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head coaches that were coordinators prior to their current position

Posted on 11/6/25 at 7:59 am
Posted by AmazonTiger
Member since Aug 2019
15 posts
Posted on 11/6/25 at 7:59 am
I’m curious as to why the majority of the people on this board think LSU needs to hire a big name power conference coach as opposed to a coordinator that will cost much less in the beginning. The following head coaches were coordinators prior to their current position:

Ryan Day OSU
Kirby Smart UGA
Dan Lanning Oregon
Marcus Freeman ND
Kyle Whittingham Utah
Steve Sarkisian Texas-does have HC experience
Brent Venables OU
Joey McGuire TT
Kalani Sitaki BYU
Clark Lea Vandy

All are ranked in the CFP playoffs.

We could get Glenn Schuman at UGA, Will Stein at Oregon just to name a few.



This post was edited on 11/6/25 at 9:17 am
Posted by Sleepy_Tiger
Baton Rouge, La
Member since Aug 2021
10415 posts
Posted on 11/6/25 at 8:06 am to
I’d take a chance on the Oregon OC or the Ohio State OC
Posted by saturncube21
Member since Nov 2015
10671 posts
Posted on 11/6/25 at 8:08 am to
Good Point
Posted by jrodLSUke
Premium
Member since Jan 2011
25666 posts
Posted on 11/6/25 at 8:24 am to
quote:

Glenn Schuman at UGA

These lists always cherry pick the Coordinators that worked out, but conveniently leave off the Coordinators that did not.

For example, Mel Tucker was hired by Mich State from the UGA DC position. Fired. Was a board favorite back in 2022, despite most people pointing out that he didn't have much experience.

Posted by ActusHumanus
St. George, Louisiana
Member since Sep 2025
559 posts
Posted on 11/6/25 at 8:30 am to
I'd take Denbrock on the old end or Will Stein on the young end.
Posted by ATLTiger7
Member since Dec 2019
118 posts
Posted on 11/6/25 at 8:32 am to
It's a high risk, high reward move. For every success story you mentioned, there's five who didn't work out in this same scenario.
Posted by AmazonTiger
Member since Aug 2019
15 posts
Posted on 11/6/25 at 8:35 am to
I don't think it's cherry picking when over half of the CFP coaches came from the coordinator ranks. I left off Brent Key at GT, and Ferentz at Iowa so 12 instead of 10. Of the top 20, how many came from P4 schools? Five. So 60% were coordinators and 25% came from P4 positions. Three came from G5 schools.

There's plenty of failures as well in both the coordinator and P4 hires. But why break the bank with buyouts when NIL is where the money needs to be spent. Most coaches will tell you it's about the Jimmy's and Joe's not the X's and O's.
Posted by r0cky1
Member since Oct 2020
4566 posts
Posted on 11/6/25 at 8:36 am to
I’d take Stein or Hartline ASAP
Posted by jrodLSUke
Premium
Member since Jan 2011
25666 posts
Posted on 11/6/25 at 8:46 am to
quote:

For every success story you mentioned, there's five who didn't work out in this same scenario.

Here is another list of coordinators that where hired as Head Coaches. Would you take anyone on this list?

Mel Tucker, UGA to MSU
Dave Aranda, LSU to Baylor
Sharrone Moore, Michigan
Manny Diaz, PSU to Duke
Brent Venables, Clemson to OU
Jake Dickert, WSU
Brent Pry, PSU to VT
Mike Locksley, Bama to ML
Billy Napier, if Sark is on the OP list, Billy Bob can be on this list.
Posted by IM_4_LSU
Savannah, GA
Member since Mar 2014
12089 posts
Posted on 11/6/25 at 8:58 am to
quote:

For example, Mel Tucker was hired by Mich State from the UGA DC position


Will Muschamp unsuccessful head coach. First head Coaching job was Florida and he was fired after 4 seasons and was a disappointment everywhere after.

There are plenty of examples of this. Which again just points to how difficult it is at selecting a Head Coach.
Posted by finchmeister08
Member since Mar 2011
39446 posts
Posted on 11/6/25 at 9:02 am to
quote:

We could get Glenn Schuman at UGA


Georgia fans don't even like this guy.
Posted by AmazonTiger
Member since Aug 2019
15 posts
Posted on 11/6/25 at 9:11 am to
You can go back to the beginning of college football if you want and find successes and failures. My whole point is that you can get a coordinator that can be successful, or a G5 coach and be successful. This is turning into an NFL type model. Where do most of the head coaches come from in the NFL? Yep, the coordinator ranks. And I'm not advocating that you have to go this route, I'm just saying you can have a great deal of success if that's what you decide to do.

But we all know if LSU does hire a coordinator instead of a "proven" HC this board will burn to the ground! Lol
Posted by Pelican fan99
Lafayette, Louisiana
Member since Jun 2013
38821 posts
Posted on 11/6/25 at 9:25 am to
I'm not against it but lets not pretend like there aren't also a bunch of flops as well
Posted by mdomingue
Lafayette, LA
Member since Nov 2010
42034 posts
Posted on 11/6/25 at 9:45 am to
quote:

Billy Napier, if Sark is on the OP list, Billy Bob can be on this list.



I think he has Sark on the list because his job immediately before Texas was as a coordinator. Napier was a head coach immediately prior. Sark should not be on the list IMO.
Posted by Hawgnsincebirth55
Gods country
Member since Sep 2016
18069 posts
Posted on 11/6/25 at 9:50 am to
If you could get hartline from Ohio state you do it NOW. He’s the guy that gets all the receivers to OSU.
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