The LSU Tigers have removed the interim tag on head coach Ed Orgeron. Orgeron’s plan for 2017 is to pry offensive coordinator Lane Kiffin away from Alabama.
Ed Orgeron will be the full-time head coach of the 2017 LSU Tigers. After LSU throttled the rival Texas A&M Aggies on Thanksgiving Day, that gave LSU athletic director Joe Alleva great confidence to roll with the popular Orgeron going forward.
While LSU was in the sweepstakes to pry Houston Cougars head coach Tom Herman away from Harris Country, Texas, it seems that LSU has its eyes set on another offensive genius in Alabama Crimson Tide offensive coordinator Lane Kiffin.
The Advocate’s Ross Dellenger stated that Orgeron will target Kiffin to be his offensive coordinator in 2017. FOX Sports’ Bruce Feldman reported that a major selling point for Orgeron to get the full-time gig at LSU was to be able to land Kiffin away from SEC West rival Alabama.
#LSU will nail down and finalize Orgeron's contract this AM (expected around $3M/year)
— Ross Dellenger (@RossDellenger) November 26, 2016
He will go after Lane Kiffin for his OC position.
Big selling point for #LSU AD Joe Alleva on Ed Orgeron was the plan he presented including Lane Kiffin as his OC & having more flexibility.
— Bruce Feldman (@BruceFeldmanCFB) November 26, 2016
Orgeron has a great relationship with Kiffin. He was on Kiffin’s 2009 Tennessee Volunteers staff, as well as being the interim head coach of the USC Trojans when Kiffin was fired mid-season in 2012. When Orgeron was the head coach of the Ole Miss Rebels a decade ago, Kiffin’s brother Chris was on Orgeron’s Ole Miss staff.
Alabama did hire former USC head coach Steve Sarkisian mid-season 2016. He might be the one to take over for the Crimson Tide should Kiffin leave Tuscaloosa to work with Orgeron in Baton Rouge.
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Orgeron plans to keep defensive coordinator Dave Aranda in the same position at LSU. He also plans to keep interim play-caller Steve Ensminger on his 2017 LSU staff, but in a different position. It would be a great get for LSU to get a strong offensive coordinator in Kiffin to help get this lackluster LSU offense off the ground in 2017.