Following the embarrassing 49-25 loss to the Texas A&M Aggies this weekend, the LSU Tigers parted ways with head coach Brian Kelly. The former Notre Dame head coach lasted less than four years, failing to rid his reputation as an important-game loser. That inability to prepare his teams for the biggest contests ultimately led to his downfall. 

Now that Kelly has the opportunity to go hang out on the beach with his $54 million, LSU must pick up the pieces and find its next head coach. With it being one of the best jobs in all of college football, there will be a lot of potential suitors and even more speculation out there. Some names will be a lot more realistic than others. 

Shooting for the stars 

While it’s unrealistic, I do expect LSU to put out feelers to Nick Saban. Saban is familiar with the LSU program, having served as head coach from 2000-2004. During that stretch, Saban recorded a 48-16 overall record and won the first National Championship of his career. He has a strong case as the best coach in college football history, so a Saban return would be an easy sell. 

At this point, Saban is probably a pretty unlikely option, but you never know. The same can probably be said for Oregon head coach Dan Lanning, one of the bright stars in the country. Lanning holds a 42-7 overall record with the Ducks, having built one of the most talented rosters in college football. With Southeastern roots, there would be a strong appeal to getting Lanning to come back East. 

It’s possible Ole Miss head coach Lane Kiffin will be mentioned for the job. He is probably a bit more likely than either Saban or Lanning, but we have to let things play out to see how much interest there really is. Kiffin has deep roots in the Southeast, is a good recruiter, and is a brilliant offensive mind. He would be an interesting fit in Baton Rouge. 

Regurgitated big names 

There are a couple of very familiar names that you will hear early in this job search, including former Florida State and Texas A&M head coach Jimbo Fisher. A National Champion-winning coach with the Seminoles, Fisher saw the luster come off of him during his time with the Aggies. Having spent time with the Tigers in the early 2000s as offensive coordinator, he’ll get a brief mention. 

There’s also a good chance former Penn State head coach James Franklin is mentioned now that he is available. While Franklin is a good coach, he also faces some of the same big-game criticisms that Kelly has. I find it hard to believe that LSU will trade in one coach who struggles to win big games for another. 

Top candidate short list 

There will be a lot of flashy names out there for this job, but LSU doesn’t need flash. They need substance, a good recruiter, and more than anything, a coach who can develop the raw talent. Here are some coaching candidates the program should be very interested in. 

Brent Key – Georgia Tech HC 

What a job Key has done with the Georgia Tech program over the years. He inherited a tough situation, and in just his third season as the permanent head coach, he has them sitting with a top-10 ranking and a 8-0 record to begin the 2025 season.

There is an energy around Key that would be very attractive in Baton Rouge. 

Joe Brady – Buffalo Bills OC 

The fanbase will have high interest in Brady, even if it’s unlikely that he pursues the job. His role with the 2019 LSU team is a thing of legend. There are some feelings out there that Brady prefers the NFL ranks, and with his trajectory, he will probably have NFL head coaching opportunities before too long. 

Kelvin Sheppard – Detroit Lions DC 

A former LSU star linebacker, Sheppard took over as defensive coordinator for the Lions this past offseason for the departed Aaron Glenn. Sheppard is a familiar name with a strong resume who clearly understands everything that LSU brings to the table. If the Tigers wanted to go the defensive route, he would be an interesting target. 

Jon Sumrall – Tulane HC 

After a very successful tenure with Troy, Sumrall is doing a really nice job in his second season with Tulane. Clearly, he understands the area, which would be a big sell on the recruiting trail. While Sumrall is a very good young coach, the lack of overall experience could be what makes LSU shy away. 

Alex Golesh – USF HC

While he might be somewhat unlikely, I would be a huge fan of Golesh’s fit in Baton Rouge. The former Tennessee Volunteer assistant is a really impressive offensive mind, and he has rebuilt the South Florida program in a short amount of time. Whether he becomes a serious candidate for this job in particular remains to be seen, but Golesh has a bright future regardless. 

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Ian Valentino