BEAUMONT, Texas – Assistant coaches Wayne Cordova (safeties) and Coby Gipson (receivers) have been retained announced Lamar University head coach Pete Rossomando Sunday morning. Both are entering their fourth season with the Cardinals.
 
Cordova has worked with the Cardinals' safeties during his time in the Golden Triangle. He was responsible for helping former Cardinal Anthony Ruffin garner all-conference honors and produced three of the team's top four tacklers in 2021. That trio combined for four interceptions, and transfer Divine Buckrham was one of the league's top newcomers that same season.
 
"I received a lot of great recommendations from people I trust regarding Wayne," said Rossomando. "He is a great fit for our defense, and I know our guys will love having him back. Also, I was impressed with his ability to not only recruit Texas but Louisiana as well."
 
Cordova came to Beaumont after producing similar talent for Southern in the Southwestern Athletic Conference. Cordova has experience with the Southland Conference as a former standout at McNeese. As a player, Cordova led the Cowboys to a conference title, a spot in the 1997 NCAA Division I-AA (now FCS) Championship Game and was later named to McNeese's 75th Anniversary team.
 
Gipson has worked with both the running backs and wide receivers during his time with Big Red and had a huge impact with the Cardinal receivers this past season. Under Gipson's direction, newcomer Sevonne Rhea was one of the top new receivers in the Southland. A sophomore with big-play ability, Rhea hauled in 24 catches for a team-best 448 yards, including two 100-yard performances. He also helped former starting quarterback Jalen Dummett make the transition to receiver where he led the team with 31 catches for 321 yards and three touchdowns in 2022.
 
"Coby's body of work was intriguing to me," said Rossomando. "After spending some time getting to know him, I could see how detailed he was in recruiting, and he did a great job with the receivers last season. He also has great experience recruiting throughout the state of Texas. Coby is a great addition to our staff."
 
Gipson got his start in the collegiate coaching ranks after a successful head coaching stint at Bishop T.K. Gorman High School in Tyler. Joining the Howard Payne staff, Gipson oversaw an offense that was one of the top-ranked rushing offenses in the American Southwest Conference, as well as setting school passing records. During the 2017 season, he produced the only freshman to be named first-team all-conference. After two seasons at HPU, Gipson spent one season East Texas Baptist where he switched to the defensive side of the ball coaching two of the league's top linemen (Anton Clark and James Wright IV).