LSU football offensive coordinator: 5 names atop Tigers' wish list

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Change is coming to LSU football. In many ways, it’s already arrived with seismic moves being made over the last month. Head coach Brian Kelly was fired, as was offensive coordinator Joe Sloan.

There’s plenty of buzz regarding LSU’s head coaching search, but there’s not much talk about who LSU’s next playcaller could be. Which makes sense. You can’t hire an offensive coordinator until you hire a head coach.

That doesn’t mean we can’t start looking at possibilities, though. No matter who LSU hires as head coach, the Tigers will be in the market for a high-profile offensive coordinator. There are only so many of those guys in the sport.

Whoever takes the job will have to rebuild an offense that’s struggled for two years. LSU will be replacing QB Garrett Nussmeier, along with a significant chunk of its wide receiver core. LSU’s offensive line, one of the worst in the SEC, will need retooling.

Here are 5 names who should be at the top of LSU football’s offensive coordinator wish list.

Mike Shanahan, Indiana OC

We’re shooting for the stars with this first hire. Shanahan is a long-time Curt Cignetti staffer who’s followed the head coach at multiple stops. Given Indiana’s commitment to Cignetti and football, it’s hard to see Shanahan getting away. The Hoosiers will do what it takes to keep him, even if blue-blood programs come calling.

Still, Shanahan is a name worth knowing. Programs of LSU’s status could make him the highest-paid coordinator in the sport if they desired. If Shanahan’s end goal is to be a head coach of a major Big Ten or SEC program, calling plays for LSU could put him on that track.

Shanahan’s Indiana offense ranked 18th in SP+ last year and is up to No. 4 in the country this year. Indiana presents a balanced attack — efficient and explosive. Indiana doesn’t do anything too crazy schematically, but Shanhan and staff present different looks that make the offense tough to plan for.

Buster Faulkner, Georgia Tech OC

Faulker’s profile has been on the rise for a few years now and continues to grow as Georgia Tech is 8-1 with one of the top offenses in the country. Prior to Tech, Faulkner was an assistant on Georgia’s national title teams.

His recent track record with quarterbacks is strong. At UGA, former walk-on Stetson Bennett became a championship QB under Faulkner. At Tech, Faulkner turned Haynes King into one of the most impactful players in the country.

Tech’s offense ranks 17th in SP+ this year. Tech’s versatile ground attack can hurt teams with zone runs and gap scheme. Faulkner makes the most of King’s athleticism and has built one of the best QB run games in college football.

The Tech offense ranks top 10 nationally in standard down success rate and passing down success rate. It’s hard to knock Faulkner’s offense off schedule and even if you do, Tech still finds ways to score.

Charlie Weis Jr, Ole Miss OC

Lane Kiffin is the architect and mastermind of the Ole Miss offense, but Weis plays a key role in the Rebels’ success. Weis is the quarterbacks coach, too, a position Ole Miss consistently makes the most of.

Working at Ole Miss, Weis has grown familiar with LSU’s recruiting territory and the SEC as a whole. He’s only 32 and understands the new era of the sport. There’s a lot to like about the rising star.

Ole Miss ranks top 15 in PPA/play and success rate and the Rebels are among the best at creating explosive plays.

If Kiffin is LSU’s next head coach, Weis is probably going to be a part of that staff. And if it’s not Kiffin, LSU might kick the tires on Weis regardless.

Todd Monken, Ravens OC

Monken is 59 and in the NFL. A return to the collegiate ranks is unlikely, but again, this is a shoot for the stars list.

Monken is in year three as the Ravens’ offensive coordinator. Before joining Baltimore, he was Georgia’s OC during the Dawgs’ back-to-back title runs. Monken has a prior stint at LSU, working under Les Miles in 2005 and 2006. He spent time at Louisiana Tech, too, and was later Southern Miss’s head coach. He’s familiar with the region.

It’s hard to imagine a stronger resume than Monken’s right now, especially for the LSU job. Here’s a guy with LSU connections, NFL experience, and a national championship pedigree.

It’s unlikely, but if for some reason, the Ravens undergo a coaching change, Monken could end up at LSU.

Jonathan Brewer, Duke OC

Brewer comes from the Gus Malzahn/Rhett Lashlee school of offense, getting his start in coaching at Auburn.

He’s only 38 and when he took the Duke OC job in 2024, it was his first time really getting to run an offense.

Duke ranks No. 14 nationally in PPA/pass and passing success rate. The Blue Devils’ offense is explosive, sitting seventh in big play rate. LSU has missed explosive plays in 2024 and 2025 and Brewer could bring that element back to the offense.

This article originally appeared on LSU Wire: Five top candidates for LSU football offensive coordinator job

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