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As fans and university staff alike, Mary Beth Smart and Andy Landers included, put their hands together for Georgia women's basketball's new head coach Ayla Guzzardo at her introductory press conference on Tuesday, April 7, her children were by her side wearing Bulldogs red.
Cameron, Madden and Lumen Guzzardo are Ayla's world. Her oldest, Cameron, is hilarious, you just have to get to know her. She's got a good handshake, too, Guzzardo says. Her middle, Madden, is athletic, loves every sport. And her youngest girl, Lumen, has the best bark in the room.
"I'd love anybody to try to top it," she laughed to UGA's radio host Jeff Dantzler.
Guzzardo is the fourth head coach in program history. She's replacing Katie Abrahamson-Henderson, who mutually parted ways from the program on April 3.
"My dream is coming to fruition, and people don't talk about that enough," Guzzardo said. "Yes, I'm a mid-major girl, it just is what it is, but I know what I've done to get here, and I will know what I'm going to keep doing because that's my backbone.
"Playing basketball, this is where you want to be. This is the best league in the world and I'm happy to be a part of it right now."
Inside the hiring: Georgia's fast courtship of Ayla Guzzardo included Cajun food, visit to Athens
Here are takeaways from Guzzardo's introductory press conference:
Landers had a legendary run when he was the head coach at Georgia. From 1979-2015, Landers compiled an 862-299 record. He was a 7-time SEC Champion, 4-time SEC Tournament Champion, 3-time SEC Coach of the Year and 4-time NCAA Coach of the Year.
Safe to say, Guzzardo has a big pair of shoes to fit into. But she's determined.
"I don't know what size shoe he wears, but they're pretty big," she joked. "Growing up, watching what he's done in this program, walking through the offices and seeing the stuff on the walls, it's all tradition. Tradition is going to be elevated when we get here. I don't want to shine over him, but I want to make sure I catch up and get pretty damn close."
She's wanting to keep the alumni involved, too, and it's something that's not talked about enough. She wants them to come back, to lace up theoir sneakers and shoot around at practice with them.
"The people who came before us are the people who we're looking to model our life after," Guzzardo said. "I'm looking at all these former players with these phenomenal careers and jobs; Our student-athletes are going to be you one day.
"Coming from the mid-major level, we got our hands dirty a lot," Guzzardo said. "And we're not afraid to continue to do that. That's something."
Guzzardo spent one year at McNeese and turned the program around completely. A team that went 10-21 in 2024 ended the 2025 season with a 19-win improvement, going 29-6 overall, 19-1 in the Southland Conference and making a trip to the second round of the WBIT.
"We know how to work hard," Guzzardo continued. "I'm going to surround myself with winners, from staff to players. We are going to understand, we know how to win, and we're going to do that consistently."
Player retention is the biggest piece for Georgia right now, as all four of their top scorers are headed into the portal in Rylie Theuerkauf, Mia Woolfolk, Dani Carnegie and Trinity Turner.
"We're going to get great players, but we have to be able to retain them," Guzzardo said. "Who wouldn't want to play here? Look around, this place is so special."
The work starts early, with relationship development. Guzzardo is aware of the rich talent the high school basketball atmosphere encompasses, and she's going to be as involved as possible, at prep games, at AAU tournaments, "everything we can possibly be at," she said.
She also said she's going to have a heavy hand in the portal, and if anyone has phone numbers, to send them her way.
"It's a new day and age," she said.
This article originally appeared on Athens Banner-Herald: Ayla Guzzardo introduced at Georgia, vows to build winners and honor tradition
Continue reading...
Cameron, Madden and Lumen Guzzardo are Ayla's world. Her oldest, Cameron, is hilarious, you just have to get to know her. She's got a good handshake, too, Guzzardo says. Her middle, Madden, is athletic, loves every sport. And her youngest girl, Lumen, has the best bark in the room.
"I'd love anybody to try to top it," she laughed to UGA's radio host Jeff Dantzler.
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Guzzardo is the fourth head coach in program history. She's replacing Katie Abrahamson-Henderson, who mutually parted ways from the program on April 3.
"My dream is coming to fruition, and people don't talk about that enough," Guzzardo said. "Yes, I'm a mid-major girl, it just is what it is, but I know what I've done to get here, and I will know what I'm going to keep doing because that's my backbone.
"Playing basketball, this is where you want to be. This is the best league in the world and I'm happy to be a part of it right now."
Inside the hiring: Georgia's fast courtship of Ayla Guzzardo included Cajun food, visit to Athens
Here are takeaways from Guzzardo's introductory press conference:
How Ayla Guzzardo is committed to honoring UGA's past
Landers had a legendary run when he was the head coach at Georgia. From 1979-2015, Landers compiled an 862-299 record. He was a 7-time SEC Champion, 4-time SEC Tournament Champion, 3-time SEC Coach of the Year and 4-time NCAA Coach of the Year.
Safe to say, Guzzardo has a big pair of shoes to fit into. But she's determined.
"I don't know what size shoe he wears, but they're pretty big," she joked. "Growing up, watching what he's done in this program, walking through the offices and seeing the stuff on the walls, it's all tradition. Tradition is going to be elevated when we get here. I don't want to shine over him, but I want to make sure I catch up and get pretty damn close."
She's wanting to keep the alumni involved, too, and it's something that's not talked about enough. She wants them to come back, to lace up theoir sneakers and shoot around at practice with them.
"The people who came before us are the people who we're looking to model our life after," Guzzardo said. "I'm looking at all these former players with these phenomenal careers and jobs; Our student-athletes are going to be you one day.
Ayla Guzzardo doesn't mind getting her hands dirty
"Coming from the mid-major level, we got our hands dirty a lot," Guzzardo said. "And we're not afraid to continue to do that. That's something."
Guzzardo spent one year at McNeese and turned the program around completely. A team that went 10-21 in 2024 ended the 2025 season with a 19-win improvement, going 29-6 overall, 19-1 in the Southland Conference and making a trip to the second round of the WBIT.
"We know how to work hard," Guzzardo continued. "I'm going to surround myself with winners, from staff to players. We are going to understand, we know how to win, and we're going to do that consistently."
How Ayla Guzzardo plans to construct Georgia's roster
Player retention is the biggest piece for Georgia right now, as all four of their top scorers are headed into the portal in Rylie Theuerkauf, Mia Woolfolk, Dani Carnegie and Trinity Turner.
"We're going to get great players, but we have to be able to retain them," Guzzardo said. "Who wouldn't want to play here? Look around, this place is so special."
The work starts early, with relationship development. Guzzardo is aware of the rich talent the high school basketball atmosphere encompasses, and she's going to be as involved as possible, at prep games, at AAU tournaments, "everything we can possibly be at," she said.
She also said she's going to have a heavy hand in the portal, and if anyone has phone numbers, to send them her way.
"It's a new day and age," she said.
This article originally appeared on Athens Banner-Herald: Ayla Guzzardo introduced at Georgia, vows to build winners and honor tradition
Continue reading...
