Lane Kiffin is LSU’s head coach. That much we know.
But who will surround the former Ole Miss man in Baton Rouge? Many reports have emerged, but clarity is still a ways away. Here’s a breakdown.
Offensive staff
LSU is without a full-time offensive coordinator, with Joe Sloan being fired the day after former head coach Brian Kelly was ousted.
However, Kiffin is reportedly bringing along with him Charlie Weis Jr., who was his offensive coordinator in Ole Miss since 2022. He was also his offensive coordinator at Florida Atlantic before Kiffin was hired in Oxford.
According to CBS Sports, Kiffin has also brought wide receivers coach George McDonald, tight ends coach and co-offensive coordinator Joe Cox and offensive analyst Sawyer Jordan. All of them have been removed from Ole Miss’ staff list on its website.
Kiffin met with former LSU interim coach Frank Wilson on Sunday, reporters outside of LSU’s football operations building observed, which bodes well for his future with the team. Wilson was the running backs coach and associate head coach this season. He’s well-respected outside the program, with many fans and players’ families having advocated for him to be considered for the permanent head coach job.
Wide receivers coach Cortez Hankton, offensive line coach Brad Davis and tight ends coach and interim offensive coordinator Alex Atkins are also among those whose futures are uncertain.
Reports said Ole Miss offered increased salaries for its offensive staff to convince them to stay, but many ultimately chose to follow Kiffin onto private planes to Baton Rouge on Sunday.
Defensive staff
The only defensive staff member that will join Kiffin from Ole Miss is defensive analyst Chris Kiffin, Lane’s brother.
The Rebels held onto defensive coordinator Pete Golding, promoting him to permanent head coach.
According to multiple reports, though, sitting LSU defensive coordinator Blake Baker will receive serious consideration to remain in his role, as will other defensive staff.
Defensive backs coach Corey Raymond, safeties coach Jake Olsen, edge rushers coach Kevin Peoples and interior defensive line coach Kyle Williams are the returnees Kiffin will need to make decisions on.
As of last week, LSU was also open to bringing back former head coach Ed Orgeron under Kiffin, CBS Sports reported. Orgeron brought the Tigers to the 2019 national championship and was fired two years later, but before that he coached on both the Tennessee and USC coaching staffs under Kiffin. Orgeron has primarily coached the defensive line in his career.
Support staff
Also joining Kiffin are Ole Miss’ top two support staff in Billy Glasscock, general manager, and Thaddeus Rivers, senior associate athletic director for football operations, as well as Mike Williams, senior director of player personnel.
Some have wondered where this influx of support staff leaves current LSU general manager Austin Thomas. Thomas has a longstanding relationship with Kiffin, having served on his staff at Tennessee, USC and Ole Miss. Thomas was the football chief of staff and sport administrator for the Rebels in 2022 and 2023, but left Kiffin’s side to take his current role at LSU in 2024.
Though there’s no reporting indicating anything either way on his future, Thomas was seen with Kiffin from outside the football operations building Sunday.
Kiffin will also bring head strength and conditioning coach Nick Savage. LSU’s conditioning has been criticized this year, particularly after its loss to Texas A&M, where former longtime LSU strength and conditioning head Tommy Moffitt is now employed.
Moffitt was let go when Kelly came to Baton Rouge, and A&M quarterback Marcel Reed said he motivated players this year ahead of the LSU game with a tackle dummy with Kelly’s face on it.
