Coach Sonny Jolly patiently resurrected the Lamar University track and field program, created a dynasty in the Southland Conference and guided it to national prominence with astounding success during a 20-year reign. The university, along with many of Jolly’s former athletes, paid tribute to his success with the naming of Sonny Jolly Track at Ty Terrell Track Complex.
A reception, with Jolly and nearly 100 of his former athletes, gathered July 25 inside the Wayne A. Reaud Building.
Prior to the Jolly era, the Cardinals were always contenders but managed just two conference championships. After six years of molding the program, his teams attained the pinnacle of success. From 1978 through 1986, the Cardinals captured nine consecutive Southland Conference outdoor track and field championships. Overall, his teams collected a combined 22 cross country, indoor and outdoor conference titles.
Jolly was named conference Coach of the Year nine times. He coached 40 AllAmericans, one NCAA national champion and a pair of mile-relay teams that claimed second-place finishes in the NCAA. Several of his athletes were participants in the 1984 United States Olympic Trials and the 1984 Summer Olympics. In 1988, Jolly was the head coach of the winning U.S. National Team in a dual meet with Great Britain. He served on the U.S. coaching staff at the 1991 Pan American Games.
In addition to his coaching tenure, Jolly’s association with LU stretch from the period when he was a student-athlete and letterman in track to the five years he spent as director of athletics.
Jolly, a graduate of South Park High School in Beaumont, received a scholarship offer from then LU track coach, Ty Terrell.
“Coach Terrell had a huge impact on my life,” said Jolly. “I would have never been able to go to college if he didn’t give me a scholarship.”
Current LU head track coach, Trey Clark who also ran for Coach Jolly, said it was about the trophies, but the stories behind the trophies.
“Jolly took care of us as people,” said Clark, “He got to coach on the track named after his coach (Terrell), and now when I go to my first practice, I’ll be on the track named for my coach.”
Senior defensive lineman Caleb Williams was named a Stat Perform FCS Preseason Third-Team All-American announced FCS Senior Editor Craig Haley. Originally from Houston, Williams becomes the Cardinals first preseason All-American since former Cardinals Bret Treadway (offensive line) and Kade Harrington (running back) received the honor heading into the 2016 season.
Williams, who is entering his sixth season with the program following a redshirt year followed by the COVIDshortened season, was one of 12 Cardinals named to the 2024 Preseason AllSouthland Conference squad.
Williams really came into his own last season playing in and starting all 11 games on the Cards’ defensive front. He recorded 57 total tackles, including 14 solo stops. He also ranked among the team leaders with 6.0 tackles for losses.
Over the course of the last two seasons, Williams has played in 21 games making 15 starts. During that stretch he has recorded 83 total stops with 21 of those being unassisted and 8.5 tackles for losses.
Soccer head coach Nathan Kogut recently announced the eight-game nonconference portion of the 2024 schedule. Five of these contests will be at the LU Soccer Complex including a season and home opener Aug. 15 against Texas A&M and another match against perennial NCAA Tournament team Denver 10 days later.
Before the two-time defending Southland Conference champs take on the Aggies, they will have two exhibitions to prep themselves for the upcoming campaign. First up will be Blinn College on Tuesday, Aug. 6, at 7 p.m. and will then host their annual Red-White scrimmage Saturday, Aug. 10, at 7 p.m.
The match against A&M will be the first time Lamar has hosted a SEC opponent since 2019 when Alabama faced off against LU.
Following LU’s home opener, they will alternate home and away games from Aug. 22 to Sept. 8. The road games in this stretch will be against Abilene Christian (Aug. 22), Rice (Aug. 29), and South Alabama (Sept. 5) while Big Red hosts Denver (Aug. 25), Sam Houston (Sept. 1), and Texas Southern (Sept. 8). The last nonconference game sees the Cardinals hosting Louisiana on Sep. 12 before the conference season begins Sept. 22.
“We are really excited about our nonconference schedule this fall,” Kogut said. “Our 2024 team will be tested by national tournament teams as well as teams that are consistently competing for berths at the end of each year. Our schedule is set up to test us and make us grow so that we are able to be ready for Southland Conference play. Our home schedule is one where our fans will get to see quality opponents in Beaumont and our fans can help us make a difference like they have the last few years. Being able to mix in a SEC opponent and renew some in state rivalries means there’s something for everyone this year.”
Lamar returns 19 players from last year’s league championship squad including SLC Defensive Player of the Year Arely Alaniz, midfielder of the year Alana Clark, first-teamer Isela Ramirez and second-teamers Caragan Childs and Trinity Clark.