James Landreneau to Lead Gumbeaux Gators in 2026 Season

Lake Charles, Louisiana (KNGT-FM) - It's a complete revamp of the Lake Charles Gumbeaux Gators. The Gators have announced multiple changes over the offseason, and today, they announced McNeese Softball coach James Landreneau as the Head Coach for the 2026 season.

The Lake Charles Gumbeaux Gators joined the Texas Collegiate League in 2024 and have already made a splash in Southwest Louisiana. The team features players from Division I, II, III, and junior colleges. They bring top talent from across the country, delivering exciting baseball action to the Lake Area.

Gumbeaux Gators Add New Owner, Ronnie Rantz

As we reported in September, the President of the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame and owner of the Baton Rouge Rougarou, Ronnie Rantz, purchased the Gators.

Gumbeaux Gators Announce James Landreneau As New Head Coach

On Wednesday, the Gumbeaux Gators announced they have added McNeese Softball Head Coach James Landreneau to be the Coach of the team in 2026. Landreneau is the winningest coach in McNeese Softball history, earning more than 330 wins. He has also been named Southland Conference Coach of the Year four times and has helped lead the Cowgirls to four straight regular-season championships.

The move comes after former Rougarou head coach Stephen Klein, who was scheduled to coach the Gators in 2026, stepped away for family reasons.

Landreneau said he feels the timing is right for him to take on this role. He now has a strong softball coaching staff at McNeese, which gives him the confidence to add another challenge to his career.

“I think we did a really good job recruiting this fall,” he said. “We have a solid plan going into the spring and summer, and I feel very comfortable with where we are.”

Make plans now to cheer on the Gumbeaux Gators as they embark on their third season in the TCL. It’s going to be a summer to remember!