Lamar University Athletics

Wayne Cordova is in his seventh season with Lamar after making the move from Baton Rouge, La., where he spent one season on staff at Southern University. Cordova is an assistant on the defensive staff working directly with Lamar’s safeties.
 
During his time with the Cardinals, Cordova has made a name for himself for producing big time talent in the Cardinals secondary. In his first season in Beaumont, Cordova transformed sophomore Anthony Ruffin into one of the top young defensive backs at the FCS level. An all-conference selection in just his second season with the team, Ruffin led the Cardinals with 43 stops, including 28 solo tackles, and a team-high three interceptions in the COVID-shortened 2020 season. The following year, three of the Cardinals’ top four tacklers were safeties – a group which combined for four interceptions.
 
The most notable name among Cordova’s standouts is Beaumont Kristian Pugh. A product of West Brook High School, Pugh closed his career by leading the team in tackles (89), leading the league in interceptions (four) and earning first-team All-Southland Conference honors and third-team All-America honors in the midst of a run to the NCAA FCS Playoffs.
 
During his time in Beaumont, Cordova’s position group has recorded four All-Southland Conference selections, including a first-team honor and one All-American.
 
During his time in Baton Rouge, Cordova coached the Jaguars' safeties and served as the special teams coordinator. While at Southern, Cordova turned sophomore Tamaurice Smith into one of the league's top defensive backs. Smith garnered All-SWAC honors following a season that saw him record 27 tackles and a team-high five interceptions, including eight pass break ups.

Cordova made the move to Southern following two seasons in Lake Charles, La., serving as the safeties coach for his alma mater, McNeese. During his time with the Cowboys, Cordova produced an All-Southland selection in Dominique Hill. He also handled the role of Cowboys' director of football operations.

Cordova joined the collegiate ranks after earning his stripes at the high school level. He spent the 2016 season at Newman High School (La.) where he was the defensive coordinator, and prior to that, was on the Tulane Green Wave staff for two years as the director of player personnel-external relations. Cordova previously served as the head coach at St. Augustine (2006-08) and served as an assistant coach at Destrehan (2012-13) and Brother Martin (2009-11). Cordova got his start at the collegiate level at Grambling in 2013 where he was the director of player personnel. 
 
As a player, Cordova was named a member of the 75^th Anniversary Football Team as well as playing for the Cowboys' Southland Championship and 1997 National Championship Runner-Up squad. He helped guide McNeese to two playoff appearances during that time. A 1999 first-team All-Southland Football League selection, Cordova was named the Johnnie Caldarera Defensive Player of the Year after recording 113 tackles. He ended his career with 305 total tackles, ranking 11th on the school career record list.

He received his bachelor's degree from McNeese in 2005. Cordova has three children.