McNeese State University in Lake Charles, Louisiana, competes in the Southland Conference and has been a consistent competitor in the league. The Cowboys have produced several professional basketball players and maintain a loyal following in southwest Louisiana.
The Cowboys nickname honors the ranching and cattle heritage of southwest Louisiana and the legacy of John McNeese, the educator for whom the university is named.
The program's first NCAA Tournament victory on March 20, 2025, when the 12th-seeded Cowboys stunned No. 5 seed Clemson 69-67 under head coach Will Wade, capping back-to-back Southland Conference tournament championships in 2024 and 2025.
McNeese State's campus in Lake Charles has been rebuilt multiple times due to hurricane damage, demonstrating the resilience of the university and its athletic programs.
The McNeese Cowboys compete in the Southland and hold an all-time record of 765–788 (.493 winning percentage) across 54 recorded seasons dating back to 1972-73.
| Season | Record | Conference | Coach | AP peak |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-26 | 28-5 | 19-3 (Southland) | Bill Armstrong | |
| 2024-25 | 28-7 | 19-1 (Southland) | Will Wade | |
| 2023-24 | 30-4 | 17-1 (Southland) | Brandon Chambers,Vernon Hamilton,Will Wade | |
| 2022-23 | 11-23 | 6-12 (Southland) | John Aiken | |
| 2021-22 | 11-22 | 4-10 (Southland) | John Aiken | |
| 2020-21 | 10-14 | 4-11 (Southland) | Heath Schroyer | |
| 2019-20 | 15-17 | 10-10 (Southland) | Heath Schroyer | |
| 2018-19 | 9-22 | 5-13 (Southland) | Heath Schroyer | |
| 2017-18 | 12-17 | 8-10 (Southland) | Dave Simmons | |
| 2016-17 | 7-22 | 4-14 (Southland) | Dave Simmons | |
| 2015-16 | 9-20 | 7-11 (Southland) | Dave Simmons | |
| 2014-15 | 15-16 | 8-10 (Southland) | Dave Simmons | |
| 2013-14 | 11-20 | 9-9 (Southland) | Dave Simmons | |
| 2012-13 | 14-17 | 7-11 (Southland) | Dave Simmons | |
| 2011-12 | 17-16 | 10-6 (Southland) | Dave Simmons | |
| 2010-11 | 21-12 | 11-5 (Southland) | Dave Simmons | |
| 2009-10 | 10-20 | 5-11 (Southland) | Dave Simmons | |
| 2008-09 | 11-18 | 5-11 (Southland) | Dave Simmons | |
| 2007-08 | 13-16 | 7-9 (Southland) | Dave Simmons | |
| 2006-07 | 15-17 | 9-7 (Southland) | Dave Simmons | |
| 2005-06 | 14-14 | 9-7 (Southland) | Tic Price | |
| 2004-05 | 13-15 | 8-8 (Southland) | Tic Price | |
| 2003-04 | 11-16 | 7-9 (Southland) | Tic Price | |
| 2002-03 | 15-14 | 10-10 (Southland) | Tic Price | |
| 2001-02 | 21-9 | 17-3 (Southland) | Tic Price | |
| 2000-01 | 22-9 | 17-3 (Southland) | Ron Everhart | |
| 1999-00 | 6-21 | 5-13 (Southland) | Ron Everhart | |
| 1998-99 | 13-15 | 11-7 (Southland) | Ron Everhart | |
| 1997-98 | 7-19 | 4-12 (Southland) | Ron Everhart | |
| 1996-97 | 18-12 | 10-6 (Southland) | Ron Everhart | |
| 1995-96 | 15-12 | 11-7 (Southland) | Ron Everhart | |
| 1994-95 | 11-16 | 7-11 (Southland) | Ron Everhart | |
| 1993-94 | 11-16 | 9-9 (Southland) | Steve Welch | |
| 1992-93 | 12-16 | 9-9 (Southland) | Steve Welch | |
| 1991-92 | 7-22 | 4-14 (Southland) | Steve Welch | |
| 1990-91 | 8-19 | 4-10 (Southland) | Steve Welch | |
| 1989-90 | 14-13 | 11-3 (Southland) | Steve Welch | |
| 1988-89 | 16-14 | 9-5 (Southland) | Steve Welch | |
| 1987-88 | 7-22 | 4-10 (Southland) | Steve Welch | |
| 1986-87 | 14-14 | 5-5 (Southland) | Glenn Duhon | |
| 1985-86 | 21-11 | 8-4 (Southland) | Glenn Duhon | |
| 1984-85 | 18-10 | 9-3 (Southland) | Glenn Duhon | |
| 1983-84 | 16-15 | 6-6 (Southland) | Glenn Duhon | |
| 1982-83 | 16-13 | 6-6 (Southland) | Glenn Duhon | |
| 1981-82 | 14-15 | 4-6 (Southland) | Glenn Duhon | |
| 1980-81 | 11-21 | 0-10 (Southland) | Glenn Duhon | |
| 1979-80 | 15-12 | 5-5 (Southland) | Glenn Duhon | |
| 1978-79 | 10-17 | 3-7 (Southland) | Glenn Duhon | |
| 1977-78 | 20-8 | 8-2 (Southland) | Glenn Duhon | |
| 1976-77 | 20-7 | 7-3 (Southland) | E.W. Foy | |
| 1975-76 | 16-11 | 7-3 (Southland) | E.W. Foy | |
| 1974-75 | 16-8 | 6-2 (Southland) | E.W. Foy | |
| 1973-74 | 20-5 | 0-0 (Southland) | Bill Reigel | |
| 1972-73 | 21-5 | Southland | Bill Reigel |
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| Rank | Team | Conference | All-Time Wins |
|---|
Top 100 by all-time D1 wins. Verified against the NCAA record book — and tiered so you can argue properly.
| # | COACH | RECORD | WIN % | SCHOOL(S) | YEARS | BEST SEASON / LEGACY |
|---|