Nicholls State assistant football coach Kent Keith has been named interim head coach, and a search committee has been formed to select the next head coach of the football program, the University Athletic Department announced today.The 2009 season was Keith’s third overseeing the Colonels’ wide receivers. Prior to that, Keith served as Nicholls’ offensive line coach in 2004 and running backs coach in 2005 and 2006. Keith, who earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees at Southwest Baptist College and began working in the coaching ranks 23 seasons ago, will oversee the day-to-day operations of the Colonel football program.

“Kent Keith has head coaching experience. He was the most logical choice in terms of keeping the program moving forward during this important recruiting period,” said Rob Bernardi, Nicholls State Athletics Director.

Meanwhile, the Nicholls athletic department also announced the formation of an 11-member search committee to begin the process of finding a new head coach of the Nicholls football team. The diverse committee is made up of Nicholls athletic department administrators, local business and community leaders, and former members of the Nicholls football program.