A homecoming of sorts
Late Tuesday night it was reported by CBS’s Matt Zenitz that former Miami defensive coordinator and Louisiana native Lance Guidry would be joining the LSU coaching staff as an analyst.
A McNeese alum, Guidry cut his teeth with the Cowboys program. Guidry played for McNeese and was an All-Southland safety and got into high school coaching at Leesville and Carencro. His first college job came as the defensive backs coach at Miami (Ohio), where he served as the interim head coach for the Red Hawks in the 2010 season in which they won the GoDaddy.com bowl.
Guidry left Miami (Ohio) for Western Kentucky and served as the defensive coordinator. He would once again be the interim head coach for the Hilltoppers in the program’s first ever bowl appearance, the Little Ceasar’s Pizza Bowl.
From there Guidry returned to his alma mater and as the defensive coordinator for three seasons before eventually assuming the title of head coach. Guidry was part of McNeese staffs that helped the Cowboys to four Southland Conference championships and six appearances in the FCS playoffs, including a trip to the 2002 FCS championship game.
Guidry put himself on the map as the defensive coordinator at Marshall where his defenses were dominant in the two years he was there. In 2021 the Herd’s defense was a top-30 unit, and then in 2022 they ranked sixth nationally in points per game (16.0) and eighth in total defense (294.5 yards per game). His reward was the defensive coordinator position for the Miami Hurricanes under Mario Cristobal.
Guidry’s defenses at Miami were so-so at best. Last season the Hurricanes ranked 68th in scoring defense (28 points per game) and allowed an average of 31 points to Power 4 opponents. Guidry was relieved of his duty by Cristobal after Miami lost the Pop Tarts Bowl to Iowa 42-41.