Fansided

3 coaches who could put LSU back on the right path

By Nathaniel Reeves

SANTA CLARA, CA - JANUARY 01: Head coach Chip Kelly of the San Francisco 49ers looks on from the sidelines against the Seattle Seahawks during the first quarter of their NFL football game at Levi's Stadium on January 1, 2017 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)
SANTA CLARA, CA - JANUARY 01: Head coach Chip Kelly of the San Francisco 49ers looks on from the sidelines against the Seattle Seahawks during the first quarter of their NFL football game at Levi's Stadium on January 1, 2017 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images) /
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MOBILE, AL – DECEMBER 23: Head coach Neal Brown of the Troy Trojans prior to their game against the Ohio Bobcats on December 23, 2016 in Mobile, Alabama. The Troy Trojans defeated the Ohio Bobcats 28-23. (Photo by Michael Chang/Getty Images)
MOBILE, AL – DECEMBER 23: Head coach Neal Brown of the Troy Trojans prior to their game against the Ohio Bobcats on December 23, 2016 in Mobile, Alabama. The Troy Trojans defeated the Ohio Bobcats 28-23. (Photo by Michael Chang/Getty Images) /

Neal Brown

The Tigers got an up-close view of Brown’s coaching ability on Saturday night, and would do well to hire him should they move on from Orgeron this season.

A former wide receiver under Air Raid pioneer Mike Leach at Kentucky, Brown made a national name for himself as the offensive coordinator with Texas Tech from 2010-2012. During his time with the Red Raiders, Brown installed a scheme known as the NASCAR spread offense that featured players running to the line as quickly as possible and snapping the ball before the defense could get set.

Texas Tech enjoyed one of college football’s most prolific passing attacks under Brown, and he was hired as Troy’s head coach prior to the 2015 season following a brief stint as Kentucky’s offensive coordinator. The Trojans were looking to replace longtime head coach Larry Blakeney, who oversaw the program’s transition from Division II all the way to FBS and won five Sun Belt titles before regressing to 3-9 in the last of his 23 seasons.

After a 4-8 debut campaign, Brown guided Troy to a 10-3 season in 2016, it’s highest ever win total at the FBS level. The Trojans knocked off Ohio in the Dollar General Bowl, were ranked in the top 25 in mid-November, and almost derailed Clemson’s national championship season in a 30-24 loss on Sep. 9.

Brown’s immediate rebuilding job has been incredible, and the Trojans are looking good in 2017 with a 4-1 record, including the massive win over LSU. The only red flag is Brown’s minimal head coaching experience, but he’s going to be a rising name following Saturday’s result in Death Valley.

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