Ed Orgeron Returns to LSU as Special Assistant

Ed Orgeron is returning to LSU as the special assistant to recruiting and defense. Lane Kiffin announced the move and said Orgeron will be asked to help on two fronts that shape roster building and the defensive room.

Kiffin said, "I’m excited to bring Coach Orgeron back to LSU," and added, "He brings us tremendous value with his ability to recruit elite players nationally, but especially the impact he can have for us recruiting the great state of Louisiana."

Orgeron’s LSU track record

Orgeron previously spent nearly six years as LSU’s head coach. His return comes with a résumé that already includes the program’s 2019 title run, when LSU went 15-0 and won the national championship.

That history gives the assignment a clear shape. He is not coming back for a ceremonial role; the job is tied to recruiting and defense, the two areas Kiffin said he wants him working in most closely.

Kiffin on Orgeron’s role

Kiffin also said, "Coach O understands my expectations and commitment to being a championship program." He added, "I look forward to seeing him with recruits and his intensity working with our defensive players."

The move gives LSU a familiar voice on the trail and on defense, with Orgeron’s strongest known value centered on elite national recruiting and Louisiana ties. For a staff move announced with that much emphasis on recruiting, the immediate focus is where he appears first: with prospects and with the defensive players Kiffin singled out.