March 11, 2008

Mike Collins and Lance Guidry, two former McNeese State assistant football coaches, have rejoined the staff.

Head coach Matt Viator made the announcement of the additions of the two coaches, adding that Collins will coach linebackers and Guidry will coach the secondary.

Viator also noted that Lark Hebert will continue to serve as the defensive coordinator and coach the defensive line and that quarterback coach Tim Leger and wide receiver coach Broderick Fobbs will also serve as co-offensive coordinators.

The remainder of the Cowboy football coaching staff has Carlos McGee as running backs coach, Reggie Nelson as offensive line coach, Jeff Breaux as the tight end coach, Zack Bronson as a defensive backfield assistant and Buck Harris as a defensive line assistant.

Collins was an assistant coach for the Cowboys during the Bobby Keasler era, serving as linebacker coach from 1991 to 1998 when McNeese won four Southland Conference titles and played in the FCS championship game in 1997.

Guidry served as defensive coordinator and coached the secondary for the Cowboys under Tommy Tate from 2000 to 2004, McNeese winning three straight SLC crowns and making it to the finals in the FCS championship series.

A graduate of Louisiana-Monroe, where he was a four year football letterman, Collins had previously served as an assistant coach at LSU, Louisiana-Monroe and Northwestern State as well as head coach at his alma mater.

In 1998 he left McNeese to become the defensive coordinator at Louisiana-Monroe, remaining there until 2003. He served as both interim and head coach at Louisiana-Monroe.

He then served as the linebacker coach at LSU under Nick Saban and then became the defensive coordinator and assistant head coach at Northwestern State. Last year Collins served as linebacker coach at Kilgore (TX) High School.

Lance Guidry, secondary coach

Guidry played his college football at McNeese State, earning all-conference honors, and also spent five years in the high school ranks before first joining McNeese in 2000.

During his initial stint at McNeese he served as defensive coordinator and helped such players as Joe Judge, Keith Smith and Hadley Prince earn all-America honors.

For the past three years Guidry has served as head coach at Carencro High, leading that team to an 18-15 overall record and to a district title last season. Two of his players - Trent Mackey and Alonzo Landry - signed college scholarships while a third - Janzen Jackson Guidry - has made a college commitment.