College Football

Guidry remaining as McNeese's coach

Updated Mar. 4, 2020 9:02 p.m. ET

(STATS) - McNeese's Lance Guidry is remaining the Cowboys' coach after he was in recent talks for a position on Willie Taggart's new staff at Florida State.

"I'm truly grateful to Coach Taggart for his interest in me for a position on staff at Florida State," Guidry said Tuesday. "However, at this time, it just didn't work out for either party and I'm excited to remain a McNeese Cowboy."

Guidry, 48, was the defensive coordinator under Taggart at Western Kentucky in the 2011 and '12 seasons, and served as the team's interim coach at the 2012 Little Caesar's Bowl after Taggart left to become South Florida's coach.

At McNeese, Guidry has posted a 15-7 record in two seasons, including 9-2 in 2017. He previously had three stints as an assistant coach at his alma mater.

He remains with a McNeese team that is expected to challenge for the Southland Conference title next season. Last season, the Cowboys had one of the nation's better defenses, yet became the first nine-win team from one of the top six conferences to not make the FCS playoffs since they were expanded to 24 teams in 2013.

"We've got momentum building heading into the new season with a lot of positive things to be proud of," McNeese athletic director Bruce Hemphill said. "The fact that Lance was sought after for a position at Florida State shows the respect that McNeese has nationwide at the Power 5 schools."