Lance Guidry Named Defensive Coordinator/Safeties Coach
January 07, 2026 | Football
CORVALLIS, Ore. – Lance Guidry will join the Oregon State football program as Defensive Coordinator/Safeties Coach, Head Coach JaMarcus Shephard announced Wednesday.
"Lance Guidry hired me in my first year of collegiate coaching and it is my pleasure to bring him on to the staff at Oregon State as the leader of our defense," Shephard said. "He'll bring a passion, energy and excitement, but a brand of defense that Beaver Nation will enjoy while also enjoying his Cajun personality."
Guidry was the head coach at McNeese State University from 2016-18 and had stops as defensive coordinator at the University of Miami, Marshall University, Southeastern Louisiana University, McNeese State and Western Kentucky University.
"I'm so excited to get the opportunity to help lead the Beavers defense," Guidry said. "I am even more excited to get the opportunity to work with Coach Shep again. His passion and energy are contagious, but his humility as a person is second to none."
The appointment is contingent on the completion of all university hiring processes.
Prior to spending the 2025 season as a defensive analyst at LSU, Guidry was the defensive coordinator at Miami for two years and helped lead the Hurricanes to 17 wins during that time, including a 10-3 record in 2024.
Under Guidry's leadership, the Miami defense ranked No. 2 in the ACC in yards allowed per game (327.2) in 2024, while his 2023 defense finished No. 2 in the league in rushing yards allowed per game (105.62).
Guidry spent the 2021 and 2022 seasons as defensive coordinator and safeties coach at Marshall University, leading a defensive unit that was among the nation's best both years.
In 2022 Marshall went 9-4, including 26-21 win over No. 8 Notre Dame in South Bend, behind a defensive unit that ranked sixth nationally in scoring defense (16.0) and passes intercepted (18), eighth in total defense (294.5), ninth in first down defense (200), 12th in defensive touchdowns (3), 16th in team sacks (2.92), 19th in red zone defense (76.7) and 22nd tackles for loss (6.9) and fumbles recovered (11).
Following the 2022 season, redshirt juniors Owen Porter and Micah Abraham were selected to the All-Sun Belt First Team, while four other defensive standouts earned all-conference honors.
During Guidry's first season at Marshall in 2021, his defense led the conference and placed among the best nationally in passing efficiency defense (12th – 117.56), sacks (18th – 3.08) and tackles for loss (30th – 6.6). Nine of the team's defensive players were recognized for All-Conference accolades.
Guidry spent a year working as the safeties coach at FAU in 2020 and the 2019 season as defensive coordinator at Southeastern Louisiana. During the 2020 season at FAU, the defense was 16th nationally in pass defense (187.7 ypg) and ninth in scoring defense (17.4 ppg).
He spent 12 total seasons at his alma mater McNeese State (1994, 2000-03, 2008, 2013-18), the last three years as head coach, and helped lead the team to a combined 98-45 overall record, including a 60-24 mark in Southland Conference play. During that time, the Cowboys won four Southland Conference Championships and had six appearances in the FCS playoffs, including a trip to the 2002 FCS championship game.
Two of his players – BJ Blunt (2018) and Wallace Scott (2015) – earned Southland Defensive Player of the Year honors.
The 2017 McNeese State team led the nation and set a Southland Conference record allowing only 54.5 rushing yards per game, the seventh-lowest average in FCS history. It also ranked in the Top 10 nationally in third down conversion defense (1st – 23.8), first downs allowed (2nd – 150), defensive touchdowns (3rd- 5), total defense (5th – 262.5 ypg.), red zone defense (6th – 63.0 percent), turnovers forced (6th – 26), interceptions (7th – 16) and tackles for loss (9th – 8.2).
McNeese won the Southland Conference title and finished with a perfect regular season record in 2015 behind a defensive unit that ranked No. 12 nationally in total defense, third in scoring defense and fourth in rushing defense.
Guidry was the defensive coordinator for two seasons at Western Kentucky in 2011-12 and served as the interim head coach for the Hilltoppers in the Little Caesars Pizza Bowl, the program's first-ever bowl appearance. His 2012 defense led the Sun Belt Conference in total defense, sacks, pass defense efficiency and first downs allowed.
He coached three NFL draft picks during his time at Western Kentucky – defensive end Quanterous Smith, linebacker Andrew Jackson and safety Jonathan Dowling.
Guidry coached at Miami (Ohio) University for two seasons as the defensive backs coach and helped lead the 2010 team to a 10-4 record and a win in the GoDaddy.com Bowl over Middle Tennessee while serving as the interim head coach.
Guidry got his coaching career started as a graduate assistant at McNeese State in 1994 before spending time in the high school ranks with stops at Leesville High and Carencro High.
He graduated from McNeese State in 1995 where he was a two-time All-Conference strong safety and helped lead the team to a pair of conference championships and playoff appearances during his collegiate career.
Guidry and his wife, Starlet, have four children – Janzen, Madison, Alexis and Kaitlyn.
OUR MISSION
Oregon State Athletics strives to Build Excellent Authentic Visionary Student-Athletes (Go BEAVS).
"Lance Guidry hired me in my first year of collegiate coaching and it is my pleasure to bring him on to the staff at Oregon State as the leader of our defense," Shephard said. "He'll bring a passion, energy and excitement, but a brand of defense that Beaver Nation will enjoy while also enjoying his Cajun personality."
Guidry was the head coach at McNeese State University from 2016-18 and had stops as defensive coordinator at the University of Miami, Marshall University, Southeastern Louisiana University, McNeese State and Western Kentucky University.
"I'm so excited to get the opportunity to help lead the Beavers defense," Guidry said. "I am even more excited to get the opportunity to work with Coach Shep again. His passion and energy are contagious, but his humility as a person is second to none."
The appointment is contingent on the completion of all university hiring processes.
Prior to spending the 2025 season as a defensive analyst at LSU, Guidry was the defensive coordinator at Miami for two years and helped lead the Hurricanes to 17 wins during that time, including a 10-3 record in 2024.
Under Guidry's leadership, the Miami defense ranked No. 2 in the ACC in yards allowed per game (327.2) in 2024, while his 2023 defense finished No. 2 in the league in rushing yards allowed per game (105.62).
Guidry spent the 2021 and 2022 seasons as defensive coordinator and safeties coach at Marshall University, leading a defensive unit that was among the nation's best both years.
In 2022 Marshall went 9-4, including 26-21 win over No. 8 Notre Dame in South Bend, behind a defensive unit that ranked sixth nationally in scoring defense (16.0) and passes intercepted (18), eighth in total defense (294.5), ninth in first down defense (200), 12th in defensive touchdowns (3), 16th in team sacks (2.92), 19th in red zone defense (76.7) and 22nd tackles for loss (6.9) and fumbles recovered (11).
Following the 2022 season, redshirt juniors Owen Porter and Micah Abraham were selected to the All-Sun Belt First Team, while four other defensive standouts earned all-conference honors.
During Guidry's first season at Marshall in 2021, his defense led the conference and placed among the best nationally in passing efficiency defense (12th – 117.56), sacks (18th – 3.08) and tackles for loss (30th – 6.6). Nine of the team's defensive players were recognized for All-Conference accolades.
Guidry spent a year working as the safeties coach at FAU in 2020 and the 2019 season as defensive coordinator at Southeastern Louisiana. During the 2020 season at FAU, the defense was 16th nationally in pass defense (187.7 ypg) and ninth in scoring defense (17.4 ppg).
He spent 12 total seasons at his alma mater McNeese State (1994, 2000-03, 2008, 2013-18), the last three years as head coach, and helped lead the team to a combined 98-45 overall record, including a 60-24 mark in Southland Conference play. During that time, the Cowboys won four Southland Conference Championships and had six appearances in the FCS playoffs, including a trip to the 2002 FCS championship game.
Two of his players – BJ Blunt (2018) and Wallace Scott (2015) – earned Southland Defensive Player of the Year honors.
The 2017 McNeese State team led the nation and set a Southland Conference record allowing only 54.5 rushing yards per game, the seventh-lowest average in FCS history. It also ranked in the Top 10 nationally in third down conversion defense (1st – 23.8), first downs allowed (2nd – 150), defensive touchdowns (3rd- 5), total defense (5th – 262.5 ypg.), red zone defense (6th – 63.0 percent), turnovers forced (6th – 26), interceptions (7th – 16) and tackles for loss (9th – 8.2).
McNeese won the Southland Conference title and finished with a perfect regular season record in 2015 behind a defensive unit that ranked No. 12 nationally in total defense, third in scoring defense and fourth in rushing defense.
Guidry was the defensive coordinator for two seasons at Western Kentucky in 2011-12 and served as the interim head coach for the Hilltoppers in the Little Caesars Pizza Bowl, the program's first-ever bowl appearance. His 2012 defense led the Sun Belt Conference in total defense, sacks, pass defense efficiency and first downs allowed.
He coached three NFL draft picks during his time at Western Kentucky – defensive end Quanterous Smith, linebacker Andrew Jackson and safety Jonathan Dowling.
Guidry coached at Miami (Ohio) University for two seasons as the defensive backs coach and helped lead the 2010 team to a 10-4 record and a win in the GoDaddy.com Bowl over Middle Tennessee while serving as the interim head coach.
Guidry got his coaching career started as a graduate assistant at McNeese State in 1994 before spending time in the high school ranks with stops at Leesville High and Carencro High.
He graduated from McNeese State in 1995 where he was a two-time All-Conference strong safety and helped lead the team to a pair of conference championships and playoff appearances during his collegiate career.
Guidry and his wife, Starlet, have four children – Janzen, Madison, Alexis and Kaitlyn.
OUR MISSION
Oregon State Athletics strives to Build Excellent Authentic Visionary Student-Athletes (Go BEAVS).
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