Wayne State University Athletics

Lou West announced his retirement from coaching.

Football 12/20/2021 10:30:00 AM Jeff Weiss, Senior Associate Director of Athletics/Media Relations

Defensive Coordinator Lou West Announces Retirement

DETROIT -- Lou West, who has served on Paul Winters coaching staff the last five seasons (2017-21), announced his retirement from the coaching profession earlier this month after being a collegiate football coach since 1977 at every level including junior college, Division 3, Division 2 and Division 1 over the last 45 years.

West was hired in March of 2017 as the co-defensive coordinator, secondary coach and defensive passing game coordinator for the Warriors.

"Coach Lou West is a great man who will be missed," commented Winters. "We will miss the spiritual leadership that he brought to the program and the friendship that he brought to the staff. Wayne State football lost a great coach when he retired, but even a better man and friend."

"I'm excited to get back home to Indiana and be close to my kids and grandchildren," said West. "My wife has been living there the last 10-plus years while I was coaching at a few different schools. The last five years at Wayne State has been really good for me because of the people I was associated with. They made my last few years of coaching really enjoyable. In Paul Winters, not only did I get a head coach, but I have a brother and a true friend.

"I've really enjoyed coaching so many good players over the years, but the two most recent from WSU were James Howard and Greg McDade. I've had guys go on to professional football careers and some have entered the coaching profession. One of my coaching highlights was to be able to coach at my alma mater, the University of Cincinnati," remarked West.

He tutored nine All-GLIAC honorees in the four playing seasons he coached in Midtown Detroit with both Dalen Peeks and Drake Reid earning Honorable Mention All-GLIAC recognition at the conclusion of the 2021 campaign.

Despite attending school during a pandemic, three of his defensive backs earned Academic All-GLIAC recognition for the 2020-21 academic year, including Reid who received GLIAC All-Academic Excellence recognition.

During the 2019 season, West helped mentor three GLIAC All-Academic honorees, including one (Kyle Toth), who was a First Team CoSIDA Academic All-American, a GLIAC Commissioner's Award recipient, and the WSU Football Scholar-Athlete.

Three of his defensive backs earned All-GLIAC recognition in 2019, as McDade (2nd Team), Myron Riley-Brown (Honorable Mention) and Toth (Honorable Mention) were recognized for their on-the-field performance.

WSU led the GLIAC in interceptions returned for a touchdown (4) in 2019, ranked second in interception return yards (161), finished tied-for-second in interceptions (10) and was third in fewest points allowed (21.9), while compiling a 7-1 league record. Nationally, WSU was 13th in defensive touchdowns (4), 18th in sacks (3.0 per game), 21st in third-down defense (30.6% - 44-of-144), and 23rd in red zone defense (69.2%).

In 2018, he helped tutor three All-GLIAC honorees in Second Team selection Greg McDade, and Honorable Mention recipients Tieler Houston and Kyle Toth. Houston was also voted WSU's Defensive Rookie of the Year, while Toth was a CoSIDA Academic All-American. The Warriors ranked seventh nationally in fewest passing yards allowed per game (148.5).

In his first season with the Warriors, West helped mentor three Academic All-GLIAC honorees, including Toth who received GLIAC All-Academic Excellence recognition. In addition, cornerback James Howard was voted to the All-GLIAC Second Team, and junior cornerback Myron Riley-Brown, a junior college transfer, was voted WSU's Defensive Rookie of the Year.

West played collegiately at the University of Cincinnati (1973-76), where he played defensive back. He earned three letters and recorded four interceptions and six fumble recoveries during his career. Following his senior campaign, he played in the Blue-Gray Classic and the North-South Shrine Bowl, and was drafted in the 11th round of the 1977 NFL Draft by the Pittsburgh Steelers.

We wish Coach West the best in his retirement.

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Players Mentioned

#23 Tieler Houston: S; 6' 2"; Freshman

#3 Greg McDade: CB; 6' 1"; Redshirt Junior

#RS Myron Riley-Brown: CB; 5' 9"; Senior

#13 Kyle Toth: S; 6' 2"; Redshirt Junior

#13 Dalen Peeks: CB; 6' 0"; Redshirt Sophomore

#3 Drake Reid: CB; 5' 10"; Redshirt Sophomore

Players Mentioned

#23 Tieler Houston
: 6' 2"; Freshman
: S

#3 Greg McDade
: 6' 1"; Redshirt Junior
: CB

#RS Myron Riley-Brown
: 5' 9"; Senior
: CB

#13 Kyle Toth
: 6' 2"; Redshirt Junior
: S

#13 Dalen Peeks
: 6' 0"; Redshirt Sophomore
: CB

#3 Drake Reid
: 5' 10"; Redshirt Sophomore
: CB