Ed Orgeron says he’s ‘one phone call away’ from returning to LSU

The LSU Tigers are already trying to find their subsequent head soccer coach after firing Brian Kelly, and a former chief on the sidelines in Demise Valley put his identify within the hat for a attainable reunion.

Ed Orgeron has a nationwide championship ring with the Tigers and he mentioned in a latest interview that he want to don the purple and gold once more.

‘Are you kidding me? I am one cellphone name away,” he mentioned Unsportsmanlike radio on Wednesday. “I simply must get in my truck, I might be there at present.”

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Then-LSU Tigers head coach Ed Orgeron talks with quarterback Joe Burrow after a win in opposition to the Clemson Tigers within the School Soccer Playoff nationwide championship sport on the Mercedes-Benz Superdome. (Matthew Emmons/USA TODAY Sports activities)

Orgeron led the Tigers from 2016-21, when his star-studded 2019 squad, together with quarterback Joe Burrow and receivers Justin Jefferson and Ja’Marr Chase, received the nationwide championship with an ideal 15-0 report.

Orgeron went 51-20 throughout his six seasons at LSU, however he was ousted after a 5-5 marketing campaign in 2020, adopted by a 6-6 report in 2021.

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The Louisiana native stays within the state, which is why he mentioned he simply needed to pack up his truck and head to Baton Rouge. But when he is not the selection, Orgeron mentioned the following head coach must turn into one with the distinctive Tigers group.

“Once they meet the candidate, is that this the one who can deal with the strain from LSU and embrace the state of Louisiana?” Orgeron mentioned within the interview. “I feel that is one of many issues, whether or not that is true or not, it seemed like from the surface that Brian Kelly by no means embraced the state of Louisiana. And if you get these guys in your facet, that is very highly effective.”

Whereas he might wish to come again, Orgeron hasn’t been a head coach since that 2021 season. As an alternative, others who nonetheless run applications elsewhere are among the many first candidates reportedly linked to the Tigers.

LSU Tigers head coach Ed Orgeron throughout a sport between the Texas A&M Aggies and the LSU Tigers, at Tiger Stadium in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, on November 27, 2021. (John Korduner/Icon Sportswire)

Amongst them is Ole Miss head coach Lane Kiffin, whom Orgeron is aware of effectively having hung out collectively as assistants for the legendary Pete Carroll at USC within the early 2000s. Kiffin additionally employed Orgeron as an assistant when he was head coach at Tennessee, and when USC known as for the previous the next season, the latter adopted him to sunny California.

Now, if it is Kiffin who heads to Baton Rouge, Orgeron mentioned he would not thoughts working with him once more.

“I nonetheless have my house in Baton Rouge. I beloved it once I coached with coach (Les) Miles because the defensive position coach. I really like the Tigers,” Orgeron mentioned. ‘And I’ll coach once more. I’d undoubtedly take into account it. Little question about it.’

Kelly was fired after dropping 49-25 to No. 3 Texas A&M, marking back-to-back losses to ranked opponents. No. 9 Vanderbilt defeated LSU the week earlier than, and Kiffin’s Rebels eradicated the Tigers 24-19 earlier this season.

Former faculty soccer coach Ed Orgeron cheers in assist of Workforce United States previous to the 2025 Ryder Cup on Black Course at Bethpage State Park Golf Course on September 23, 2025 in Farmingdale, New York. (Michael Reaves/PGA of America/PGA of America by way of Getty Photos)

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Kelly was 34-14 over the course of 4 seasons with the Tigers. He signed a 10-year, $100 million deal to turn into LSU’s head coach after a profitable profession with the Notre Dame Preventing Irish.

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