Ed Orgeron believes Lane Kiffin is the right coach to lead LSU back to a title

Jeff Hauser

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Ed Orgeron believes Lane Kiffin is the right coach to lead LSU back to a title image

Former LSU head coach Ed Orgeron believes the Tigers have found the right leader to guide the program back to the top of college football.

During Wednesday's Yahoo Sports Daily with hosts Caroline Fenton and Jason Fitz, Orgeron offered his endorsement of Lane Kiffin, who was hired to lead LSU Tigers following a bad coaching transition.

“I think they got the right guy in Lane Kiffin,” Orgeron said. “He’s going to put a championship team together.”

Orgeron knows what that standard looks like in Baton Rouge. His tenure at LSU ended after the 2021 season in what he described as a mutual decision, less than two years after delivering one of the most dominant seasons in college football history. Orgeron went 51-20 in six seasons as head coach, highlighted by a 15-0 campaign and a national championship in 2019.

Kiffin’s decision to leave Ole Miss for LSU was among the most contentious moves of the 2025 coaching cycle, drawing sharp reactions across the sport. The 50-year-old was barred from leading the Rebels during the College Football Playoff, and much of the goodwill he built in Oxford evaporated quickly.

LSU backed its move with a massive commitment. Kiffin signed a seven-year, $91 million contract worth $13 million annually, with performance incentives that could escalate the deal to the top of the coaching salary market if the Tigers win a national title.

Orgeron, who said he still has interest in coaching, expressed confidence that Kiffin’s offensive abilities and experience makes him well-suited for the job. For LSU, the expectation is clear it's championships or bust. Orgeron believes the program is again in capable hands after a slight bump in the road with Brian Kelly. 

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Staff Writer