LAKE CHARLES – McNeese Vice President and Director of Athletics Heath Schroyer has announced the hiring of two-time Southland Conference champion and two-time league Coach of the Year, Ayla Guzzardo, to lead the McNeese Cowgirls into its new era of basketball.
 
A press conference to introduce Guzzardo will be held at noon on Monday in the Kleckley Room in the Legacy Center. The public is encouraged to attend.
 
Guzzardo has spent the last eight seasons as the head coach at Southeastern Louisiana where she guided the Lady Lions to two of the last three Southland Conference championships, including this season when her team steam-rolled through league play with a 19-1 record.
 
She's a two-time SLC Coach of the Year recipient (2023 and 2025) and guided the Lady Lions to the 2023 NCAA Tournament and the 2025 WBIT. Her Lady Lions have reached the semifinals of the Southland tourney in each of the last five seasons, has posted a 120-107 record overall, and an 87-54 mark in Southland play.
 
"I am incredibly honored and grateful for the opportunity to lead the women's basketball program at McNeese State University," commented Guzzardo. "McNeese is a place with a proud tradition, passionate fans, and a commitment to excellence in every way. I'm excited to get to work building something special. I want to thank Athletic Director Heath Schroyer and (McNeese) President Dr. Wade Rousse for their belief in me and I can't wait to pour into our student-athletes, compete in the Southland, and represent this university with pride."
 
Said Schroyer: "I couldn't be more excited about the hiring of Ayla to be our next Cowgirls' basketball head coach. I've followed her career for the last few years and she's one of the best young coaches in America.
 
"Coach Guzzardo and I share the same vision. She knows how to win championships in this league and we have championship expectations at McNeese. We're excited to welcome her to Southwest Louisiana."
 
A 2010 graduate of Akron University, she began her coaching career at her Alma Mater where she was on staff for four years before returning to her hometown of Hammond to coach at St. Thomas Aquinas High where she helped lead the team to an appearance in the 2014-15 Top 28 which was played in Lake Charles at the time.
 
She joined the Southeastern staff in 2015-16 as the top assistant coach before being elevated to head coach for the 2016-17 season.
 
Guzzardo has three children – Cameron, Madden and Lumen.
 
The Ayla Guzzardo File
College Coaching Experience
2010-14           Assistant Coach – Akron
2015-16           Assistant Coach – Southeastern Louisiana
2016-25          Head Coach – Southeastern Louisiana
 
Year-by-Year Head Coach Results
Year               School                          Overall            Conf            Finish           Postseason
2024-25      Southeastern          26-6                    19-1              1^st                     SLC Finals – WBIT
2023-24      Southeastern          19-12                 14-4              T-2^nd                SLC Semifinals
2022-23      Southeastern          21-10                 14-4              1^st                     SLC Champions – NCAA
2021-22      Southeastern          16-11                 10-4              3^rd                     SLC Finals
2020-21      Southeastern          11-8                    10-5              2^nd                    SLC Semifinals
2019-20      Southeastern          12-17                 9-11              8^th                     No Postseason-Covid
2018-19      Southeastern          9-20                    4-14              12^th
2017-18      Southeastern          8-21                    7-11              9^th
2016-17      Southeastern          5-24                    3-15              12^th