Tag: LSU head coach search

Brian Kelly to be introduced as LSU’s head coach on Wednesday

LSU makes it official.

The LSU Tigers made it official on Tuesday that Brian Kelly will become the 34th head coach. He will be introduced as the new head coach on Wednesday but will arrive in Baton Rouge on Tuesday afternoon. Kelly and athletic director Scott Woodward released statements in a press release on Tuesday.

“I could not be more excited to join a program with the commitment to excellence, rich traditions, and unrivaled pride and passion of LSU Football,” Kelly said. “I am fully committed to recruiting, developing, and graduating elite student-athletes, winning championships, and working together with our administration to make Louisiana proud. Our potential is unlimited, and I cannot wait to call Baton Rouge home.”

Kelly’s contract to come to LSU is for 10 years and $95 million plus incentives, it was reported by Dennis Dodd of CBS Sports that he would make $15 million per season.

[lawrence-related id=31849]

His Twitter account already reflects Callin’ Baton Rouge.

“Brian Kelly is the epitome of a winner,” Woodward said. “He has built and sustained success at every program he’s led, from multiple undefeated regular seasons and National Coach of the Year honors to national titles and College Football Playoff berths. His credentials and consistency speak for themselves.

“Most importantly, Coach Kelly’s players and programs exemplify excellence in all aspects of the student-athlete experience – in competition, in the classroom, and throughout the community – and he shares our values and vision for elevating our university and our state. We’re thrilled to welcome him and his family to Baton Rouge, and we are excited to work with him as we add to the championship legacy of LSU Football.”

LSU Head Coach Profile: Oregon’s Mario Cristobal

What about bringing Mario Cristobal back to the SEC?

This whole process has been a wild ride. Coach after coach coming off the board with James Franklin and Mel Tucker getting long-term deals. Luke Fickell and Dave Aranda are rumored to be next on the list to get extensions. Billy Napier and Lincoln Riley took new jobs in the last 24 hours. What could possibly be next for LSU?

If you believe they whiffed on Lincoln Riley, which could be the case, then it would be back to the drawing board. If not, they just move on down the list. One name that should be on that next tier of names would be Oregon’s Mario Cristobal.

Let’s take a look at his coaching profile:

[lawrence-related id=31247,31233,31204]

Mario Cristobal’s Profile

Joe Nicholson-USA TODAY Sports

Experience

  • Oregon head coach (2018-current)
  • Oregon Co-OC/OL coach (2017)
  • Alabama AHC/OL/RC (2013-16)
  • FIU head coach (2007-12)
  • Miami (FL) OL coach (2006)
  • Miami (FL) TE coach (2004-05)
  • Rutgers OL coach (2003)
  • Rutgers TE/OT coach (2001-02)
  • Miami (FL) GA (1998-2000)

Head Coach Record ( Overall)

  • 2017: 0-1 *interim
  • 2018: 9-4 (5-4)
  • 2019: 12-2 (8-1)
  • 2020: 4-3 (3-2)
  • 2021: 10-2 (7-2)

Cristobal has a history in the SEC and the south from his time in Miami and Alabama. Even at Oregon, he recruited in the area. In his 2022 class, Cristobal has commitments from four players in Texas, two in Alabama. In his 2021 class, he dipped into Texas and Mississippi. He already has those relationships and could have an even bigger impact at LSU in those areas.

His calling card is on the offensive side of the ball, specifically the offensive line. With his recruiting prowess and work with the offensive line, it would pay dividends for LSU. Their offensive line really struggled this year with injuries, lack of depth, and just bad play at times. If the Tigers want to get back to dominating the trenches, Cristobal should get a serious look. He is coaching in the Pac-12 Championship game. Scott Woodward should have his agent on speed dial for immediately following the game.

[listicle id=31225]

Contact/Follow us @LSUTigersWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Louisiana State news, notes, and opinions.

Follow Patrick on Twitter: @PatrickConnCFB

LSU Head Coach Profile: Ole Miss’ Lane Kiffin

A look at another coach that could find his way to the Bayou, Lane Kiffin.

Moving right down the list of head coaches, we have Lane Kiffin of Ole Miss. He just finished his second season with the Rebels. His team saw a complete turnaround from the 2020 campaign, in which they finished with a 5-5 record. He improved his team by five wins.

Kiffin now has Ole Miss looking at a New Years Six bowl game appearance for the first time since 2015. Hiring a former Ole Miss head coach worked out last time around, they did win a national championship.

Let’s take a look at his coaching profile:

[lawrence-related id=31120,31083,31026,30873]

Lane Kiffin’s Profile

Justin Ford-USA TODAY Sports

Experience

  • Ole Miss head coach (2020-current)
  • Florida Atlantic head coach (2017-19)
  • Alabama OC/QB coach (2014-16)
  • USC head coach (2010-13)
  • Tennessee head coach (2009)
  • Oakland Raiders head coach (2007-08)
  • USC OC/WR coach (2005-06)
  • USC PGC/WR coach (2004)
  • USC WR coach (2002-03)
  • USC TE coach (2001)

Head Coach Record (76-41 Overall)

  • 2017: 11-3 (8-0)
  • 2018: 5-7 (3-5)
  • 2019: 10-3 (7-1)
  • 2020: 5-5 (4-5)
  • 2021: 10-2 (6-2)

Kiffin’s an interesting name for the LSU vacancy. He is coming off the first 10-win regular season in Ole Miss history. Kiffin known for his offensive prowess turned an under-recruited quarterback into one of the top passers heading into the 2022 NFL draft. A position that the Tigers have struggled with in recent years outside of the two-year Joe Burrow era.

As we noted in our Lincoln Riley profile, the key 2022 recruit is Walker Howard. The talented Louisiana product would also do well under the guidance of Kiffin. The question is would he come to the Bayou after he watched his friend Ed Orgeron get run out of town just two years after winning a national championship?

Kiffin knows this is a business and I doubt that would deter him. He checks the box under “big fish.”

Contact/Follow us @LSUTigersWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Louisiana State news, notes, and opinions.

Follow Patrick on Twitter: @PatrickConnCFB

Luke Fickell reportedly staying at Cincinnati

Luke Fickell isn’t leaving the Bearcats, allegedly.

Luke Fickell isn’t leaving Cincinnati. Well, if you believe the report from Wednesday afternoon. He was a name brought up in conversations regarding the LSU head coaching vacancy. Not sure many thought a midwest guy such as Fickell would leave for the Bayou, but all that speculation could be for nothing.

Dennis Dodd of CBS Sports announced that Cincinnati football head coach Luke Fickell would be staying with the Bearcats, according to his sources.

Fickell is one of the hottest coaching names in college football right now, as he is on top of various coaching search lists for USC, Florida, LSU, and many others.

Cincinnati has just recently accepted an invitation to join the Big 12 conference for either the 2023 or 2024 season. It’s reasonable to understand why Fickell doesn’t want to leave the situation he is in with a power five conference schedule on the horizon.

Cincinnati has also just moved to No. 4 in the latest College Football Playoff Rankings, the first time a Group of Five school has been ranked in the top four. If Cincinnati were to get into the Playoff this season, Fickell would most likely be receiving a massive paycheck from the Bearcats.

As Paul Finebaum recently said about the Jimbo Fisher comments, “nobody believes coaches anyway.” Just ask Colorado players about Mel Tucker.

[listicle id=31031]

Contact/Follow us @LSUTigersWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Louisiana State news, notes, and opinions.

Follow Lance Dawe on Twitter: @DawePound

LSU Head Coach Profile: Iowa State’s Matt Campbell

A look at another coach that has been tied to LSU, Matt Campbell.

The next coach in our series is Iowa State’s Matt Campbell. His name has been brought up for head coaching jobs in the past at both the college and NFL levels. His team’s performance last season had many raising their eyebrows when he took a less talented team to the Fiesta Bowl and knocked off the Oregon Ducks.

Even more amazing of a performance during the COVID-19 season in which no one got much of an offseason. Brock Purdy and Breece Hall became household names and put the Cyclones into the national conversation. After losing to the Oklahoma Sooners in the Big 12 title game, they received a New Years Six bowl game. He is once again being brought into conversations for head coach vacancies.

Let’s take a look at his coaching profile:

[lawrence-related id=31026,30873]

Matt Campbell’s Profile

Jeffrey Becker-USA TODAY Sports

Experience

  • Iowa State head coach (2016-current)
  • Toledo head coach (2012-15)
  • Toledo OC/OL coach (2010-11)
  • Toledo running game coordinator/OL coach (2009)
  • Bowling Green running game coordinator/OL coach (2008)
  • Bowling Green OL coach (2007)
  • Mount Union OC/OL coach (2005-06)
  • Bowling Green graduate assistant (2003-04)

Head Coach Record (76-48 Overall)

  • 2016: 3-9 (2-7)
  • 2017: 8-5 (5-4)
  • 2018: 8-5 (6-3)
  • 2019: 7-6 (5-4)
  • 2020: 9-3 (8-1)
  • 2021: 6-5 (4-4)

Campbell has a combined record of 41-33 (30-23) during his tenure at Iowa State. Considering the talent deficit in Ames, that is quite the job. However, this is a coach that has stayed in the midwest for all of his career. It feels like a coach that would do well in that area. He understands the landscape and difficulties of recruiting to Iowa. Especially with schools like Iowa, Nebraska, Missouri, and Kansas State all in the area.

His comments on winning a championship were also very telling as to the mentality of Campbell.

“Not me. That was never my goal,” Campbell said in response to a question about the goal of winning the Big 12 Championship.

“My goal has always been one thing, and that is to become the best version of ourselves that we can become. So you’ve never heard me say that word once, you’ve only heard me talk about becoming the best version of yourself that you can be. And really, my challenge for this year’s team was to become the ‘greatest together’ team in the history of Iowa State football.”

That right there makes it a tough sell for Scott Woodward and the administration. A coach with zero ties or connections to the south and one who says that winning a championship was never his goal. That might work for a head coach in the midwest, but to tell your team and fanbase at LSU? That would get both Campbell and Woodward run right out of town.

Steer clear of Matt Campbell, LSU.

[lawrence-related id=31079]

[listicle id=31031]

Contact/Follow us @LSUTigersWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Louisiana State news, notes, and opinions.

Follow Patrick on Twitter: @PatrickConnCFB

LSU Head Coach Profile: UL-Lafayette’s Billy Napier

After reviewing Dave Aranda, we look at Billy Napier.

Moving on in our series on head coach profiles, we turn to a familiar face on the Bayou with UL-Lafayette’s Billy Napier. This man is no stranger to being linked to SEC jobs. Auburn, Mississippi State, Missouri, Tennessee have all courted the Ragin Cajuns’ head coach. For good reason, he has built quite a program just down the road from Baton Rouge.

His name has been linked to opening at TCU, Florida, and the LSU Tigers. Given his history of working under national championship head coaches and the job in Lafayette, he makes a ton of sense. However, would Scott Woodward give the Group of Five head coach an opportunity to prove his worth with the Purple and Gold? It is quite possible that on Oct. 15, 2022, Napier is on the opposite sideline when LSU plays Florida.

Lets take a look at his coaching profile:

[lawrence-related id=30873]

Billy Napier’s Profile

(The Daily Advertiser/USA TODAY Sports Network)

Experience

  • UL-Lafayette Head Coach (2018-Current)
  • Arizona State OC/QB Coach (2017)
  • Alabama WR Coach (2013-16)
  • Florida State TE Coach (2013)
  • Colorado State AHC/QB Coach (2012)
  • Alabama Analyst (2011)
  • Clemson OC/QB Coach (2009-10)
  • Clemson TE Coach/RC (2006-08)
  • South Carolina State QB Coach (2005)
  • Clemson Grad Assistant (2003-04)

Head Coach Record (38-12 Overall)

  • 2018: 7-7 (5-3)
  • 2019: 11-3 (7-1)
  • 2020: 10-1 (7-1)
  • 2021: 10-1 (7-0)

Prior to his arrival in Lafayette, the Ragin Cajuns were coming off three-straight losing seasons with a combined 18-21 record. Immediately the hire was paying dividends with a .500 season the first year and 31-4 record since. Clearly, his experience working with Nick Saban, Dabo Swinney, and Jimbo Fisher has been a clear factor in their turnaround.

Napier has been on staff with three different national championship-winning teams so he understands what it takes to win. It is clear that Napier has been waiting for the right opportunity, not jumping at the first Power Five school to call him about an opening.

The question is will he finally accept either LSU or Florida if given the offer?

[listicle id=30709]

LSU Head Coach Profile: Baylor’s Dave Aranda

Profiling the names for the opening at LSU

As the regular season comes to an end on Saturday, it puts the LSU Tigers one step closer to naming the next head football coach. Plenty of names have been speculated about. Texas A&M’s Jimbo Fisher, Oklahoma’s Lincoln Riley, and Michigan State’s Mel Tucker have been the most talked about. Fisher is adamant on staying, Riley feels like a pipedream, and Tucker is about to sign a 10-year extension with the Spartans.

With that said, our focus is going to be on the other names that we have heard. We begin with former LSU defensive coordinator Dave Aranda. He is one game away from potentially coaching for the Big 12 Championship on Dec. 5, he just needs some help from Oklahoma State. Could he come back to Baton Rouge?

Dave Aranda’s Profile

Jay Biggerstaff-USA TODAY Sports

Experience

  • Baylor Head Coach (2020-Current)
  • LSU AHC/DC/LB Coach (2016-19)
  • Wisconsin DC/ILB Coach (2013-15)
  • Utah State DC (2012)
  • Hawaii DC (2010-11)
  • Hawaii LB Coach (2008-09)
  • Southern Utah DC (2008)
  • Delta State Co-DC/LB Coach (2007)
  • Cal Luthern DC/LB Coach (2005-06)
  • Houston LB Coach (2003-04)
  • Texas Tech GA (2000-02)

Head Coach Record

  • 2020: 4-6
  • 2021: 9-2

Aranda is no stranger to the Bayou and it is well documented that his family loved their time in Baton Rouge. If Aranda gets the offer, it might be difficult to turn it down and return to LSU. The wildcard will be that of the USC Trojans. Much like the Bayou, he has ties to Southern California where he grew up and played college ball for heading to Texas as a graduate assistant for the Red Raiders. He played and coached for Cal Luthern before heading to Lubbock and returned to Cal Luthern in 2005.

The LSU defense really hasn’t been the same without him. They struggled this season until they completely changed the way they attack offenses. He would strengthen that unit. Does he want to leave Baylor where he has built that program back up after Matt Rhule left for the NFL? That remains to be seen. He is definitely one of the hottest names to monitor moving forward.

[listicle id=30709]

Social media buzzing after Mel Tucker’s squad beat Michigan

Social media is buzzing after that win for Michigan State. Come on down Mel Tucker?

It is no secret that many want Mel Tucker to be the next head coach at LSU. He was an assistant at LSU under Nick Saban in 2000. He re-joined Saban’s staff at Alabama, before taking the defensive coordinator job at Georgia under Kirby Smart.

Since that time, Tucker had a short stint with Colorado and is now in his second year at Michigan State. His name popped up as a potential candidate when Fox Sports analyst Bruce Feldman stated that many influential people in Baton Rouge want him.

The last time that LSU hired a former Michigan State Spartans head coach it worked out pretty well. Following the huge win for the second-straight season against their biggest rivals, many congratulated the future LSU head coach.

Contact/Follow us @LSUTigersWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Louisiana State news, notes, and opinions.

Follow Patrick on Twitter: @PatrickConnCFB