If Ed Orgeron is fired, here are 5 realistic options LSU could hire to replace him

1. Billy Napier, Louisiana Head Coach

Louisiana started the season with a loss to Texas, but the shine is not off of Napier as a prime candidate to jump to a Power 5 school. After going 11-3 in 2019 the Ragin’ Cajuns went 11-1 in 2020, highlighted by a season-opening win over Iowa State. Napier turned down all overtures from bigger schools after the season. Then, however naturally, got a new contract which made him the highest-paid coach in Sun Belt Conference history to keep him in Lafayette.

Continuing to build something at Louisiana is a nice idea, and being made the highest-paid coach in Sun Belt history stands as notable. But if/when Power 5 schools come calling again, Louisiana will have a hard time competing with those resources. Being under contract through 2025 now will not matter unless Napier really wants to stay and turns down all big school overtures again. That might happen, depending on what openings there are. It just feels unlikely, even as far out as we are from the coaching carousel for 2022.

If LSU doesn’t already have Napier on an unofficial list of possible replacements for Orgeron, if not atop it, they are doing it wrong. He comes with a resume of head coaching success, with acumen as an offensive assistant at Power Five programs (Clemson, Alabama, Arizona State). There is not a more ideal candidate to replace Orgeron.

Other options to replace Ed Orgeron at LSU: Willie Fritz (Tulane head coach), Jamey Chadwell (Coastal Carolina head coach), Gus Malzahn (UCF head coach), Mike Neu (Ball State head coach), Skip Holtz (Louisiana Tech head coach)

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