Tag: Jimmy Lindsey

16 names to watch for LSU’s open defensive coordinator role

These 16 names could make a good fit for LSU’s next defensive playcaller.

After months of speculation, it finally happened.

[autotag]Brian Kelly[/autotag] announced that LSU defensive coordinator [autotag]Matt House[/autotag], along with defensive assistants [autotag]Robert Steeples[/autotag], [autotag]Kerry Cooks[/autotag] and [autotag]Jimmy Lindsey[/autotag], would not be retained.

Both coordinator positions are open now, but much of the spotlight will be directed at the defensive side given how bad that unit was in 2023.

Before House, Kelly had a good record of hiring DCs. Its a list that includes Mike Elko, Marcus Freeman and Clark Lea. All are now Power Five head coaches, and Elko and Lea are in the SEC.

The expectation should be for Kelly to make a hire closer to that than what we saw with House.

Here are 16 names Kelly should pursue.

Reactions as LSU fires defensive coordinator Matt House

To say LSU fans were relieved with the change would be an understatement.

Though it took longer than some expected, LSU coach [autotag]Brian Kelly[/autotag] opted to make sweeping changes on the defensive side of the ball after that unit massively underachieved in 2023.

Defensive coordinator [autotag]Matt House[/autotag] is out, as is almost the entire defensive staff. The Tigers parted ways with safeties coach [autotag]Kerry Cooks[/autotag], cornerbacks coach [autotag]Robert Steeples[/autotag] and defensive line coach [autotag]Jimmy Lindsey[/autotag], as well.

It was a move that didn’t come as a major surprise after that unit held the team back despite possessing one of the most prolific offenses in program history led by a Heisman Trophy winner.

To say LSU fans were relieved with the change would be an understatement. Here’s how the fanbase reacted.

BREAKING: LSU fires DC Matt House, multiple defensive assistants

After an abysmal showing in 2023, LSU is overhauling its defensive staff.

Following the conclusion of the ReliaQuest Bowl against Wisconsin on Monday, LSU made a slew of defensive staff changes on Wednesday.

Most notably, the Tigers fired defensive coordinator [autotag]Matt House[/autotag] after two seasons in Baton Rouge. Alongside House, coach [autotag]Brian Kelly[/autotag] announced that safeties coach [autotag]Kerry Cooks[/autotag], cornerbacks coach [autotag]Robert Steeples[/autotag] and defensive line coach [autotag]Jimmy Lindsey[/autotag] would not return in 2024.

It’s a full-on overhaul for a defensive staff whose unit underachieved this season. After putting together a solid group in 2022, the defense backslid tremendously in 2023.

The Tigers ranked 86th in points allowed and 110th in yards allowed while ranking in the bottom 15 nationally in opponent third-down percentage.

“I want to thank each of these coaches for their work on behalf of our football program and our institution during their time here,” Kelly said in a statement. “Decisions like these are always difficult, and we do not make them lightly, but they are made with the best interests of our program and student-athletes in mind.

“Moving forward, we will continue working to build a championship caliber coaching staff in support of our mission to Graduate Champions.”

House, Cooks and Steeples were a part of Kelly’s initial staff at LSU. House and Steeples came from the NFL ranks with House having prior SEC coordinating experience, while Cooks was an analyst at Notre Dame who followed Kelly to Baton Rouge.

Lindsey joined the staff ahead of this season after holding the same role at South Carolina, but he spent most of 2023 away from the team while dealing with a health issue.

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Maason Smith explains impact Pete Jenkins has had on LSU’s defensive line

The veteran coach was brought in to help the defensive line mid-season, and Maason Smith said it has made an impact.

With the Tigers’ defensive line struggling early in the season and defensive line coach [autotag]Jimmy Lindsey[/autotag] currently away from the team for health reasons, LSU brought in a veteran to help out [autotag]John Jancek[/autotag], who was moved to coach the position.

[autotag]Pete Jenkins[/autotag], 82, has returned to LSU for his fourth stint after serving as the team’s defensive line coach on three prior occasions. Jenkins has been brought in as an analyst to mostly help with fundamentals and technique, [autotag]Brian Kelly[/autotag] has said.

It’s hard to know how much of it can be attributed to Jenkins, but LSU seems to be getting better play up front since bringing him in. Defensive tackle [autotag]Maason Smith[/autotag] gives a lot of that credit to the longtime coach.

“Adding coach Pete to our room it’s been very helpful,” Smith said, per On3. “Just to have an old mind like him around, somebody who was innovative in D-Line play. It’s the little things with eyes, hand placement, that will go a long way. All of that stuff we were lacking at the beginning of the season.

“Transitioning from different coaches from Orgeron my freshman year and speaking the same language O was speaking, then going to Cain and he spoke a different language (from Orgeron), so hearing that (Orgeron) language (from Jenkins) that I was used to was refreshing to me.”

The current coaching tandem of Jancek and Jenkins is the fourth Smith has had in his three seasons at LSU, and though he’s had a bit of a slow start after returning from an ACL tear last year, he’s begun to flash.

And it seems Jenkins’ expertise can be at least partially thanked for that.

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Former LSU DL coach Pete Jenkins joining staff as an analyst

This will be the fourth stint at LSU for Pete Jenkins, a veteran coach whose career spanned five decades.

LSU has made a midseason addition to its offseason staff, adding former defensive line coach [autotag]Pete Jenkins[/autotag] as an analyst.

Jenkins is a longtime coaching veteran with a career that spanned five decades in the high school, college and professional ranks. The news of his hiring was first reported by Ed Daniels of WGNO in New Orleans.

This will be Jenkins’ fourth stint on the LSU staff. Initially a defensive assistant with the team from 1980-90, he returned to coach LSU’s defensive line from 2000-01 and again from 2016-17 under [autotag]Ed Orgeron[/autotag] before he officially retired.

Coach [autotag]Brian Kelly[/autotag] said on Monday that Jenkins was brought in to assist LSU’s defensive line and coach [autotag]John Jancek[/autotag], who was moved to the position group as defensive line coach [autotag]Jimmy Lindsey[/autotag] continues to battle an undisclosed health issue.

LSU will hope adding one of the sport’s most seasoned defensive coaches will help a unit that allowed 706 yards in a 55-49 loss to Ole Miss on Saturday.

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Brian Kelly gives positive update on defensive line coach Jimmy Lindsey’s health

Jimmy Lindsey is about halfway through his treatment process, and reports have been positive per Brian Kelly.

LSU defensive line coach [autotag]Jimmy Lindsey[/autotag], who was hired away from South Carolina this offseason, is currently away from the team as he deals with what coach [autotag]Brian Kelly[/autotag] has only called a personal health issue.

During his Thursday press conference, however, Kelly did provide an encouraging update on Lindsey’s progress. Though he couldn’t give a timeline on when Lindsey may return to the sidelines, Kelly said that he is about halfway through treatment and that the news has been positive.

“Jimmy is continuing to make progress. He is in treatment right now,” Kelly said. “He’s about halfway through his treatments, and all reports are really positive in his treatment process. No timeline has really been established relative to that right now as he’s right in the middle of his treatments.”

With Lindsey away from the team, LSU shuffled around its staff a bit. [autotag]John Jancek[/autotag], who previously coached special teams and outside linebackers, is currently assisting with the defensive line, while former UConn head coach [autotag]Bob Diaco[/autotag] was elevated from a defensive analyst role to assume Jancek’s previous duties.

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LSU makes final 6 for top-100 EDGE Danny Okoye

LSU made the top six for edge defender Danny Okoye.

A week of busy recruiting news continued for LSU with defensive end [autotag]Danny Okoye[/autotag] including LSU in his top six.

According to On3, LSU is joined by Alabama, Texas, Tennessee, Oklahoma and Colorado.

There’s still a long way to go with this recruitment and 247Sports hasn’t logged any Crystal Ball predictions yet. LSU could use an edge defender after losing out on the services of five-star [autotag]Colin Simmons[/autotag].

Right now, major recruiting services differ in their views of Okoye. On3 ranks him as a top 10 EDGE in the class while 247Sports has him as a three-star.

Rivals and ESPN both rank Okoye as a top 250 overall player with four stars.

Okoye would be a big addition to a LSU class that’s recently jumped into the top 10. This cycle could tell us a lot about what [autotag]John Jancek[/autotag] can do as a recruiter, especially as he oversees the entire defensive line as [autotag]Jimmy Lindsey[/autotag] is away from the program with a medical issue.

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Brian Kelly updates recovery for LSU defensive line coach Jimmy Lindsey

Jimmy Lindsey is expected to be released from the hospital soon, though he has a long road to recovery according to Brian Kelly.

LSU coach [autotag]Brian Kelly[/autotag] provided an encouraging update on the status of defensive line coach [autotag]Jimmy Lindsey[/autotag].

Lindsey, who was hired this offseason from South Carolina, is currently away from the team indefinitely as he battles an unspecified health issue.

While he didn’t get into any specifics, Kelly said that Lindsey is expected to be released from the hospital soon, though he will have a long road to recovery.

“We’ve gotten great reports,” Kelly said. “Jimmy I believe is going to be released from the hospital, either today or it’s really soon. There’s a long road of recovery ahead for him, and then there are other things that he’s going to have to handle that are personal and private for the family that they’re going to have to deal with. But very encouraging, just the fact that I’m able to talk about it in terms of leaving the hospital.

“So, really happy for Jimmy and certainly Lauren, his wife who has been there by his side every day. So a good bit of news there that we were able to get yesterday.”

In the meantime, [autotag]John Jancek[/autotag] is serving as LSU’s defensive line coach while [autotag]Bob Diaco[/autotag] was elevated to the on-field staff to take Jancek’s role as outside linebackers coach and special teams coordinator.

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Who is new LSU OLB coach/special teams coordinator Bob Diaco?

Bob Diaco becomes the newest member of the on-field staff after Jimmy Lindsey stepped away from the program for health reasons.

On Wednesday afternoon, coach [autotag]Brian Kelly[/autotag] shared the sad news that defensive line coach [autotag]Jimmy Lindsey[/autotag] will be stepping away from the program as he deals with a personal health issue.

[autotag]John Jancek[/autotag] will be moved to coach the defensive line in the absence of Lindsey, who was hired earlier this offseason. Meanwhile, [autotag]Bob Diaco[/autotag] becomes the newest member of the on-field staff, as he will be elevated from an analyst role to replace Jancek as outside linebackers coach and special teams coordinator.

Diaco is a former FBS head coach, spending 2014-16 at UConn where he compiled an 11-26 record with one bowl appearance. Since then, he’s served as the defensive coordinator at Nebraska, Louisiana Tech and Purdue while also coaching linebackers at Oklahoma.

Prior to joining the Tigers’ support staff, Diaco was the defensive line coach for the New Jersey Generals of the USFL for the 2022 and 2023 seasons.

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LSU DL coach Jimmy Lindsey to step away due to personal health matter

John Jancek will coach the defensive line while analyst Bob Diaco will be elevated to the on-field staff, coach Brian Kelly said.

Newly hired LSU defensive line coach [autotag]Jimmy Lindsey[/autotag] will be stepping away from the program as he deals with a personal health matter, coach [autotag]Brian Kelly[/autotag] said in a statement on Wednesday. The news comes on the eve of the Tigers’ first practice of fall camp.

Outside linebackers coach and special teams coordinator [autotag]John Jancek[/autotag] will serve as defensive line coach during Lindsey’s absence. [autotag]Bob Diaco[/autotag], a former head coach at UConn and current analyst, will be elevated to an on-field role to take Jancek’s spot.

“Our prayers are with Coach Lindsey and his family, and we ask that their privacy be respected,” Kelly said in the statement. “We look forward to his return to the program.”

Lindsey was hired earlier this offseason after spending the last two years at South Carolina in the same role. He replaced [autotag]Jamar Cain[/autotag], who left to become a pass-rush specialist on Sean Payton’s Denver Broncos staff.

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