University of Georgia Athletics
Women's Basketball
Ayla Guzzardo
- Title:
- Head Coach
Ayla Guzzardo, who led McNeese State to the best single-season turnaround in NCAA Division I women’s basketball with a school-record 29 wins during the 2025-26 season, was named the fourth head coach of Georgia Lady Bulldog basketball on April 5, 2026.
The three-time Southland Conference champion and Coach of the Year engineered a 19-win improvement in her lone season with the Cowgirls, taking the team from a 10-21 record the year before her arrival to a 29-6 mark during the 2025-26 campaign.
In addition to a school-record win total, the team won just the third conference title in McNeese State history. The Cowgirls also recorded their first victory over a Power 4 team since 2014.
“We are excited to welcome Ayla and her family to the University of Georgia,” Brooks said. “This is a great day for our women’s basketball program. When looking for the next head coach, our goal was to find someone who would connect with our fans, support our student-athletes and continue to build on the proud tradition of Lady Bulldog basketball. Ayla’s passion is unmatched. She is a proven winner and someone our fans will love following. We can’t wait for her to get started.”
Guzzardo spent one season at McNeese State after leading Southeastern Louisiana on a historic run. She guided the Lions to the 2023 NCAA Tournament, with an average of 22 wins, a pair of Southland Conference titles and an impressive 47-9 league record over her final three seasons.
“I want to thank President Morehead, Josh Brooks, Darrice Griffin and the entire Georgia family for entrusting me with this dream opportunity,” Guzzardo said. “To everyone at McNeese State, I cannot thank you enough for all your love and support during our time with you. Georgia is a special program that helped lay the foundation for the success of our sport. From Coach Landers to our great alumni and our passionate fan base, Lady Bulldog basketball has a storied history and is set up for continued excellence moving forward. I am humbled with the trust you have placed in me and look and forward to working with our staff and student-athletes to build special relationships with our students, this University and the Athens community. Go Dawgs!”
A native of Hammond, La., Guzzardo joined the Southeastern staff in 2016-17 as an assistant coach before being elevated to head coach in 2017-18. She spent the next eight seasons building a powerhouse in the Southland Conference.
Guzzardo began her coaching career at her alma mater, Akron University, where she served for four seasons. She then moved back to Hammond to become a successful high school coach at St. Thomas Aquinas, leading the team to the 2014-15 Top 28.
“We are delighted to welcome Coach Ayla Guzzardo to the University of Georgia,” said UGA President Jere W. Morehead. “We take great pride in the tradition of our women’s basketball program, and we are excited about the future of Lady Bulldog basketball under her leadership. Coach Guzzardo brings a record of success and a strong commitment to student-athlete development, and we look forward to all she will accomplish in Athens.”
A 2010 graduate of Akron University, Guzzardo ranked among conference leaders in assists, assist-to-turnover ratio and steals per game during her playing career. In just two seasons with the Zips, she owns the ninth-best career assists total with 238.
Guzzardo began her collegiate career at Shelton State Community College, where she helped lead the team to a 62-9 record and a pair of conference titles.
Guzzardo has three children – Cameron, Madden and Lumen.
Quotes about Coach Guzzardo
Kim Mulkey, Head Coach at LSU
“Ayla has earned this opportunity. I have watched her teams from afar, and I have played against her teams. She is an outstanding coach and an even better human being. She is a tireless worker and has proven herself to be a winner everywhere she has coached. Being from the same hometown, I have watched her grow up and become one heck of a basketball coach. While she will make my job harder in the SEC, I am so happy and proud of her. As we say in Louisiana — way to Geaux Georgia and Ayla!”
Heath Schroyer, Former McNeese State Director of Athletics and current Sr. Deputy AD at LSU
“Ayla is an incredible hire for the University of Georgia. She’s been a star for years, and this opportunity is a true reflection of her hard work and success. She’s a passionate coach who runs a comprehensive program. I’ve never seen players love their coach more or be more willing to play hard for her. It says everything about who she is as a leader. She’s the complete package: great in the community, a fierce competitor, and a tireless recruiter. Georgia got a great one.”
Jodi Kest, former University of Akron Head Coach
“I loved coaching Ayla at Akron and loved watching her growth as a player and now as one of the top young coaches in the game. As a head coach, her biggest strength is her ability to relate and communicate to her players. She will bring toughness, passion and enthusiasm both on and off the court. The community of Athens and her players will love Ayla and her family as much as I do.”
The three-time Southland Conference champion and Coach of the Year engineered a 19-win improvement in her lone season with the Cowgirls, taking the team from a 10-21 record the year before her arrival to a 29-6 mark during the 2025-26 campaign.
In addition to a school-record win total, the team won just the third conference title in McNeese State history. The Cowgirls also recorded their first victory over a Power 4 team since 2014.
“We are excited to welcome Ayla and her family to the University of Georgia,” Brooks said. “This is a great day for our women’s basketball program. When looking for the next head coach, our goal was to find someone who would connect with our fans, support our student-athletes and continue to build on the proud tradition of Lady Bulldog basketball. Ayla’s passion is unmatched. She is a proven winner and someone our fans will love following. We can’t wait for her to get started.”
Guzzardo spent one season at McNeese State after leading Southeastern Louisiana on a historic run. She guided the Lions to the 2023 NCAA Tournament, with an average of 22 wins, a pair of Southland Conference titles and an impressive 47-9 league record over her final three seasons.
“I want to thank President Morehead, Josh Brooks, Darrice Griffin and the entire Georgia family for entrusting me with this dream opportunity,” Guzzardo said. “To everyone at McNeese State, I cannot thank you enough for all your love and support during our time with you. Georgia is a special program that helped lay the foundation for the success of our sport. From Coach Landers to our great alumni and our passionate fan base, Lady Bulldog basketball has a storied history and is set up for continued excellence moving forward. I am humbled with the trust you have placed in me and look and forward to working with our staff and student-athletes to build special relationships with our students, this University and the Athens community. Go Dawgs!”
A native of Hammond, La., Guzzardo joined the Southeastern staff in 2016-17 as an assistant coach before being elevated to head coach in 2017-18. She spent the next eight seasons building a powerhouse in the Southland Conference.
Guzzardo began her coaching career at her alma mater, Akron University, where she served for four seasons. She then moved back to Hammond to become a successful high school coach at St. Thomas Aquinas, leading the team to the 2014-15 Top 28.
“We are delighted to welcome Coach Ayla Guzzardo to the University of Georgia,” said UGA President Jere W. Morehead. “We take great pride in the tradition of our women’s basketball program, and we are excited about the future of Lady Bulldog basketball under her leadership. Coach Guzzardo brings a record of success and a strong commitment to student-athlete development, and we look forward to all she will accomplish in Athens.”
A 2010 graduate of Akron University, Guzzardo ranked among conference leaders in assists, assist-to-turnover ratio and steals per game during her playing career. In just two seasons with the Zips, she owns the ninth-best career assists total with 238.
Guzzardo began her collegiate career at Shelton State Community College, where she helped lead the team to a 62-9 record and a pair of conference titles.
Guzzardo has three children – Cameron, Madden and Lumen.
Quotes about Coach Guzzardo
Kim Mulkey, Head Coach at LSU
“Ayla has earned this opportunity. I have watched her teams from afar, and I have played against her teams. She is an outstanding coach and an even better human being. She is a tireless worker and has proven herself to be a winner everywhere she has coached. Being from the same hometown, I have watched her grow up and become one heck of a basketball coach. While she will make my job harder in the SEC, I am so happy and proud of her. As we say in Louisiana — way to Geaux Georgia and Ayla!”
Heath Schroyer, Former McNeese State Director of Athletics and current Sr. Deputy AD at LSU
“Ayla is an incredible hire for the University of Georgia. She’s been a star for years, and this opportunity is a true reflection of her hard work and success. She’s a passionate coach who runs a comprehensive program. I’ve never seen players love their coach more or be more willing to play hard for her. It says everything about who she is as a leader. She’s the complete package: great in the community, a fierce competitor, and a tireless recruiter. Georgia got a great one.”
Jodi Kest, former University of Akron Head Coach
“I loved coaching Ayla at Akron and loved watching her growth as a player and now as one of the top young coaches in the game. As a head coach, her biggest strength is her ability to relate and communicate to her players. She will bring toughness, passion and enthusiasm both on and off the court. The community of Athens and her players will love Ayla and her family as much as I do.”
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