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        NEW ORLEANS — Xavier University of Louisiana rolled out the red carpet Wednesday for Nathan Cochran — XULA's new executive director of athletics and recreation — and his wife, Candice. But that gesture merely was proverbial; red never was in the plans.
        For Cochran's first day on the job, XULA instead focused on its school colors of gold and white and, to a lesser extent, Carnival colors of purple, gold and green.
        Men's basketball standout Makye Richard chauffeured the Cochrans in a golf cart during four brief mid-afternoon, rain-dodging campus stops — the Gumbo Garden, St. Katharine Drexel Chapel, Norman C. Francis Science/Academic Complex and XULA Tennis Center — with Xavierites at each venue to explain XULA's long-time commitment to service, leadership and faith, academic excellence and winning.
        Waiting for the Cochrans at the tennis courts were about 200 people, including student-athletes, coaches, staff, alumni and a band to lead all in a block-and-a-half second-line jaunt — Carnival style — to the Convocation Center Annex.
        Inside the Rev. Etido Jerome led the crowd in a prayer, then Vice President Curtis Wright and President Reynold Verret introduced the Cochrans.
        "We got the right person," Verret said. "One of the things that really struck me when I first met Coach Cochran and read his bio was that he began as a teacher. He's a math teacher. He's an educator. He's about forming people in many ways — mind, body and spirit. What he brings to us is wisdom. We look forward to the work that Nathan will do, not only today, but also in the future."
        Cochran arrived to XULA from Kentucky State, where he served as assistant head football coach and coordinator of recruiting and compliance the past 2 1/2 years. His professional career spans nearly 20 years as a collegiate administrator and a football and track and field coach. Almost 70 percent of his employment has been at four HBCUs: Philander Smith, Paine, Lincoln (Mo.) and Allen. Cochran is a 2000 graduate of another HBCU, South Carolina State, where he was a football running back.
        "For me this is a dream come true," said Cochran, who got a closer look at XULA during his slightly more than two years (2017-19) as the director of athletics at Philander Smith when both schools were Gulf Coast Athletic Conference members. "We can't wait to get started and build the program you all would love to see and to enrich your lives. I thank you for this opportunity."