LSU defensive coordinator Bo Pelini will not return to Baton Rouge in 2021, as the school announced Monday evening.
Pelini agreed to a financial settlement to end his employment with the university. He will accept a one-time payment in lieu of the liquidated damages detailed in his contract, according to officials.
“While this year has been challenging in many ways, the decision to return to LSU – a place that I love with many wonderful memories – is something that I’m thankful for,” Pelini said in a statement.
However, after meeting with Coach O and discussing the future of the program, we have mutually decided that it’s best we part ways. I wish nothing but success for LSU, Coach O and the players that I thoroughly enjoyed coaching and getting to know this year. I was proud of how hard our team competed down stretch, the way our young guys stepped up and were developing and the overall direction we were headed.”
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This season marked Pelini’s second stint with LSU, as he took the place of Dave Aranda, who departed for Baylor last offseason.
LSU finished the season with a 5-5 overall record that could have looked a lot better if no conference games had been a part of the schedule, but it’s hard to ignore the fact Pelini’s defense was No. 13 in the SEC in the categories of total defense and pass defense.
The Tigers are also expected to part ways with passing game coordinator Scott Linehan, as first reported by The Advocate’s Brooks Kubena, and there have also been reports there could be continued turnover within the staff this offseason.
#LSU also expected to part ways with passing game coordinator Scott Linehan, as @BKubena reported first.
— Crissy Froyd (@crissy_froyd) December 22, 2020
Now it’s official. #LSU and Bo Pelini will part ways.
Full statement: pic.twitter.com/vgulRBZSZV
— Crissy Froyd (@crissy_froyd) December 22, 2020
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