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Hampton Feeling at Home in Return to ULM

Hampton Feeling at Home in Return to ULM

Football Aug 24
By ULMWarhawks.com Online Columnist Paul Letlow

MONROE, La. – His own playing career bridged the program's move up to the highest level of college football.

Now 25 years later, Alonzo Hampton has returned to the Monroe, Louisiana, campus to be part of ULM's reconstruction project as assistant head coach and safeties coach.

"It's good being back and having the chance to coach at my alma mater," said Hampton, a ULM defensive back from 1993-96. "Hopefully, we can change the program around."

Hampton made it clear from the beginning of the 2020 ULM coaching search that he was eager for a homecoming. He emerged as a buzzy head coaching candidate before ULM ultimately hired Terry Bowden. But Bowden was intrigued by the support former players gave Hampton's candidacy and tapped him as a member of his first staff.

"Alonzo has been a part of the ULM family for a long time, and now, he can share his love for this University and its football program with our staff members," Bowden said when announcing the hire. "As assistant head coach, he'll also play an important role in building relationships here on campus as well as in our local community."

Hampton's first tour of duty at ULM came when the school was known as Northeast Louisiana University. The Warren, Arkansas, native started his career with Dave Roberts in 1993 and finished with three seasons under Ed Zaunbrecher after ULM's leap to Football Championship Subdivision.

"It's definitely a lot different than when I left it," Hampton said. "Obviously, the campus has changed a lot for the better. You look at it and it's more open now, and a lot more new buildings around the place.

"Obviously, we've stepped up as far as competition. But that's been good."

When the former resident of Breard Hall makes his rounds and sees the investments made to improve ULM, he takes pride in his contributions to the cause.

"I used to study many nights in the library, and now, they've got a new library," Hampton said. "A lot of teammates ask me what it's like. I tell them this, 'We took some whuppin's and we gave some whuppin's as we transitioned up, so this university could look like this.' We take a lot of pride in that. It's a pride factor for me. I want to leave this place better this time than I did the last time I was here."

Hampton, who finished his career with 201 tackles, three interceptions and 16 pass break-ups, served as a team captain as a senior in 1996. He earned his bachelor's degree in business administration from ULM in May 1996 and a Master of Arts in teaching from the University of Arkansas at Monticello in August 2002.

Players from Hampton's era endured a rugged path to success.

"We had three-a-days back in the day," Hampton said. "Now, you can only do one (practice) a day. And I'll be honest, I thought I was going to die in practice every day. I really did, because it seems like it never ended."

Hampton's coaching career includes numerous high profile jobs, including an impressive ride on the Willie Taggart bus that included stops at Florida State, Oregon, South Florida and Western Kentucky.

Now, several months into his ULM opportunity, Hampton is utilizing his unique perspective to mentor the current Warhawks.

"You want to create a sense of competition among the players, that on any given day, you may have somebody beat you out of your position," Hampton said. "I think that's what we've been able to do. We've been able to add some guys to the group to make everybody compete on a daily basis. It's kind of that iron sharpens iron mentality."

Hampton's return has heightened his desire to create a welcoming environment for other former players who choose to stay involved.

"Any time guys invest in a program four to five years, what you want to do is get those guys back around the program and tell the guys on the team now what this program was built on," Hampton said. "We're standing on the shoulders of a lot of great people. The 1987 National Championship team, I wanted to be just like those guys. When I got a chance to meet those guys, I didn't want to let them down. When I got here, I was trying to work hard to get us another one."

Even with his feet planted firmly in the present, Hampton's ULM experience allows him to reminisce. He  is excited for Dave Roberts, who will be inducted into the ULM L Club Hall of Fame during the upcoming football season.

"Coach Roberts, I talk to him two or three times a year," Hampton said. "He's a guy who recruited me and brought me here. Back in those days in 1992 and 1993, we were a really good I-AA program. We had a lot of guys drafted. For him to think enough of me to think I could play on his team. … Every guy we recruited back in the day, we thought we could play in the NFL. That was our mentality. Coach Roberts and his staff were very similar to this staff.

"We want to recruit guys that want to play on the next level."

Hampton added, "It will be good for him and it's something he's earned. I know a lot of the former players I've talked to will be back that weekend. It will be good to see him. His son is a good friend of mine and coaching in the New Orleans area. We'll get a chance to catch up again."

Indeed, Hampton is ready to serve his alma mater as a coach and a welcoming ambassador as he moves forward.

"Those guys want to come back," Hampton said. "Even though it looks different, at the end of the day, we feel like we've helped create this atmosphere here."

 
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