Sometimes to move forward, you have to go back.
There’s no doubting that Ed Orgeron, also known as “Coach O,” was a great coach for Louisiana State University. Orgeron was the head coach from 2016 to 2021, and boasted a record of 51 wins and 20 losses during that time. One of those wins was the 2019-20 National Championship.
Some say that Joe Burrow led team, which went undefeated, is the best college football team that’s ever taken the field.
Coach O built up the LSU program quickly, and then it all came crumbling down just as fast. He was fired and his contract was bought out in 2021, which spawned Ed Orgeron’s famous “What time do you want me to leave and what door do you want me out of?” line.
Interestingly enough, Coach O mentioned in early October that he was ready to return to coaching after his pseudo-retirement. Why is he all of the sudden ready to jump back into it? Well, when the head coach agreed to walk out the door back in 2021, LSU said they’d pay him over $17 million in payments spread out across 18 installments.
Evan Cohen Radio reported that the last installment of that agreement is set to hit Orgeron’s bank account in December of this year.
So call it coincidence or convenient timing, but just as his buyout money is running out, Coach O is ready to come back to coaching college football. And is there a chance that he simply goes back to the LSU head coaching job? It just so happens to be open after Orgeron’s replacement – Brian Kelly – was fired four years after he was hired in 2021.
Coach O was asked if he’d return to LSU on ESPN’s UnSportsmanLike, and he can confirm that there’s at least some interest from his end:
“I’d love to. Are you kidding me? Hey, I’m one phone call away. I just gotta get in my truck; I could be there today.”
The only problem? Coach O isn’t the favorite to land the job. There’s a lot of buzz that Ole Miss’ Lane Kiffin could move within the SEC and take the LSU head coaching gig. The Tigers are looking for a coach that can help them win now, and win a lot, and Kiffin hasn’t had a problem stacking up dubs in the SEC.
And even when Coach O was asked if he’d consider joining Lane Kiffin’s coaching staff if he were to be hired at LSU, Orgeron said he’d likely be game:
“Yeah, I’d consider it. I love LSU. I still got my home in Baton Rouge. I loved when I was coaching for Coach (Les) Miles being the defensive line coach. I love the Tigers, and if I’m getting back into coaching, for sure I’d consider it. No doubt.”
C’mon LSU… make it happen.
Whatever the decision ends up being, it’ll be at the hands of LSU’s Board of Supervisors. Scott Woodward, the athletic director at LSU, apparently won’t be choosing the next head coach for the Tigers football team. Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry had this to say about LSU’s head coaching search:
“I can tell you right now Scott Woodward is not selecting the next head coach. I’d let Donald Trump select it before I let him do it.”
Maybe the board will go with Coach O?
