Mississippi State has hired former women’s basketball assistant coach Gabe Lazo as an assistant coach for their women’s team, Bulldogs head coach Sam Purcell announced Friday.

Lazo spent the last season as an assistant coach to Colonials head coach Caroline McCombs. Despite an 11-17 regular season record and a 4-11 conference record, Lazo helped GW to a strong Atlantic-10 tournament run in which they took down No. 13 St. Bonaventure and No. 5 La Salle in the program’s first year rebuilding after the exit of former head coach Jennifer Rizzotti.

“Gabe Lazo is a great addition to my staff here at Mississippi State and the community of Starkville,” Purcell said in the press release. “As I finish up helping guide Louisville to the Final Four, it’s important that I have the right people in place in Starkville so that we can get to work recruiting the best talent in the country, and Coach Lazo fits that mold perfectly.”

Purcell said in the announcement that Lazo’s connections to talented athletes across the board will help him recruit players for Mississippi State.

“He has developed players at every level of basketball and has built key relationships with people all around the world,” Purcell said. “Those relationships that he has built at the AAU and high school levels and those at the college level will allow us to recruit the best student-athletes to Mississippi State.”

Prior to his brief stint at GW, Lazo worked for two seasons as an assistant coach at Stony Brook, aiding the then McComb-led Seawolves to an America East regular season title in 2020, a conference title and an NCAA Tournament appearance in 2021, the release states.

“I am extremely excited and grateful for the opportunity to join Coach Purcell and be a part of the Mississippi State family,” Lazo said in the release. “Mississippi State is a special place with the expectation to compete at a high level and win championships in the best conference in the country. I can’t wait to get to Starkville and get to work.”

Before his spell at Stony Brook, Lazo served as an assistant with the women’s basketball program at Florida International for two seasons, the release states. In his first year, Lazo assisted the Panthers to their best record in four seasons and the most Conference USA wins in program history, according to the release.

Lazo also played at the college level with the Panthers for two seasons beginning in 2004, followed by two seasons at Barry. Lazo then went on to compete professionally for two years with Cariduros de Fajardo BSN in Puerto Rico, the release states.

“I have heard nothing but amazing things about the community and their love for women’s basketball and that’s something I am really looking forward to being a part of,” Lazo said. “My commitment to the program, the student-athletes and the community will be felt in everything that I do. I pride myself on building the best relationships and getting the best out of our players.”