had been at the helm since the founding of the program in 1996. Fitzgerald, who had previously served as the team's associate head coach, made an immediate impact in the program, leading the Cowgirls to a 9–10–1 record and taking the sixth place seed in their 13th Southland Conference tournament appearance and their first appearance in the second round of the tournament since the 2008 season. The last and only time the Cowgirl Soccer team was able to capture the Southland Conference tournament title and earn a bid to the NCAA Championship tournament was in 2006, when the team suffered a 2-0 first round loss to Southern Methodist University.
== Student life ==
The McNeese State University newspaper is The Contraband, a weekly publication which has existed since 1939. The university's student yearbook is The Log. It was first published in 1941.
=== Greek life ===
The Greek community of McNeese State University comprises 14 Greek letter organizations.
== Notable people ==
=== Alumni ===
Joe W. Aguillard …
