Our Staff
Leadership Team
Austin Knight, Associate Director of Athletics for Student-Athlete Academic Services
austin.knight@louisiana.edu
Austin Knight joined the Ragin’ Cajun staff in September of 2024 as Associate Director of Athletics for Student-Athlete Academic Services (SAAS). He oversees the Student-Athlete Academic Center’s team of four academic counselors, two learning specialists, and two graduate assistants. He also works directly with men’s basketball, men’s tennis, and women’s tennis, while also providing additional support for football.
Austin comes to UL after six years at Southeastern Louisiana University. He began his career in Hammond in June of 2018 as an academic counselor working with baseball, softball, women’s basketball, women’s soccer, beach volleyball, and indoor volleyball. During this time, he also served as the advisor for the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee. In February of 2020, he was promoted to Assistant Athletic Director for Academic Support Services. In this role, he continued providing academic support for baseball, softball, women’s soccer, and both volleyball teams while also overseeing the Dick & Glory Sharp Academic Center and its staff. He was heavily involved with the reporting of APR data, eligibility certification, and the evaluation of eligibility for potential transfer student-athletes.
Austin graduated from Louisiana State University with a Bachelor of Science in Sport Administration with concentrations in Sport Commerce and Sport Leadership in 2016. He earned his Master of Arts in Education with a specialization in Higher Education Administration from LSU in 2018. During his graduate studies, he served as a graduate assistant in the Cox Communications Academic Center for Student-Athletes and worked directly with student-athletes from the swimming and diving, gymnastics, baseball, men’s and women’s golf, and men’s and women’s tennis teams.
He is a member of the National Association of Academic Advisors for Athletics. Originally a native of Mt. Hermon, Louisiana, he currently resides in Lafayette with his wife, Meagan and their dog, Chloe.
Ashlee Jennings Guy, Director of Learning Services
ashlee.jennings@louisiana.edu
Ashlee Jennings Guy, a native of Dickson, TN, joined the Student-Athlete Academic Services staff as a learning specialist in the summer of 2017. In 2021, she became Director of Learning Services, adding oversight of other full-time Learning Specialists and the office’s graduate assistants to her caseload. She also oversees the mentor and tutor programs.
Additionally, she served as the Interim Director of Student-Athlete Academic Services to help with the transition in leadership from June to Septermber 2024. In that time, she developed relationships with numerous on-campus offices and furthered her academic advising knowledge.
Ashlee graduated from Tennessee Tech with a Bachelor of Science in Secondary Education/English. She earned her Master of Arts in Educational Leadership from Austin Peay University in Clarksville, TN.
She previously served as an assistant learning specialist at the University of Tennessee’s Thornton Athletics Student Life Center. Prior to UT and UL, she was also a high school English teacher at Dickson County (TN) High School for 8 years.
Ashlee is a member of Kappa Delta Sorority and the National Association of Academic Advisors for Athletics. She and her husband Miles reside in Lafayette with their daughter, Jolee.
Jessica Leger, Deputy Director of Athletics/Senior Woman Administrator
jessica@louisiana.edu
Dr. Jessica Leger, the Deputy Director of Athletics and Senior Woman Administrator for the Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns, has been a member of the Louisiana’s Department of Athletics staff since Summer 2007, when she became the Assistant Director of Athletics for Compliance.
In 2012, Leger added oversight of the Student-Athlete Academic Center and was promoted to Senior Woman Administrator (SWA). Her role grew with the Ragin’ Cajuns in July 2016, as she ascended to the position of Deputy Director of Athletics.
Additionally, Leger was named Interim Director of Athletics in November 2016 to assist in the department’s transition in leadership. During that time, she has developed strong relationships with a variety of external groups that impact the University campus, including: the Sun Belt Conference, the NCAA and other national organizations.
As a member of the Executive Leadership Team for the Ragin’ Cajuns, Leger oversees the department of Compliance, Student-Athlete Academic Services, the Geaux Cajuns Student-Athlete Success program, the Athletic Performance department, and the Sports Medicine department. She also serves as the sport program administrator for the softball program, and is the Title IX Coordinator for Louisiana Athletics.
Leger joined the Department of Athletics staff after spending three years in the teaching profession. A former member of the Ragin' Cajuns softball team, she earned a Bachelor’s of Science in marketing from the University of Louisiana at Lafayette in 2003. She later earned her Master’s of Education in education administration with a supervision concentration from the University in May 2006. She received her Ph.D. in higher education administration in 2010 from Louisiana State University.
As a student, she was an active member of the University’s academic community and student body, serving as the Student Government Association President and Homecoming Queen in 2002. Leger was also the University of Louisiana at Lafayette's Outstanding Graduate in the Spring 2003.
Leger and her husband, Lance, reside in Lafayette with their daughter, Estelle, and son, Landon.
Administrative Office
Helen Moore, Administrative Coordinator
helen.moore@louisiana.edu
Helen Moore joined the Student-Athlete Academic Services staff in November of 2024 as the Administrative Coordinator. She oversees general office operations, technology loans, and our part-time student workers.
She started her state service at the University in 1992 as a stockroom clerk in the University bookstore. She has worked with multiple state agencies since then and returned to the University in 2013. Prior to working for SAAS, Helen was the Administrative Assistant for the Chemistry Department in the College of Sciences.
Helen married her wonderful husband, Steve, in 2008. She loves being on the water, dogs, red birds and doves, and enjoys spending time with her nieces. Her great, great niece, Magnolia, recently turned one and is the greatest joy in her life. Helen love to see students succeed and overcome the daily challenges this life brings, and working with our student-athletes is very fulfilling to her.
Academic Advisors
Terry Latiolais, Academic Counselor
Men's Baseball, Men's Golf, Women's Basketball, Women's Soccer, Women's Volleyball
terry@louisiana.edu
Terry Latiolais is an Academic Counselor for Student-Athlete Academic Services. She joined the the staff in 2005 as the Administrative Coordinator and was promoted to Academic Counselor in 2024. Terry oversees Men’s Baseball, Men’s Golf, Women’s Basketball, Women’s Soccer, and Women’s Volleyball.
Terry is a native of Baldwin, LA. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice from the University of Louisiana at Lafayette, known at the time as the University of Southwestern Louisiana. Prior to working in SAAS, Terry worked for the Biology Department at the University from 2002 to 2005, and in the Office of International Affairs from 1983 to 1993. She currently resides in the Breaux Bridge area and is the proud mother of one, Gary Price, who also graduated from the University of Louisiana at Lafayette in December of 1992.
Latiolais is a member of the National Association of Academic Advisors for Athletics.
Miranda Hayes, Academic Counselor
Men's Football, Men's Basketball
miranda.hayes1@louisiana.edu
Miranda Hayes joined the Student-Athlete Academic Services staff in March of 2023 as the Academic Counselor for Men’s Football. She also provides support for Men's Basketball and the spirit squads. In addition to serving as an Academic Counselor, she also serves as the office’s web ambassador, continuing eligibility certification specialist, and Teamworks liaison. She is currently pursuing a M.Ed. in Educational Leadership with a concentration in Higher Education Administration from Nicholls State University.
Prior to working for SAAS, Hayes was the Assistant Director of On-Campus Recruiting for Louisiana Football. She earned her Bachelor of General Studies with a concentration in Applied Sciences from the University of Louisiana at Lafayette in May of 2022. As a student, she was an intern for both the Recruiting and Player Engagement departments. She is a native of Prairieville, LA and has resided in Lafayette since August of 2016.
Hayes is a member of Tri Sigma Sorority and the National Association of Academic Advisors for Athletics. She has two younger sisters, Maddie and Makenna, who are the light of her life.
Kayla Robles Starcher, Academic Counselor
Men's and Women's Track & Field, Women's Softball
kayla.robles@louisiana.edu
Kayla Starcher, a native of Flowery Branch, GA, joined the SAAS staff as an Academic Counselor in the summer of 2024, serving Men's Track, Women's Track, and Women's Softball. Kayla is heavily involved in UL's Student-Athlete Development program, Geaux Lead, and also runs the office's social media accounts. Prior to joining the SAAS staff, she was a College of Business Advisor at Northern Kentucky University, and was the Director of Compliance and Academic Services at Brevard College.
Kayla holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Management from Valdosta State University, where she was a soccer student-athlete. As a student, she was heavily involved on campus: Robles was an orientation leader, student ambassador, and represented the Gulf South Conference on the National Student-Athlete Advisory Committee. Robles holds a Masters of Sports Administration and Masters of Business Administration from Ohio University. Prior to graduate school, she was an NCAA Post-Graduate Intern, working with the Academic Membership Affairs Department.
Kayla is a member of the National Association of Academic Advisors for Athletics. She and her husband, Trevor, reside in Lafayette with their cat, Maddox.
Rochelle Owens, Academic Counselor
Men's Football
rochelle.owens@louisiana.edu
Rochelle Owens joined Student-Athlete Academic Services in 2024 as an Academic Counselor for Men's Football. In addition to working with football, she serves as a staff advisor for UL's Black Student-Athlete Association and is heavily involved in the Student-Athlete Development program: Geaux LEAD.
A native of Valdosta, GA, Rochelle earned her Bachelor of Science from Georgia Southern University in 2020, and a double Master of Science from the Univeristy of Florida in 2023.
Rochelle is a member of the National Association of Academic Advisors for Athletics.
Graduate Assistants
Jamie Sprague
Jamie is a Lafayette native who joined the Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns Student-Athlete Academic Center team as a tutor in the summer of 2021. She also served as an academic mentor, helping facilitate academic success and progress for UL's student-athletes. Jamie is a UL graduate, holding a bachelor's degree in Business Management. She was named the Department of Management's Outstanding Graduate in Spring of 2024, and was hired as a graduate assistant immediately after graduating. She is currently working on her Masters in Clinical Mental Health Counseling.