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Memphis football hires Lance Guidry as new defensive coordinator
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- Memphis football hires Lance Guidry as new defensive coordinator
For the second time this offseason, Memphis football has a new defensive coordinator.
Memphis has hired Lance Guidry as its new DC. He has been listed as an employee of the University of Memphis on the salary database for more than a week and was listed as the Tigers' defensive coordinator on a handout given to reporters ahead of coach Charles Huff's news conference on Feb. 4. It wasn't clear why he has not been formally announced or added to the coaches' section of the Tigers' website.
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He replaces Jason Semore, who was announced as the Tigers' new DC in January but left after only a couple of weeks for Georgia Tech .
Guidry had been announced as the new defensive coordinator at Oregon State but left soon after for Memphis .
Guidry was Huff's coordinator at Marshall in 2021 and 2022 before leaving for Miami. He was replaced at Marshall by Semore. Guidry spent 2025 as an analyst at LSU.
He has a long track record as a defensive coordinator and has been a head coach at multiple stops. Guidry began his career at McNeese State — his alma mater — and served as the Cowboys coach from 2016 to 2018. He also had brief stints as interim head coach at Miami (Ohio) and Western Kentucky. He has been a DC at Miami (Florida), Marshall, Southeastern Louisiana, McNeese State and Western Kentucky.
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Guidry, 54, is the final major addition to Huff's initial staff at Memphis, alongside coordinators Kevin Decker (offense) and Tim Conner (special teams).
Memphis has an almost entirely new roster heading into 2026; Huff left Southern Miss to become the Memphis coach, succeeding Ryan Silverfield.
The Tigers open the 2026 season Aug. 29 at UNLV.
Reach sports writer Jonah Dylan at jonah.dylan@commercialappeal.com or on X @thejonahdylan.
This article originally appeared on Memphis Commercial Appeal: Memphis football hires Lance Guidry as new defensive coordinator
