LSU bringing former championship winning head coach back to program

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The college football offseason has delivered no shortage of twists and turns. From eligibility lawsuits and playoff expansion to sweeping rule changes, the sport has entered one of its most unpredictable eras in recent memory. Now, LSU is bringing a headline-grabbing figure back into the fold.

Reports surfaced Wednesday night that LSU head coach Lane Kiffin brought legendary former coach Ed Orgeron to his staff. “Coach O” will reportedly serve as a special assistant focused on recruiting and defense. Nearly five years after LSU dismissed him as head coach, Orgeron is set to return to Baton Rouge.

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The decision to bring back Orgeron could prove significant in college football’s rapidly changing landscape. Few coaches can match his recruiting ability. While Orgeron was never known as a schematic mastermind, he helped recruit elite talent such as Ja’Marr Chase and Joe Burrow during his time at LSU.

The move could also shift some attention away from Kiffin. He has remained a constant topic of discussion since leaving Ole Miss for LSU. The headlines surrounding Kiffin have not been egregious. However, the steady stream of criticism and negative publicity has created distractions around the program.

Orgeron, of course, became the unlikely coach who guided LSU to its most recent national championship. LSU initially hired him as a defensive line coach in 2015 before promoting him to interim head coach in 2016. After earning the full-time position, Orgeron quickly built one of the nation’s top programs.

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That work culminated in LSU’s historic 2019 national championship run led by quarterback Joe Burrow. Orgeron helped assemble an offense loaded with future NFL talent, including Burrow, Chase, Justin Jefferson, Thaddeus Moss, and Clyde Edwards-Helaire. Several of those players have since developed into some of the NFL’s best at their respective positions.

Following the championship season, however, COVID-19 threw college football into chaos. LSU lost multiple players to opt-outs and departures, leading to a disappointing title defense. In 2021, the Tigers finished 6-6, prompting the school to part ways with Orgeron. LSU soon hired Brian Kelly as his replacement.

During that period, reports also emerged involving off-field issues surrounding Orgeron, including a Title IX lawsuit filed against both him and LSU. Combined with the program’s sharp decline after the 2019 title season, those concerns ultimately contributed to the university’s decision to move on.

Now, Orgeron returns to a community where he remains widely respected and admired. As LSU navigates a new era of college football, his recruiting expertise and deep ties to the program could make him an important piece in the Tigers’ efforts to reestablish themselves among the sport’s elite.

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