parish honors following both his junior and senior seasons of high school.

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