Finding LSU’s next football coach… in Kingsbury?

Note: I write the below assuming Miles will depart LSU in some fashion at the end of this season if not the next.

In the upcoming search for LSU’s new fb coach, I think the focus should be on coaches of the near future, not old timers or coaches well placed in programs similarly situated to LSU’s (e.g. Clemson) who, apart from money, will have no incentive to come to LSU.

As most of us would agree, LSU got it right when it hired Nick Saban, not totally unknown at the time, but hardly a household name back in ’99, his last season at Michigan state, where he was the HC for five years. Was landing Saban luck or a highly calculated hire, or both? I would say a little bit of the former and most of the latter.

Look at Saban’s record at Michigan State (and before going to LSU):

1995, 6-5-1
1996, 6-6
1997, 7-5
1998, 6-6
1999, 9-2

The first three years show gradual, if modest, progression. Then look at year 4, a setback…then bam. He suddenly pops on the radar and LSU grabs him!

Who is the next early “pop on the radar?”

I’m not sure, but I’m wondering if it could be Kliff Kingsbury at Texas Tech.

A little bit on Kingsbury:

He played QB for Texas Tech, followed by five years of QB around the NFL and Canadian football leagues, which was then followed by 4 years of coaching in the NFL and one year at college (Texas Tech). He replaced Tuberville at Texas Tech in 2013 (note; Tuberville, a seasoned and known coaching commodity, in his three years at Texas Tech compiled at 20-17 (9-17 conf) record). Kingsbury’s record is as follows:

2013 8-5
2014 4-8*
2015 6-6
*team suffered a rash of injuries

So, so far he is 18-18 (9-17 conf). Last game of the season is against Texas on Thanksgiving day; a Red Raiders win and Kingsbury is at 19 wins (in 3 seasons).

Now, compared with Saban’s first three years of 19-16-1 there is hardly a difference.

Anyway, I think Kingsbury should be given a look.