Drew Maddox, who brought unpredented success to the Louisiana Christian University football program as its head coach over the past four seasons, resigned Monday to accept an NCAA Division I (FCS) coaching opportunity.
The Louisiana College alum is moving to Cape Girardeau, Missouri where he has accepted the position of defensive line coach for the Southeast Missouri State Redhawks out of the Big South-Ohio Valley Conference.
LCU did not immediately announce plans for a search to replace Maddox, leading to speculation that highly-successful, longtime Louisiana high school coach and current Wildcats’ offensive coordinator David Feaster may be promoted. Feaster joined the Wildcats before the 2023 season and his offenses ranked among national statistical leaders all season.
But Monday’s spotlight was squarely and justifiably on Maddox, whose leadership sparked LCU’s rise from an also-ran to a championship program.
“I lift my voice joining scores of others who are grateful for the outstanding coaching job Drew provided at Louisiana Christian University. Since the day I met coach Maddox in 2015 I knew he would one day serve as our head football coach,” said university President Dr. Rick Brewer. “I’m grateful for the Christian leadership he modeled for the young men and coaches under his tutelage. Indeed, Coach Drew Maddox is a steward leader…..he left our football program much better than he found it.”
During the four seasons leading his alma mater, Maddox led the Wildcats to back-to-back winning seasons (2022 & 2023) while guiding the LCU to its first ever conference championship (Sooner Athletic Conference) and NAIA Football Championship Series appearance this past year.
He leaves the program with the third-highest winning percentage (57.9) and fifth-most wins (22).
Maddox was not quoted in the university’s press release, but offered a simple statement on his @drewmaddox8 X (formerly Twitter) social media account:
“Don’t go backwards LCU. Continue to grind and be great!! Thankful for the time we had together. We did some things!”
Under his watch, the Orange and Blue at one point owned the state’s longest collegiate winning streak of 13 games from October 1, 2022 through October 14, 2023 His Cats were a dominant force at home, sporting a 15-4 (78.9 percent) record in Pineville including a current streak of 13 consecutive victories at Wildcat Field heading into 2024.
The five-year U.S. Army veteran will go down as one of the most decorated coaches of all-time at LCU, being named Victory Sports Network Coach of the Year, AFCA NAIA Region 5 Coach of the Year, and a two-time Sooner Athletic Conference Coach of the Year after leading Louisiana Christian to a program-best 81.8 winning percentage and nine wins in his final campaign on “The Hill.”
His wife, Caitlyn Maddox, has been the LCU cheerleading coach.
