Ragin’ Cajuns coaches and administrators will join UL Lafayette President Joseph Savoie at the Sliman Theater in New Iberia on April 22. The stop is part of a seven-city bus tour throughout south Louisiana and Houston this spring. Fans will meet with coaches and staff to hear of the progress and goals of Ragin’ Cajuns Athletics.
UL Lafayette’s new men’s basketball coach Bob Marlin will be at the New Iberia stop along with football coach Rickey Bustle.
“ We’ve seen a great deal of progress the last few years and we’ve got several projects in the works within the Athletic Department that will surely excite our fans. We want them to be among the first to see the future,” said Scott Farmer, Senior Associate Athletic Director.
Crowley was the first top of the tour. Other cities on the tour include New Iberia, Abbeville, Baton Rouge, New Orleans and Houston. It will conclude in Lafayette.
“ Sometimes it’s hard for our alumni to make a trip to campus. That’s why we’ve decided to take a trip to their hometowns to see them,” said Ken Ardoin, vice president for University Advancement at UL Lafayette.
At each stop, visitors will hear from coaches and UL Lafayette President Dr. Joseph Savoie. A presentation highlighting the upcoming improvements to athletic facilities will also be shown.
One of those improvements includes an impressive renovation of softball’s Lamson Park, which includes doubling the seating capacity, an exclusive club suite and on-site team offices and meeting rooms. Up next is a new Field House with new locker rooms, team offices and concession facility at the Ragin’ Cajuns soccer and track complex. Preliminary renderings of remodeled Cajun Field will be unveiled as well. Projects already completed include new artificial turf has already been installed at Tigue Moore Field for baseball.
Visitors will also have the opportunity to join the Ragin’ Cajuns Athletic Foundation. The RCAF was created to provide financial support for the university’s 16 intercollegiate athletic teams and its student-athletes. Last year’s inaugural Annual Fund Drive resulted in over $500,000 in donations. Donations to the RCAF help fund:
• scholarships for student-athletes who may otherwise not have an opportunity to gain a degree;
• fifth-year aid for student-athletes to ensure the opportunity to get their degree;
• resources for student-athletes such as books, housing, meals, tutoring and educational programs;
• facility improvements that impact recruiting and student-athlete performance;
• supplemental operating capital for Ragin’ Cajuns athletics; and
• funds to endow coaches salaries to assist the Athletics Department in attracting the best and most-qualified coaches.
Contributions to the RCAF to assist the student-athletes can be made in a number of ways including cash, credit card, payroll deductions, matching gifts, gifts in kind, endowments and planned gifts.
For more information on giving to the RCAF, call (337) 482-5393.