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The LSU Football Head Coach Candidate List

Posted on 10/27/25 at 7:52 am
Posted by Chicken
Jackassistan
Member since Aug 2003
26212 posts
Posted on 10/27/25 at 7:52 am
USA Today Salaries Database

The Whales:
Lane Kiffin (HC at Ole Miss)
Dan Lanning (HC at Oregon)
Curt Cignetti (HC at Indiana)

Why would they leave their alma mater?
Brent Key (HC at Georgia Tech)
Clark Lea (HC at Vanderbilt)
Jeff Brohm (HC at Louisville)
Kenny Dillingham (HC at Arizona State)

Looking to make the big jump?
John Sumrall (HC at Tulane)
Eric Morris (HC at North Texas)
Rhett Lashlee (HC at SMU)
Ryan Silverfield (HC at Memphis)
Alex Golesh (HC at South Florida)
Willie Fritz (HC at Houston)
Joey McGuire (HC at Texas Tech)
Tony Elliott (HC at Virginia)
Matt Campbell (HC at Iowa State)

Just not sure about them:
Eli Drinkwitz (HC at Missouri)
Dan Mullen (HC at UNLV)
PJ Fleck (HC at Minnesota)

Take the coordinator route?
Kelvin Shepard (DC for Detroit Lions)
Joe Brady (OC for Buffalo Bills)
Todd Monken (OC for Baltimore Ravens)
Brian Hartline (OC for Ohio State)
Will Stein (OC at Oregon)
Ryan Grubb (OC at Alabama)
Collin Klein (OC at Texas A&M)
Mack Leftwich (OC at Texas Tech)
Buster Faulkner (OC at Georgia Tech)
Glen Schumann (DC at Georgia)
Jesse Minter (DC for LA Chargers)

The recently fired club:
James Franklin (fired from Penn State)
Mike Gundy (fired from Oklahoma State)

Already turned us down once:
Marcus Freeman (HC at Notre Dame)
Lincoln Riley (HC at USC)

Under the radar:
Manny Diaz (HC at Duke)
Josh Heupel (HC at Tennessee)

Currently out of coaching but looking to come back?
Nick Saban
Urban Meyer
John Gruden
Jimbo Fisher

Promote from within:
Blake Baker (DC)
Frank Wilson (RB)

Out of left field:
The Honey Badger

Who am I missing?
This post was edited on 11/10/25 at 12:15 pm
Posted by creamofcornsoup
Soupymcsoupersonville, USA
Member since Apr 2021
4599 posts
Posted on 10/27/25 at 7:53 am to
Think you forgot coach O
Posted by LSU-MNCBABY
Knightsgate
Member since Jan 2004
25088 posts
Posted on 10/27/25 at 7:54 am to
Yeah we’re going to hire Blake baker it’s a 4d chess move in order to increase sales of the baseball hats
Posted by Landmass
Premium Member
Member since Jun 2013
23465 posts
Posted on 10/27/25 at 7:54 am to
quote:

Shane Beamer (HC at South Carolina)


Please do this.
Posted by OleVaught14
Member since Jun 2019
9368 posts
Posted on 10/27/25 at 7:59 am to
Current Vegas Odds - LINK

Jon Sumrall +150
Joe Brady +200
Lane Kiffin +400
James Franklin +600
Eli Drink +800
Jeff Brohm +1200
Brent Key +1400
Jimbo Fisher +1800
Clark Lea +2000
Posted by UpToPar
Baton Rouge
Member since Sep 2008
22781 posts
Posted on 10/27/25 at 8:00 am to
Brian Daboll if he's fired from the Giants this year.
Posted by TigahTeeth
Georgia
Member since Feb 2016
5958 posts
Posted on 10/27/25 at 8:05 am to
Can we throw Bob Chesney in the discussion?
Posted by jcole4lsu
The Kwisatz Haderach
Member since Nov 2007
31674 posts
Posted on 10/27/25 at 8:08 am to
The Whales:
Lane Kiffin (HC at Ole Miss) - The favorite but can we afford the bidding war
Dan Lanning (HC at Oregon) - why would he leave Nike money?
Curt Cignetti (HC at Indiana) - easier path to playoffs at Indiana and has billionaire backers. not coming to LSU

Why would they leave their alma mater?
Brent Key (HC at Georgia Tech) - great coach, on the short list.
Clark Lea (HC Vanderbilt) - really loves vandy, not sure his schtick works anywhere else
Jeff Brohm (HC at Louisville) - great coach should be on the short list. UF should be all in on him as well

Looking to make the big jump?
John Sumrall (HC at Tulane) - on the short list, probably doesnt get past him
Rhett Lashlee (HC at SMU) - why leave all that Dallas money and the easy ACC schedule?
Willie Fritz (HC at Houston) - very old
Joey McGuire (HC at Texas Tech) - same as Cignetti
Shane Beamer (HC at South Carolina) - lol not serious
Kenny Dillingham (HC at Arizona State) - good coach
Tony Elliott (HC at Virginia) - UVA stuck it out with him and they finally turned the corner
Ryan Silverfield (HC at Memphis) - Has he done anything other than maintain what Norvell built?
Alex Golesh (HC at South Florida) - good coach, big target for UF

Just not sure about them:
Eli Drinkiwitz (HC at Missouri) - meh
Dan Mullen (HC at UNLV) - lol no
PJ Fleck (HC at Minnesota) - row the boat schtick aint working here

NFL Assistants:
Joe Brady (OC for Buffalo) - NFL lifer, hates recruiting
Kelvin Sheppard (DC for Detroit) - I'd be in favor but will be a NFL head coach pretty soon. Lots of support by former LSU players on social media for him

The recently fired club:
James Franklin (fired from Penn State) - so fire brian kelly to hire a teddy bear version of brian kelly?
Mike Gundy (fired from Oklahoma State) - get the frick outta here

Currently out of coaching but looking to come back?
Nick Saban - please come home daddy. bring a young HCIW coordinator with you
Urban Meyer - DIAF
John Gruden - stop this nonsense

Promote from within:
Blake Baker (DC) - the shine seems to be off this rose
Frank Wilson (RB) - hes a great assistant not a HC

Out of left field:
The Honey Badger - no coaching experience at all
Posted by Yeti_Chaser
Member since Nov 2017
11262 posts
Posted on 10/27/25 at 8:08 am to
quote:

Who am I missing?

College coordinators. TTU, GT, and A&M OCs are a few ideas. I'm sure there's more. I know its a little more difficult than just hiring a HC from somewhere else but this needs to be a thorough search
This post was edited on 10/27/25 at 8:09 am
Posted by grizzlylongcut
Member since Sep 2021
14110 posts
Posted on 10/27/25 at 8:08 am to
The fan base would riot if hired (and rightly so):

James Franklin
Mike Gundy
Shane Beamer
Dan Mullen
Posted by extremelsu
Member since Aug 2013
5513 posts
Posted on 10/27/25 at 8:11 am to
My short list:
kiffin, drinkwitz, summrall
Posted by TigerLunatik
Baton Rouge, LA
Member since Jan 2005
102795 posts
Posted on 10/27/25 at 8:17 am to
We need the football version of Jay Johnson. I'm way too dumb to figure out who that person is.
Posted by RebelExpress38
In your base, killin your dudes
Member since Apr 2012
14172 posts
Posted on 10/27/25 at 8:18 am to
Forgot to list Frank Wilson.

Going to beat bama then win out and promote him to permanent job.

Posted by Chicken
Jackassistan
Member since Aug 2003
26212 posts
Posted on 10/27/25 at 8:18 am to
he is on there
Posted by TankBoys32
Member since Mar 2019
3923 posts
Posted on 10/27/25 at 8:19 am to
If they explore coordinators.. Ryan Grubb is interesting.
Posted by RebelExpress38
In your base, killin your dudes
Member since Apr 2012
14172 posts
Posted on 10/27/25 at 8:19 am to
I see it now, thanks
Posted by Flablete
in the SEC
Member since Aug 2021
926 posts
Posted on 10/27/25 at 8:24 am to
It is Dillingham
Posted by Harry Rex Vonner
Foggy Bottom Law School
Member since Nov 2013
47004 posts
Posted on 10/27/25 at 8:26 am to
Dennis Francioni is rested and ready
Posted by lsusteve1
Member since Dec 2004
45475 posts
Posted on 10/27/25 at 8:26 am to
No way LSU hires Franklin
Posted by Sharlo
Van down by the river.
Member since Oct 2021
1089 posts
Posted on 10/27/25 at 8:28 am to
I keep seeing Marcus Freeman mentioned, but I don't buy it.

No way he leaves ND, and I can't imagine our fan base stomaching another consecutive ND hire.

I hope whoever is driving this makes them say no in this order:

Dan Lanning (HC at Oregon)
Lane Kiffin (HC at Ole Miss)
Brent Key (HC at Georgia Tech)
Jeff Brohm (HC at Louisville)
Blake Baker (DC)*
Kelvin Sheppard (DC for Detroit)
Joe Brady (OC for Buffalo)

*Not sure about him given what's happened with our D lately. Wondering if some of the drama from the rest of this mess infected the D. But aside from that he's always been an impressive coach to me.
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