Lamar University Athletics

A veteran of coaching in the Southland Conference, David Dumars joined the Lamar University men's basketball coaching staff after spending 18 years at McNeese, the final 14 seasons as associate head coach. Dumars’ arrival in Beaumont marks the second time he and LU head coach Tic Price have served on the same staff.


Dumars helped LU reach the 20-win plateau during his first season, despite the fact Big Red started the year with eight new players. The Cardinals closed the year winning nine of their final 10 games to put the wraps on its most successful three-year stretch since the 1982-83 through 1984-85 seasons.
 
In addition to the team’s overall success, guard Nick Garth garnered first-team all-conference honors. It marked the third consecutive season the Cards had a first-team All-Southland selection.
 
Dumars helped LU orchestrate another magical run late in the 2019-20 season, despite a roster that boasted of only four returning players from the year before. The Cardinals’ overwhelming youth and inexperience didn’t prevent Big Red from winning 17 games and enter the postseason tournament as one of the league’s hottest teams. The Cardinals opened the tournament with an overwhelming 80-59 victory over rival McNeese before the COVID pandemic canceled the rest of the tournament. 

Dumars also helped Beaumont native T.J. Atwood bounce back from a season-ending injury midway through the 2018-19 season to produce a career year last season. Atwood produced career numbers ranking fifth in the league in scoring, 11th in rebounds, fourth in field percentage and among the top 20 in blocks and steals. He closed out the year by earning second-team all-conference honors. 
 
During his time in Lake Charles, Dumars played a key role in helping the Cowboys win three Southland Conference titles under the direction of three different head coaches (including Price), in addition to four postseason appearances including the 2002 NCAA Championships. The Cowboys also made four Southland tournament finals appearances during his time on the other side of the border.
 
Dumars also played an integral role in helping McNeese produce its two most recent Southland Conference Players of the Year. Demond Mallet received the honor in 2001 while Patrick Richard garnered MVP honors in 2012.
 
Dumars made the unlikely switch to basketball coaching after spending 13 seasons as an assistant football coach, including 11 at the collegiate level. Dumars began his coaching career serving as the pass coordinator and defensive backs coach at Tallulah High School before moving to a collegiate sideline. After two seasons with Tallulah, Dumars became the secondary coach at Southeast Missouri State where he would spend the next 11 seasons.
 
During his time in Cape Girardeau, Dumars produced one of the best defensive backfields in the country. He produced 10 All-Ohio Valley defensive backs and coached two All-Americans. Three of his athletes would go on to be drafted into professional football.
 
A 1980 graduate of UL-Monroe, Dumars was a standout player for the Warhawks. Following his collegiate career, Dumars continued his playing career spending the 1982 season with the NFL's New York Jets. Dumars also spent time in the Canadian Football League and was a two-time All-Pro strong safety for the Denver Gold of the United States Football League. Dumars, and his wife, Marsha, have two children - Davique and LaTasha - and two grandchildren.