National Title Coach Ed Orgeron Back at LSU Under Lane Kiffin

The LSU Tigers announced an unexpected deal on Wednesday night, reporting that former head football coach Ed Orgeron will rejoin the Tigers coaching staff as a special assistant to recruiting and defense. The move reunites Orgeron with current LSU head coach Lane Kiffin with a personal and professional relationship spanning 25 years.

Orgeron and Kiffin first collaborated on Pete Carroll’s staff with the USC Trojans in 2001, and most recently at USC in 2013, with time spent together with the Tennessee Volunteers when Kiffin was head coach and Orgeron was his defensive line coach. However, it was likely the time with the Trojans that drew Kiffin to add Orgeron to his staff, as he is largely credited for turning them into a recruiting powerhouse.

Orgeron will now take those talents back to the former program he led to a national title, as the elite recruiter will now be able to recruit on the road due to recent NCAA changes. That will certainly help sell both Kiffin and LSU to prospects, with Kiffin leading the charge for college football’s top recruiting class and transfers in his first year.

To read more about the major hire and what it means for the Tigers, here is the full story from LSU Roundtable writer Dylan Sanders.

Orgeron’s legacy will forever be etched in LSU history after leading them to become national champions in 2019 on a 15-0 run that is considered one of the greatest to ever grace college football. However, he was fired after two years, complicating his time there a bit. This may look to heal that.

The Larose, La. native has deep ties in the state with a wealthy coaching background in both college and the NFL here, and with head coaching experience with both the Tigers and Ole Miss. It’ll be an intriguing relationship to watch unfold in Baton Rouge.