Historic Year of Change, Wins

By Jim Gazzolo

As we ring in the new year, we look back at one of the more interesting 12 months in McNeese athletic history.

From coaching changes to historic victories, 2025 will be long remembered for how much has changed in December compared to January, as the Cowboys continued to grow through investments and key victories.

Here is a look at the five biggest stories over the last year in McNeese Athletics.

5. Softball

There were a lot of big moments last spring when it came to the McNeese softball program. James Landreneau became the all-time winningest head coach in the team’s history in February. 

He would earn his second straight Southland Conference Coach of the Year and fourth of his career at the end as well. The Cowgirls also won 40 games for the fourth consecutive time.

Four seemed to be the magic number as Landreneau’s crew became the first SLC team to win four regular-season league titles in a row despite being a very young team. 

However, the season ended on a reversed review call in the final inning of the postseason title game, leaving McNeese home for the NCAA Tournament. Still, it was a rebuilding year that exceeded expectations.

4. Coaching Moves

Bill Armstrong replaced his good friend Will Wade as the head coach of men’s basketball and promptly won 10 of his first 12 games. Wade moved on to North Carolina State, but keeps his eye on the program he turned around.

Ayla Guzzardo, who led Southeastern to back-to-back league titles, moved to McNeese to replace Lynn Kennedy, bringing most of her players and all of her staff.

The duo has McNeese fans dreaming of not one but two NCAA Tournament berths come this spring.

3. Viator Returns

Matt Viator returned as the head football coach at McNeese after nine years away from the program. He also became the winningest coach in program history when the Cowboys beat Louisiana College in the season opener.

Viator previously coached McNeese to five FCS playoff appearances during his first stint as the Cowboy coach. 

The Cowboys finished strong in Viator’s return, winning four of their last five games to end with a 5-6 record. A solid early recruiting class followed that.

2. Investments

The athletic program received a significant funding boost thanks to a pair of naming-rights deals and sponsorships.

The total amount for the take was $11 million, with the largest being the football home, Navarre Stadium. The home basketball facility was also renamed Townsley Law Arena.

McNeese Athletic Director hopes for more of the same in 2026 as the Cowboys try to keep up with the changing financial landscape of college athletics.

1. NCAA Win

Before he left town, Wade gave McNeese its biggest win by upsetting Clemson in the first round of the NCAA Tournament. 

After building a huge lead, McNeese held on for a 69-67 victory over the Tigers, which crashed the school’s website. The Cowboys won despite the rumors of Wade’s impending departure to N.C. State.

The Cowboys would lose to Purdue in the second round, but the Clemson win lifted McNeese’s brand throughout college sports and helped them land this year’s recruits.

Jim Gazzolo is a freelance writer who covers sports in Southwest Louisiana. He is also the host of Poke Nation, which airs weekly on CBS Lake Charles.