Head Coach | Ayla Guzzardo
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.
Guzzardo has spent the last eight seasons as the head coach at Southeastern 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 reached the semifinals of the Southland Tournament in each of the last five seasons, has posted a 122-105 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 2016-17 as the top assistant coach before being elevated to head coach for the 2017-18 season.
Guzzardo has three children – Cameron, Madden and Lumen.