The Official Student News Media of Southeastern Louisiana University

The Lion's Roar

The Official Student News Media of Southeastern Louisiana University

The Lion's Roar

The Official Student News Media of Southeastern Louisiana University

The Lion's Roar

    Guzzardo takes command of Lady Lions basketball program

    Due to Errol Gauff’s resignation because of ongoing health concerns, Ayla Guzzardo was named head coach of the Lady Lions basketball team. Guzzardo, a Hammond native has a combined six years of  coaching experience. She started her college playing career at Shelton State Community College, and helped the team to a conference championship and a 62-9 record. She then transferred to Akron University, where she earned her bachelor’s degree in business organization in 2010, and her master’s degree in sport science and coaching in 2012. As a senior, she was ranked third in assists in the Mid-American Conference with a 4.2 average. She later worked on the Akron staff for four seasons and helped the team to its first MAC Tournament and The National Collegiate Athletic Association Tournament. Prior to coming to the university, Guzzardo coached one year at her alma mater, St. Thomas Aquinas High School. Guzzardo is ready to continue the building process next season that Gauff started.

    The Lion’s Roar: Despite the circumstances, how do you feel about being the head coach of the team?

    Ayla Guzzardo: It’s definitely unfortunate circumstances, but I’m happy for the opportunity.

    TLR: The team is young with mostly freshmen and sophomores. How long do you think it will be before the team builds consistent chemistry and turns that into a winning record?

    AG: This past year we had a lot of chemistry throughout the year because we are so young. We are only losing one senior. It’s unfortunate that we are losing her but we have a lot of people returning and I think that is going to help us. Within next year I think we will be contending for southland up at the top.

    TLR: Did being from Hammond attract you to come coach at Southeastern and St. Thomas Aquinas?

    AG: Yeah. I’m from Hammond, this is my home, I love it. I’ve always wanted to come back here so it’s always been a goal to come back here and to coach here is a dream.

    TLR: Before coming here you coached at Akron. What was that experience like?

    AG: That was probably the biggest part of my life. I played at Akron, I was a graduate assistant at Akron and then I was bumped up to assistant coach for four years and it was probably the biggest learning experience. I developed my system offensively and defensively through Akron.

    TLR: What was the difference from playing in junior college and playing at Akron?

    AG: In junior college they rolled the ball out. It was a bunch of athletes and we just played basketball. Four year division one college was more structured and it was more X’s and O’s. Basketball in junior college was just based off of athletic ability.

    TLR: When did you know that you wanted to coach?

    AG: My senior year of college. I butt heads with my head coach that I had and then I realized that we weren’t really fighting on the same thing I was just fighting against her. Once I realized that I could just get along with her I realized what she was doing and then I realized that I think I want to coach.

    TLR: What is your strategy exactly?

    AG: We are definitely going to be up-tempo. We are going to implement our fast break. We averaged 15 points more a game after we implemented that fast break so we are going to run. We’re gonna press and we are going to keep a lot of our same principles we did this past year. This past team was all after it defensively. We were trying to be quick and trying to be fast paced but we are also trying to get after it on the defensive end. If we can combine both of those we are going to play a fast paced game and will have a hard time with people trying to keep up with us.

    TLR: What was it like growing up in Hammond?

    AG: I loved it. It was a lot different than it is now. Southeastern is a lot bigger. The campus is bigger, the community is bigger. Growing up here then leaving for a little while and then coming back just makes it all exciting.

    TLR: Were any of your other family members athletic or sports enthusiasts?

    AG: Not really. I was the first out of my family to even play college anything. I have a big supportive family so they are very happy for this opportunity.

    TLR: Even with being very busy coaching the team do you get a chance to spend time with your family?

    AG: Yes. I’m very close to my family. Recently, this past year was kind of hard for me. My dad passed away and my grandmother passed away within a month of each other. Through coming home I got to spend a lot more time with them so I’m going to involve my family in any process that we do here. Any time I can have my 12 year old brother here, he is here.

    TLR: What are your interest or hobbies outside of basketball?

    AG: I love building things it’s weird. I love pallets and taking them apart and putting them back together. I enjoy spending time with my family to be honest. We could just go over to their house and just spend time with each other. That’s probably ideally the number one thing. Definitely friends. I have a lot friends and family that are supportive of me.

    TLR: If you didn’t coach basketball what do you think you would have done?

    AG: I took a year off from coaching and I worked at a juvenile detention center and I loved it. I thought about it after and I would probably go do something involving the juvenile justice system. I helped kids and I enjoyed. It opened my eyes to lot of different things.

    TLR: After next season will want to be the head coach full-time?

    AG: Yes, definitely next season will be just a little tease. Once you get a little taste of it you will enjoy it so yeah definitely.

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