Ed Orgeron to be named full-time head coach at LSU

Herman, who coached Houston to national prominence the last two seasons, was announced as the new Texas coach Saturday, replacing Charlie Strong, who was sacked in the morning after three consecutive losing seasons.

“We’re proud to be a part of Louisiana and we understand LSU, what it means”, Orgeron said.

Athletic Director Joe Alleva said he was impressed with how Orgeron changed the culture of the football program and rallied the team after a hard start. On Thursday night, as LSU was blowing out Texas A&M, Horns Digest reported that Herman was “close to being named the next coach at LSU”. “I have a mindset on what we’re going to go get, who we’re going to go get, we’re going to go get it”. “By the end of that process, our decision was clear”, Alleva said. I want Coach O to stay. It was something that we knew. We know where his passion is.

The Tigers are 5-2 under Orgeron since Les Miles was sacked September 25. LSU’s two losses since Orgeron was promoted came against No. 1 Alabama and Southeastern Conference East Division champion Florida. When Kiffin was sacked early in the 2013 season at USC, Orgeron was named interim coach. Coach “O’ earned this job”. The first also was in the SEC – at MS in 2005. Can he win 10 or more games in seven of his first nine seasons if he lasts that long? Alleva called the list of names Orgeron had in mind “phenomenal”. “Dave and I have a great relationship”. “He knows now what his strengths are and he knows what his weaknesses are, and he highlights those strengths and he will fortify his weaknesses with people that he hires”. Orgeron coached under Kiffin during their time together at USC. Orgeron has won the Rivals.com National Recruiter of the Year Award and carries a strong reputation in recruiting circles. The Crimson Tide won it all previous year even though Kirby Smart did double duty before the national championship game in his dual roles as the Alabama defensive coordinator and Georgia head coach.

Orgeron has insisted that he learned from his mistakes as a first-time coach and has worked to correct them, which he has shown in relatively successful interim stints in Los Angeles and Baton Rouge.

“My goal is to build a championship program fast, very fast”.

“We’re going to look at recruiting the best offensive coordinator in football and bring him to LSU”.

Those wanting a big-name coach say Orgeron’s five wins in his seven games as interim coach is Fool’s Gold.

It can not be understated, but players love playing for Orgeron.

Alleva said he hadn’t spoken with Aranda since deciding to promote Orgeron, but he said he and the new head coach were constantly talking to him. Then USC Athletic Director Pat Haden opted to go a different direction hiring Steve Sarkisian prompting Orgeron to resign from the Trojans.

LSU viewed USC’s experience as something of a cautionary tale. The university already is paying a $9.6 million buyout of Miles because of the firing.

The school’s two final considerations were “Coach O” and Houston’s Tom Herman, who’s is widely considered to be Texas’ top candidate.

Now LSU fans have to swallow the fact that their program was likely used by Herman was leverage against Texas, and the Tigers are settling on Orgeron.