Tag: Daronte Jones

LSU may have found its new defensive coordinator in Daronte Jones

LSU will reportedly hire Minnesota Vikings defensive assistant coach Daronte Jones to be its new defensive coordinator.

LSU’s search for a new defensive coordinator may have finally come to an end. Like, for real this time.

A day after reports surfaced about LSU reaching out to Minnesota Vikings defensive backs coach Daronte Jones about filling the vacancy at defensive coordinator on the coaching staff, it appears the search has come to a close. Bruce Feldman of The Athletics reported, via Twitter, “Jones is expected to become the new DC at LSU.”

Jones spent the previous two seasons as the defensive backs coach for the NFL’s Vikings. He previously had NFL stops with the Miami Dolphins and Cincinnati Bengals.

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Jones will be tasked with improving one of the worst defenses in LSU program history. Under former defensive coordinator Bo Pelini, LSU ranked 13th in the 14-team SEC in total defense, allowing 492.0 yards per game. Only Ole Miss allowed more yards per game. Opposing offenses averaged 7.26 yards per play against the Tigers, which was also the second-highest allowed per play in the SEC (Vanderbilt was the only other team to allow more than seven yards per play in the SEC last season). LSU also allowed 34.9 points per game in 2020, easily the most allowed per game in a season in over a decade.

There may be nowhere to go but up for the LSU defense, which could bode well for Jones as he loos to cure the defensive issues.

LSU has not formally announced the latest addition to the coaching staff. But as long as LSU conducted this interview without brushing the Vikings the wrong way as they did the New Orleans Saints, it appears LSU has its defensive coordinator ready to go. A previous attempt to hire Ryan Nielsen away from the New Orleans Saints fell through due to a contract issue between Nielsen and the Saints.

LSU’s six players appearing in Super Bowl LV is the most of any college program

Report: LSU will interview Vikings defensive backs coach Daronte Jones

Will Minneota Vikings DB coach Daronte Jones be the latest coach to leave the team this offseason?

ESPN’s Adam Rittenberg reported that LSU will interview Vikings defensive backs coach Daronte Jones for the Tigers’ open defensive coordinator position.

Jones has been coaching in the NFL for the past five seasons. He became Minnesota’s defensive backs coach in 2020. He has coached two high school football teams in Louisiana, among other stints.

If Jones was to leave, the Vikings would be looking for yet another coach in a turnover-ridden offseason. Minnesota has not renewed the contracts of special teams coordinator Marwan Maalouf, defensive assistant Dom Capers and Director of Competition Development Mark Uyeyama. Not only that, but Vikings offensive coordinator Gary Kubiak recently announced his retirement.

The Vikings new-look defensive back group did not always look good in 2020. However, under Mike Zimmer, the Vikings pass coverage has typically been pretty good. From Xavier Rhodes to Harrison Smith, there have been plenty of standout performances throughout the Zimmer era.

LSU set to interview another NFL coach for defensive coordinator

Could the LSU Tigers find their next defensive coordinator on Sunday?

Could the LSU Tigers find their next defensive coordinator on Sunday?

According to Adam Rittenberg of ESPN, the Tigers are set to interview Minnesota Vikings defensive backs coach Daronte Jones for their open defensive coordinator position on Sunday.

Jones, who has spent the past two seasons in Minnesota, has coached in the NFL for the previous five years, including stints with Miami and Cincinnati.

Before going to the NFL, Jones spent the 2015 season as the secondary coach for the Wisconsin Badgers. The Badgers allowed only seven passing touchdowns in his only season at Wisconsin.

Jones also spent three seasons at Hawaii as the secondary coach.

A native of Capitol Heights, Maryland, Jones played his college football at Morgan State.

A fast-riser in the coaching ranks, Jones spent time coaching at two Louisiana high schools early in his coaching career.

Jones is the fourth known candidate to speak with LSU head coach Ed Orgeron about the open defensive coordinator position.

Marcus Freeman, Orgeron’s top candidate, opted for Notre Dame. Mississippi State defensive coordinator Zach Arnett also spoke with Orgeron but was deemed not a fit.

Earlier this week, it appeared LSU had hired New Orleans Saints defensive line coach Ryan Nielsen as the new defensive coordinator. However, the next day Nielsen received a new three-year contract with New Orleans and an additional title.

The Tigers fired Bo Pelini shortly after the 2020 season concluded after just one season on the job.

Orgeron has not indicated if he has a timeline for a decision. Due to the importance of this hire, Orgeron is wise to interview multiple candidates after missing out on his preferred choice.

Notre Dame Football: Nearing Secondary Coach Decision?

Former Cincinnati Bengals cornerbacks coach Daronte Jones is said to have recently been on campus to go through a formal interview

Earlier this month Todd Lyght left his post as a Notre Dame assistant coach, leaving an opening on the coaching staff.

That spot remains open as of this posting but according to SI’s Irish Maven, that job may not be open much longer.

Former Cincinnati Bengals cornerbacks coach Daronte Jones is said to have recently been on campus to go through a formal interview and the SI report goes on to say that Jones met with multiple players and that “it is looking like he could very well be the ultimate choice”.

Now to your next question: who the heck is Daronte Jones? Continue reading “Notre Dame Football: Nearing Secondary Coach Decision?”