http://iberianet.com/articles/2007/08/2 ... orts40.txt
Badeaux takes reins at Arkansas State
Friday, August 17, 2007 12:10 PM CDT
BY CHRIS LANDRY, THE DAILY IBERIAN
JONESBORO, Ark. - Former New Iberia Senior High pole vaulter Lon Badeaux had a couple of goals in mind when coming out of USL.
Badeaux, who earned All-American status with a third-place finish for the Ragin' Cajuns at the 1996 NCAA Indoor Championships, wanted to continue competing at the professional level, and eventually become a coach.
He's had the opportunity to do both now, competing unattached (not affiliated with any team) for a few years before becoming an assistant coach at Arkansas State University. Badeaux took the next step in his career recently when he was named head track and cross country coach at ASU.
"Coming out (of college), I thought this was what I was going to do for a lifetime," said Badeaux. "When I realized I was not going to be an Olympic-type athlete, I got into coaching."
Badeaux earned a master's degree in exercise science from Kansas State University while he was training under former Olympic bronze medalist Earl Bell in Jonesboro, site of Arkansas State University. About the time he decided he wasn't going to compete anymore, an opening on the ASU staff provided him the chance to become a coach.
"It was a very smooth transition for me," said Badeaux, who is in his eighth year at ASU. "Coming out of USL, I knew I wanted to be a coach. That's why I got my master's, to ensure I could coach."
Badeaux served as interim head coach for six weeks at Arkansas State after former coach Jay Flanagan retired in April. The hard work he put in making sure the program stayed on track was a big factor in the decision to hire him as head coach, Badeaux believes. More than 70 people applied for the position, including head and assistant coaches at different levels.
"Probably the thing that I think helped me is the job I did when Coach Flanagan left," said Badeaux. "I continued because I knew we were in trouble, and they were taking a long time (hiring a new coach)."
"We are thrilled to announce Coach Badeaux as ASU's new head track and field coach," said school athletic director Dr. Dean Lee in a press release. "He comes highly regarded and highly respected not only by our student-athletes and the track and field community in Jonesboro, but also by his peers throughout the country. We have also been extremely grateful and impressed with his leadership and management style while he served as interim head coach during the transition period."
Badeaux, who set USL indoor (17 feet, 7 inches) and outdoor (17-51/2) pole vault records in his senior year of 1996, coached jumps and multis at Arkansas State, producing 41 Sun Belt Conference champions and seven school record holders. Among those have been five All-Americans and one Olympian. Badeaux has hired a good young sprint coach already, and is looking for a throws coach to complete the staff.
"I think what's going to help us is I'm a little bit younger (than Flanagan)," said Badeaux. "I'm hungry and I want to win."
Winning the Sun Belt is one of his goals for the Indians. He'd also like to see the cross country and women's track teams improve.
"Our men's team hasn't been bad," said Badeaux. "We should contend for conference championships indoors and outdoors. The women haven't been as competitive. It's a matter or working late and staying at it (to improve the women's team)."
Recruiting will be a key factor in making both the men's and women's teams competitive, Badeaux knows. Getting a couple of good athletes in can help make the Indians a contender nationally as well, he said.
"We do pretty well recruiting international athletes," said Badeaux. "Louisiana has an advantage over us because they have such good pure track and field athletes. Arkansas doesn't have that."
Still, he feels that the Indians can be competitive for conference championships, and if a few good athletes can develop into special athletes, for national honors as well.
Badeaux enjoys living in Jonesboro, he said, though he does miss home.
"I miss being down there," said Badeaux. "I miss the food. Jonesboro's not Louisiana, but it's not bad."
