Former LSU head coach Ed Orgeron casually mentions what his future holds
The LSU Tigers are finding out why Notre Dame wasn’t too sad to lose Brian Kelly a few years ago. While Kelly is good at creating a program that will threaten to win 10 games each year and has a high floor, he doesn’t play well with the media and fans, and he lacks the […]
The LSU Tigers are finding out why Notre Dame wasn’t too sad to lose Brian Kelly a few years ago. While Kelly is good at creating a program that will threaten to win 10 games each year and has a high floor, he doesn’t play well with the media and fans, and he lacks the x-factor upside needed to win a title. LSU’s 2025 season can still be revived, but time is ticking.
It’s hard for Kelly to make fans forget about Ed Orgeron. The replacement for Les Miles won a national title in 2019, but burned out after a disappointing two seasons. Kelly was brought in, but has so far been a dud in top 10 matchups.
Now, with fans unsure of whether Kelly is still the answer long-term, Orgeron has made a statement about his own future.
Former LSU HC Ed Orgeron wants to coach again in college football
Orgeron was approached by Jacques Doucet of 9WAFB TV this week and was asked about his interest in coaching again. He left zero doubt about his future.
“I’m ready to coach again. All depends what the best thing available is.”
Could LSU be a fit? Probably not, and Kelly will surely be given more time unless boosters really revolt with their money and NIL investments. But a reunion at LSU could make sense, if Orgeron has improved his ability to build a staff and primarily focus on recruiting.
After early head coaching stints at Ole Miss and a successful interim run at USC, Orgeron took over LSU midway through the 2016 season following Les Miles’ departure. Initially viewed as a stopgap, Orgeron quickly proved his worth, stabilizing the program and eventually building one of the most dominant teams in college football history.
His tenure at LSU peaked in 2019, when he led the Tigers to a perfect 15–0 season and a national championship. That team, powered by Heisman-winning quarterback Joe Burrow and a star-studded roster including Ja’Marr Chase, Justin Jefferson, and Clyde Edwards-Helaire, revolutionized offensive football under the guidance of passing game coordinator Joe Brady. LSU not only won the SEC and the College Football Playoff National Championship, but did so in record-breaking fashion, defeating seven top-10 opponents and setting numerous offensive records.
Orgeron’s success in 2019 earned him multiple Coach of the Year honors and cemented his legacy in Baton Rouge. However, the years that followed were less kind. The 2020 season, impacted by COVID-19 and the departure of key players and staff, saw LSU finish 5–5. In 2021, the Tigers went 6–6, leading to Orgeron’s departure from the program. Despite the downturn, he left LSU with a 51–20 record and a reputation as a passionate leader who connected deeply with his players and the community.
Now, after a few years away from the sidelines and a $17 million buyout, Orgeron has expressed a desire to return to coaching. At age 64, he says he still has “a little bit of meat on the bone” and is open to various roles, whether as a head coach or assistant. His legacy at LSU remains tied to that magical 2019 season, a year that not only brought glory to the program but also elevated Orgeron to iconic status in college football.
