Southeastern Louisiana University officials announced today that Dennis Roland has been named head football coach. The hiring is pending approval of the Board of Supervisors for the University of Louisiana system.
A veteran of the coaching ranks with 15-years experience as a collegiate head coach and former Southeastern assistant head coach, Roland (48) becomes the Lions' 13th head coach replacing Hal Mumme who served in the position for the past two seasons. Mumme was named the Lions first head coach after returning Southeastern football to the field following an 18-year hiatus. Mumme was recently named head coach at New Mexico State University.
"After a thorough search and review of a large number of exceptionally qualified applicants, I am pleased to announce Dennis Roland as our selection for head coach," Southeastern President Randy Moffett said. "I am confident that we have identified an individual who will continue to expand the high level of excitement both offensively and defensively we have built over the last two seasons.
"Heading into our first year of Southland Conference play, we also felt it was important to maintain a level of consistency within the program and believe Coach Roland is the perfect fit," he added.
Roland was also a part of the historic return of Southeastern football serving as assistant head coach and offensive line coach as part of Mumme's staff in 2003. After a year at North Gwinnett (Ga.) High School where he led his squad to a 9-3 record and only the second playoff win in its history in 2004, Roland returns to take over a team with which he is very familiar.
"I'm humbled and thankful that Dr. Moffett and (Director of Athletics) Mr. (Frank) Pergolizzi had the confidence in me to give me this wonderful opportunity to become head coach at Southeastern," replied Roland. "I can honestly say that my heart never totally left Southeastern."
Throughout the recent search process, Pergolizzi focused on hiring a coach who would maintain the high-powered, aerial offensive attack made popular by Mumme in his two seasons at the helm. With the hiring of Roland, Pergolizzi believes the Lions accomplished that goal.
"We are thrilled to have Dennis Roland as our head football coach," remarked Pergolizzi. "Dennis brings to the job outstanding experience in coaching, a real passion for excellence and a proven commitment to educating young men through college football. I am confident that Dennis can continue the progress our program has shown during our first two years and take us to the next level as we enter Southland Conference play."
Roland will take over a Southeastern team which led the nation in total offense and passing in 2004 and returns the nucleus of that offensive unit including Walter Payton Award finalist quarterback Martin Hankins and all-American wide receiver Felton Huggins.
"I had an opportunity to recruit a lot of those guys and I have a pretty good idea of the personnel who returns on the offensive side of the ball," explained Roland. "Defensively there may be some holes to fill, but I know those guys return a lot of talent as well. Offensively, we'll try to mirror the current scheme as much as we can in an effort to build on the experience the players have already built up over the past few years. Defensively we'll likely be a little different showing some different fronts and trying to be somewhat more aggressive.
"The overall idea will be to build on the good things that have happened over the last two years," added Roland.
An experienced head coach in the collegiate ranks, Roland has served in that capacity at four institutions, most recently at Belhaven College in 2001 and 2002 where he guided his young team to a fourth-place conference finish in his first season. In 2002, the Belhaven offense led the conference and the nation in passing amassing 3,400 yards. Following the season, Roland was named Mid-South Conference Coach of the Year. His teams posted a combined 9-12 record.
Prior to accepting the head coaching position at Belhaven, Roland served briefly at Kentucky as recruiting coordinator and tight ends coach. From 1997-2001, Roland took on the task of attempting to turn around the Division II Southwest Baptist program that had a 22-consecutive game losing streak prior to his arrival. During his time there, he put together a squad that was one of the most improved teams in DII in 1998. He won five games in his first two years at SBU that was two more than the previous five seasons combined.
No stranger to developing programs from scratch, Roland helped create a plan and raise funds to seek permission from the Georgia State Board of Regents to start a football program at Middle Georgia College. That campaign was successful and Roland served as head coach from 1993-97. In its first season, Middle Georgia went 7-3 finishing ninth in total offense and ninth in pass defense in the National Junior College Athletic Association rankings. Middle Georgia went 10-2 in 1995 finishing seventh in the final NJCAA polls and advanced to the Mineral Water Bowl. An 8-3 record in 1996 resulted in a second straight bowl game invitation as MGC advanced to the Huddle House Golden Isle Bowl. In Roland's four years at the helm the team went a combined 31-14.
Roland also served as head coach at Olivet Nazarene (Ill.) College compiling a 25-26 record in five years (1986-90) at the helm. In his final year at the helm, Roland led NAIA with a record 395 yards per game rushing average and capped the season with a trip to the Steamboat Classic.
Roland also built extensive experience as an assistant coach including stops at Texas-El Paso as defensive line coach from 1983- 85. He also served as an assistant at Kentucky (2001) and Liberty (1980-82).
A 1978 graduate of Boston University, Roland starred for BU's offensive line in 1977-78 and was named to the 1977 Churchmen's All-American Football Squad First Team.
He is married to Diane Roland and they have one daughter, Dana (20), and one son, Dennis, Jr. (21), who is an offensive lineman for the Georgia Bulldogs.
Dennis Roland
Coaching Experience
Southeastern Louisiana University (2005-), Head Coach
North Gwinnett HS (2004), Head Coach
Southeastern La. (2003), Assistant Head Coach/Offensive Line
Belhaven (2001-02), Head Coach
Kentucky (2001), Assistant Coach
Southwest Baptist University (1998-2000), Head Coach
Middle Georgia College (1993-97), Head Coach
Bleckley County HS (1990-91), Head Coach
Olivet Nazarene College (1986-90), Head Coach
UTEP (1983-85), Assistant Coach
Liberty (1980-82), Assistant Coach
