The University of Akron Athletics
Women's Basketball
- Title:
- Assistant Coach
Ayla Guzzardo is in her fourth season with the Zips coachingstaff. She also spent her final two collegiate seasons as a Zipsstudent-athlete.
In 2013, Guzzardo mentored the national leader in assists pergame in point guard Kacie Cassell.
"It has been a great advantage to us to have Ayla on our staff,"said Coach Kest. "Her familiarity with our program and theconference has helped us tremendously as we establish ourselves atthe top of the MAC. Ayla was an extremely passionate, enthusiasticand hard-working player. and she has brought those characteristicsto our coaching staff."
The Hammond, La., native appeared in every game of her UAcareer, starting every contest her senior season. She notched 133assists in 2009-10, which ranks fifth all-time in program history.Her 238 career assists also put her ninth all-time in the recordbooks.
In the Mid-American Conference, Guzzardo finished third inassists per game (4.2), fifth for assists/turnover ratio (1.3) and15th in steals per game (1.7). Also during her senior season, sheserved as a team captain and was the recipient of the Coaches'Award. She helped lead the team to the Zips' second-ever MACTournament semifinals appearance and a postseason appearance in theWomen's Basketball Invitational.
Prior to playing at Akron, Guzzardo was a student-athlete atShelton State Community College in Tuscaloosa, Ala. and a member ofthe seventh-ranked junior college team in the nation in 2007-08.The squad won two conference championships with Guzzardo on theroster and she posted a career record of 62-9 as the starting pointguard.
In 2010, Guzzardo completed her undergraduate degree in businessorganization. In 2012, she received a master's degree in sportscience and coaching from Akron.
