HEAD COACH well. Over the course of his career, the team went from a 1.7 overall grade-point average to a 2.5 GPA and over 150 players were named to the All-SLC academic team and over 40 players were named to the Verizon All-Academic All American team. Daye took the head coaching job at Nicholls State after serving eight seasons under former Cleveland Brown, two-time NFL Coach of the Year Sam Rutigliano at Liberty University, where he served as the school’s defensive coordinator and defensive line coach. His first season in his defensive coordinator role proved to be an outstanding experience. The defense showcased itself as one of the most opportunistic squads in the I-AA ranks, leading the nation in turnovers (40), second in turnover margin (1.82), and yielded only 17.7 points per contest, the best mark by a Flames’ defensive squad over the previous 15 seasons. The Flames finished the season at 9-2 and nationally ranked No. 17. His football coaching experience began at Louisiana State University in 1986, where he worked under and also played for Bill Arnsparger “the architect of the Miami Dolphins’ ‘No-Name Defense’” in the early 1970s. He then coached two seasons for then-coach Mike Archer who is the current defensive coordinator at North Carolina State University. Initially, Daye came to LSU as a walk-on player. He earned a scholarship and later lettered at inside linebacker for the Tigers. While at LSU the Tigers won two Southeastern Conference Championships. Daye was a part of five teams that went to bowl games either as a player or coach. LSU represented the SEC as the league champions in the Sugar Bowl in 1985 and 1987, while also appearing in the 1983 Orange Bowl, 1985 Liberty Bowl and 1988 Gator Bowl and the 1989 Hall of Fame Bowl After his stint at LSU, Daye coached at Southern Mississippi under former head coach Curley Hallman in 1989-90. The Golden Eagles, whose then-roster included former Green Bay Packers star Brett Favre, made one postseason appearance during his stay there in the 1990 All American Bowl. The Ferriday, La., native was a two-time All-State performer at Huntington High School and earned a bachelor’s degree in general studies from LSU in 1986 and added a master’s degree in physical education from Southern Mississippi in 1990. Daye is married to the former Kathy Polko, also a graduate of LSU and a former All-SEC selection in gymnastics. His father Donnie Daye played for the 1958 National Champion LSU Tigers as a fullback/linebacker and coached for over 13 years, six seasons of which he was the defensive coordinator at New Mexico State University. His mother Penny was a feature majorette for the University of Missouri. mssulions.com missourisouthernlions @mososports 2014 Missouri Southern Football 47 <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<
2014 Missouri Southern Football
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