LSU plans to promote quarterback coach Joe Sloan and wide receivers coach Cortez Hankton to be co-offensive coordinators for the upcoming season, according to multiple reports and first reported by 247Sports.
The duo served in the same roles in an interim capacity during LSU’s ReliaQuest Bowl win over Wisconsin on Jan. 1. The Tigers prevailed by a score of 35-31 in that game, putting up 492 total yards, including 395 through the air, and orchestrating a 98-yard game-winning drive.
Sloan operated as the primary play caller in that game, and he’ll reportedly do the same for LSU this season.
Sloan and Hankton will fill the hole left by former offensive coordinator Mike Denbrock, who left during the offseason to take the offensive coordinator position at Notre Dame.
Denbrock was a finalist for the Broyles Award as the nation’s top assistant coach after this past season and led an offense, along with Sloan and Hankton, that was No. 1 in the nation in both yards gained and points scored.
The loss of Denbrock will now be solved with continuity, with Sloan and Hankton both being integral parts of the unit’s jump this past year.
Both have been with the Tigers for the last two seasons. Before that, Sloan was the offensive coordinator at Louisiana Tech, and Hankton was the wide receivers coach and passing coordinator at Georgia.
Both have been a big part of the Tigers’ recruiting efforts since coming to Baton Rouge.
Sloan and Hankton will inherit an offense that will be losing Heisman-winning quarterback Jayden Daniels, potential first-round receivers Malik Nabers and Brian Thomas Jr. and leading running back Logan Diggs, who transferred to Ole Miss.
However, it will return four of five starters from an offensive line that was one of the best in the nation, as well as receivers Kyren Lacy and Mason Taylor. The Tigers also added receivers CJ Daniels from Liberty and Zavion Thomas from Mississippi State in the transfer portal.
Perhaps most importantly, Sloan and Hankton will oversee junior quarterback Garrett Nussmeier’s development, as he’s expected to take over the starting role this season. Much of the Tigers’ success will hinge on how much success he has as a passer.
With Sloan and Hankton being promoted to fill the offensive coordinator position, the only remaining hole in LSU’s staff is at tight ends coach, a role which Denbrock also held. 247Sports also reported that LSU is looking for a tight ends coach with experience in offensive play-calling.
