5 reasons Ed Orgeron is a home run hire for LSU football

It was reported that LSU is close to a deal with current Houston head coach Tom Herman to become the next head coach for LSU football. The Tigers introduced Orgeron as their head coach two days after beating Texas A&M in the Sugar Bowl on Thanksgiving; a move that will be met with skepticism outside Baton Rouge. “There is a process in place for the search, and we will take our time to make sure the best decision is made for the future of the program”.

It was the second winning interim stint at a major program for Orgeron, a 55-year-old Louisianan who went 6-2 at USC after Lane Kiffin was sacked in 2013.

Earlier this week as rumors swirled about the security of Texas coach Charlie Strong’s job, WNBA player and Texas alumni Imani Boyette noticed something odd in her husband, defensive lineman Paul Boyette as he praised his coach in interviews.

The Tigers flirted with other options in the last 48 hours – targeting Florida State’s Jimbo Fisher and Houston’s Tom Herman – before deciding on Orgeron after he went 5-2 as Les Miles’ replacement. “We are in Memphis together, preparing for a game”. Head coaches have to be great coaches yes, but they also must be excellent recruiters, polished with the media, able to fundraise … you don’t just need a brilliant football mind, you need to be a politician. Orgeron then got rid of offensive coordinator Cam Cameron, implemented a more wide-open system and revitalized the team’s stagnant offense.

Orgeron takes the job full-time following a 5-2 run as interim coach. I have the confidence that those practice schedules we had at USC are working at LSU. “We had our man all along”. He previously coached Northwestern State, McNeese State, Arkansas, Miami, Nicholls State, Syracuse, USC, Ole Miss, the New Orleans Saints, Tennessee and USC again before LSU.

LSU considered 10-12 candidates for its head coaching vacancy, and Alleva said he spoke to numerous agents that represented those coaches. “I want to thank all of the people in Louisiana for their support”.

“I didn’t turn on my phone except to call my wife this week”, Orgeron said. It was reported earlier this week that the school would be firing Strong in the wake of the Longhorns’ first loss to lowly Kansas since 1938 on Saturday. “It’s our full intent to keep him here”, Alleva said. He is a good defensive tactician in his own right, but Orgeron’s ability to relate to and get the most out of his 18 to 23-year-old players is a major reason LSU felt confident in giving him the job.