LSU to target Nick Saban and Urban Meyer as Les Miles replacement

LSU to target Nick Saban and Urban Meyer

Jan 1, 2015; New Orleans, LA, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide head coach Nick Saban and Ohio State Buckeyes head coach Urban Meyer shake hands after the 2015 Sugar Bowl at Mercedes-Benz Superdome. Ohio State defeated Alabama 42-35. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports /

LSU needs to bring in a big-name football coach to replace Les Miles, and two more significant targets are reportedly on their radar.

Les Miles came out on the wrong side of a “loser gets fired” game with Auburn and Gus Malzahn last Saturday night, and LSU moved quickly by firing him on Sunday. Ed Orgeron will take over as interim head coach for the rest of this season, but the list of possible long-term replacements for Miles is filled with big names.

Multiple possible LSU targets have dismissed any interest in the job already, as should be expected in the middle of a season. But the school will and should target multiple options to replace Miles, and some of the most accomplished coaches in college football are on LSU’s radar.

Houston head coach Tom Herman is the usual suspect for any notable job opening, and Oklahoma’s Bob Stoops may be on the hot seat. Florida State head coach Jimbo Fisher’s name surfaced late last season, amid speculation Miles would be fired, due to his past ties to LSU.

But Football Scoop.com reports two more big-name targets LSU will at least kick the tires on.

"If Orgeron doesn’t earn the job, sources tell FootballScoop that LSU’s committee believes they can and should land a home run. “Their sights are on national championship caliber, proven head coaches,” a source with knowledge told FootballScoop this morning. During the initial, exploratory phase, we are told to expect LSU, through representatives, to gauge the interest of some of the top coaches in college football, including Nick Saban, Urban Meyer, Bob Stoops, Jimbo Fisher and Tom Herman. Right or wrong, sources tell FootballScoop that LSU believes they will be able to attract a coach of that caliber."

Nick Saban and Urban Meyer both seem well-entrenched where they are, but nothing can be ruled out when it comes to coaching movement. Saban was previously head coach at LSU from 2000-2004, with two SEC titles and a national title in 2003 during his tenure, before leaving for the NFL’s Miami Dolphins for two seasons. Saban of course then returned to college coaching, and he’s been at Alabama since 2007.

LSU is right to aim high in their search for a new football coach, and they need to get a big name to fully justify firing Miles. But Saban is unlikely to leave a great situation at Alabama any time soon, and the chance he considers a return to Baton Rouge is a real long-shot. And if Meyer leaves Ohio State, it’s more likely to be for an NFL job or a possible opening at Notre Dame.

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