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. Guidry has been listed as an employee of the University of Memphis on a salary database for over a week and was listed as DC on a handout given to reporters ahead of coach Charles Huff’s press conference on Feb. 4. It wasn’t clear why he has not been formally announced or added to the coaches’ section of Memphis’ website.

He replaces Jason Semore, who was announced as the Tigers’ new DC in January but left after only a couple weeks for Georgia Tech. Like Semore, Guidry had been announced as the new DC at Oregon State but left soon after for Memphis.

Guidry has familiarity with Huff. He was Huff’s DC at Marshall in 2021 and 2022 before he left for Miami and was replaced 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 2016-18. He also had brief stints as interim head coach at Miami (Ohio) and Western Kentucky. He’s been a DC at Miami (Florida), Marshall, Southeastern Louisiana, McNeese State and Western Kentucky.

Guidry, 54, is the final major addition to Huff’s initial staff at Memphis. He’ll be a coordinator alongside Kevin Decker (offense) and Tim Conner (special teams).

Memphis has an almost entirely new roster heading into 2026 after Huff joined the Tigers to replace Ryan Silverfield.

Memphis will open the 2026 season at UNLV on Aug. 29.

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