A simple call in 2015 led to that start of the coaching career for Taylor Dupuis (Dup-wee). That call was on his birthday to new South Alabama Offensive Coordinator Bryant Vincent. This setup later calls that brought the Mobile native to the bayou as the new QB coach for the ULM Warhawks for the upcoming 2024 season.
"I knew when my playing days were done I wasn't done and wanted to get into coaching," Dupuis told Warhawkreport.com. "My dad happen to run into Coach Vincent, told him I wanted to get into coaching, and then I was hired on as a student assistant."
During his time at South Alabama, the Jaguars recorded 5-7 and 6-7 seasons, with wins over Mississippi State and San Diego State. 2016 saw the Jags earn their first ever bowl birth; the Arizona Bowl.
"I went on to become an (offensive) analyst at UAB, but as soon as coach Vincent got the ULM job, he called me to offer me a job here. My first call was to Trent Dilfer and told him I appreciate the opportunity at UAB, but I gotta get back to my family. Coach Dilfer was great to work with, but Coach Vincent is just family. He's really molded me into the coach and the man that I am today and made me a better person. As a student-assistant, the pay is not always there, but Vincent would make sure he invited us over for a cookout, to really get to know us on an individual level. He wasn't just a boss, he was always family."
Now that Dupuis is on the bayou, he inherits a full quarterback room with returners Brooks Alazone, Landon Graves, Hunter Herring, and Isiah Velez being joined by transfers Aidan Armenta, General Booty, and Reese Mooney.
"It all starts with taking care of the football; knowing protections; knowing the run game," Dupuis said. "At the QB position though, it's tough, there's one guy that's taking snaps, but we have to have a tight room to know that they have each other's backs. May 22, 2015, that's the first time I heard Coach Vincent say it, and it's still true today - Whoever is in the game, we got each other's back; it you're not in, we got each other's back. When ever you get your shot, you make the most of it."
While no starter has been named to-date, Dupuis has the tall task of ensuring the offensive units are in-sync to how the quarterbacks will play.
"You have to establish the run first, and we have a nasty and tough offensive line. Coach (Cameron) Blankenship does a great job with them, and those guys bring it everyday. At running back, we have the dirty three (returner Hunter Smith and newcomers James Jones and Oz Smith) and they are having a great competition there."
Although the first snap has yet to be played for the Warhawks and the new coaching staff, Dupuis says the attitude and drive is alive already.
"The guys that have been here over the summer and through fall. camp; just their willingness to buy in and go all-in. There's days, I have guys that will not leave my office, always wanting to know what's next, what else can we do. It really makes it fun as a coach, and really gets me excited for the way things are shaping up this season."
The 2024 season will kick off on August 29 against Jackson State.
