ULM Warhawks

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Defensive line coach Manny Michel has always been a popular guy, both inside and outside the ULM football program.

Michel, who worked for four head coaches during two tours at ULM, announced his retirement last week. He coached his final game on Saturday when the Warhawks visited Florida State.

"I love ULM and want to thank all the fans that supported us through the years," Michel said. "All the players that I've coached, I'll miss them the most.

"I appreciate all of the coaches that I've worked with. I appreciate them being a part of me and I hope I met their expectations. I want to thank all the head coaches who hired me and kept me on. I had a stretch there where I went through three head coaches (at ULM) and they all saw fit to keep me.

"Most of all, I thank my wife and daughter for their unconditional support. Obviously, my mom and dad. They passed recently but without them, I wouldn't be here today."

Michel and wife Marge were frequently spotted at games across campus and supportive of all ULM athletics.

"We're going to travel and do some things we haven't ever done before," Michel said on Saturday. "See the world a little bit."

ULM head coach Matt Viator, who hired Michel twice, said several Florida State assistants came looking for him pregame to wish him well.

"Randy Sanders, who has been in this business a long time, defensive coordinator Charles Kelly who has been in the business a long time, Rick Trickett, long-time offensive line coach were all looking for Manny," Viator said. "That's the kind of person he is and reputation he has. You're looking at three guys who have won National Championships and they want to find Manny because they heard it's his last game and they want to hug his neck and congratulate him. He had that effect on a lot of people."

Michel came back to ULM from McNeese State when Viator became head coach. His first stint at ULM began in 1999 as defensive line coach for Bobby Keasler, and he was retained by both Mike Collins and Charlie Weatherbie when they were head coaches.  During that stretch, Michel coached All-Sun Belt performers Donald Malveaux (2001), John Thompson (2002), Brandon Guillory (2004, 2005), David Cooper (2007) and Aaron Morgan (2007).

"A great coach and a great recruiter," Viator said. "Everybody that Manny has an opportunity to work with loved him. He and Marge both, they're just good people. They stand for the right things."