re: Saints Announce 2015 Coaching Staff

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LAFAYETTE – James Willis, who served as defensive coordinator for the Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns football team during the past two seasons, will leave the staff to pursue a coaching position with the NFL's New Orleans Saints, head coach Mark Hudspeth announced on Wednesday.

Willis, whose defenses at Louisiana were ranked among the top units in the Sun Belt Conference, will join the Saints as a defensive assistant/linebackers coach.

During his two-year tenure at Louisiana, Willis' defenses were ranked among the top units in the Sun Belt Conference with his 2014 squad leading the league, and ranking 35th among FBS schools in rushing defense (142.2 yards per game). Four players on defense – defensive tackle Christian Ringo (first team), nose tackle Justin Hamilton (first team), defensive back Corey Trim (second team) and linebacker Dominique Tovell (honorable mention) earned All-Sun Belt Conference honors after the 2014 season with Ringo being named the LSWA Defensive Player of the Year.

A first-team All-SEC selection during his playing days at Auburn, Willis spent seven years in the NFL, playing for the Green Bay Packers (1993-94), Philadelphia Eagles (1995-98) and Seattle Seahawks (1999). Over the course of his NFL playing career, Willis was a part of six playoff teams, including a pair of appearances in the NFC Championship game.

"I'm excited for James and his opportunity," Hudspeth said. "Obviously, as a player in the National Football League, he has to be excited to have the opportunity to go back and coach at the highest level. We appreciate the work that James did here at UL and wish him and his family the best in the future.

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