McNeese State University is a public university in Lake Charles, Louisiana. Founded in 1939 as Lake Charles Junior College, it was renamed McNeese Junior College after John McNeese, an early local educator. The present name was adopted in 1970. McNeese is part of the University of Louisiana System and is classified as a Master's University. The selective admissions university consists of six colleges and the Doré School of Graduate Studies. McNeese is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools and all programs of study are accredited by their respective national boards.
Cowboy Stadium is a 17,610-seat multi-purpose stadium in Lake Charles, Louisiana. It is home to the McNeese Cowboys football team, and is affectionately referred to as "The Hole". It was transformed for the 2008 season to artificial turf. The playing surface is named Louis Bonnette Field, in honor of McNeese's longtime sports information director. Louis' son, Matthew, succeeded him in the post and continues to hold it as of July 2016. The playing surface was replaced prior to the 2018 football season with Hellas Matrix turf. The $650,000 new surface as well as drainage improvements were funded by the same donor, Robert Noland, as for the 2008 installation.
Ledell Eackles is an American former professional basketball player who was selected by the Washington Bullets in the second round of the 1988 NBA draft. Eackles played in seven NBA seasons for the Bullets, Miami Heat and Washington Wizards, averaging 10.8 ppg in his career. His best season came during 1989–90 when he appeared in 78 games for the Bullets averaging 13.5 points.
George "Tic" Price is an American college basketball coach. He last coached the Lamar Cardinals men's basketball team. From 2002 to 2007, he served as head coach at McNeese State. Prior to that, he served as head coach of Memphis and New Orleans. Price's daughter is Sports Illustrated model Chanel Iman, who married NFL wide receiver Sterling Shepard in 2017. He is married to the former Jamie Lynn Simms, and the couple has two children - son, Ryan, a college basketball coach who played for his father at McNeese, and daughter, Chanel. He has three granddaughters - Bella Grace Price, Cali Clay Shepard and Cassie Snow Shepard.
The McNeese Cowboys and Cowgirls are composed of 14 teams representing McNeese State University in intercollegiate athletics, including men's and women's basketball, cross country, golf, and track and field. Men's sports include baseball and football. Women's sports include volleyball, tennis, soccer, and softball. The Cowboys and Cowgirls compete in NCAA Division I, with Cowboys football competing in the Football Championship Subdivision (FCS), and are members of the Southland Conference.
Dayon Demond Mallet is a retired American professional basketball player. He played college basketball at McNeese State University. Mallet spent 17 seasons as a professional player, in multiple European leagues afterwards, and won multiple championships and was named the Most Valuable Player of several competitions.
Quinten Louis Lawrence is a former gridiron football defensive back. He was drafted by the Kansas City Chiefs in the sixth round of the 2009 NFL Draft. He played college football at McNeese State.
Ralph O. Ward Memorial Arena formerly McNeese Arena is a 5,000 seat multi-purpose arena located in the McNeese State Recreational Sports Complex in Lake Charles, Louisiana. It is named after Ralph O. Ward, who was head coach of the men's basketball team from 1952 to 1971. The arena is currently home of the men's and women's indoor track and field teams. The Department of Health & Human Performance and administration offices are also located in the building along with athletic facilities for students.
Patrick Richard is an American-born naturalised Romanian professional basketball player for Cluj of the Romanian Liga Națională. He played collegiately with the McNeese State Cowboys for four seasons before playing professionally in Australia, the Netherlands, Germany, France, Israel, Spain and New Zealand.
Anthony Ray Robichaux was an American college baseball coach who served as head coach of the Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns baseball team. He had previously served as head coach at McNeese State.
Ernest "E.W." Foy was an American college and high school basketball coach.
David Dumars is a former American football defensive back who played three seasons in the United States Football League with the Denver Gold and Birmingham Stallions. He was drafted by the New York Jets in the twelfth round of the 1980 NFL Draft. He played college football at the Northeast Louisiana University and attended Natchitoches Central High School in Natchitoches, Louisiana.
The 2015–16 McNeese State Cowgirls basketball team represented McNeese State University during the 2015–16 NCAA Division I women's basketball season. The Cowgirls, led by ninth year head coach Brooks Donald-Williams, played all their home games at Burton Coliseum. They were members of the Southland Conference. They finished the season 20–13, 11–7 in Southland play to finish in fifth place. They advanced to the semifinals of the Southland women's tournament where they lost to Central Arkansas. They were invited to the Women's Basketball Invitational where they lost to Stetson in the first round.
The 2016–17 McNeese State Cowboys basketball team represented McNeese State University during the 2016–17 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. The Cowboys were led by 11th-year head coach Dave Simmons and played their home games at Burton Coliseum in Lake Charles, Louisiana as members of the Southland Conference. They finished the season 7–22, 4–14 in Southland play to finish in last place. They failed to qualify for the Southland tournament.
David Lawrence was an American basketball player. He was a star college player at McNeese State University, a second round draft pick in the 1980 NBA draft, and played professionally in Europe for nine seasons.
The 2017–18 McNeese State Cowboys basketball team represented McNeese State University during the 2017–18 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. The Cowboys were led by 12th-year head coach Dave Simmons and played their home games at Burton Coliseum in Lake Charles, Louisiana as members of the Southland Conference. The Cowboys finished the season 11–17, 8–10 in Southland play to finish in a three-way tie for eighth place. They failed to qualify for the Southland tournament.
The 2018–19 McNeese State Cowboys basketball team represented McNeese State University during the 2018–19 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. The Cowboys were led by 1st-year head coach Heath Schroyer and played their home games at the new on-campus Health and Human Performance Education Complex in Lake Charles, Louisiana as members of the Southland Conference.
Sha'markus Kennedy is an American professional basketball player for SCM U Craiova in the Liga Națională.
Henry Ray is an American former professional basketball player and coach. He played college basketball for the McNeese State Cowboys from 1972 to 1975 and is considered one of the program's best players.
The 2010–11 McNeese State Cowboys basketball team represented McNeese State University in the 2010–11 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. The Cowboys, led by head coach Dave Simmons, played their home games at the Burton Coliseum in Lake Charles, Louisiana, as members of the Southland Conference. The Cowboys were regular-season champions in the Southland Conference, eventually advancing to the championship game of the Southland Conference tournament, where they were defeated by UTSA.
