The Case Against Kiffin As LSU’s Next Head Coach

Everyone thinks that Lane Kiffin needs to be the next coach at LSU, but why? Just because he's the hot name right now? He was the hot name going to Oakland, and the hot name going to USC. How did those work out? What about LSU's track record of winners...guys like Saban, Les Miles, and Orgeron...

If you look at what the last three National Championship coaches looked like coming to LSU, they weren't the 'next hot thing', and they won.

Nick Saban's Coaching Job Before LSU

Saban had been at Michigan State for 10 years, and built a program he loved. He turned down two coaching offers while with the Spartans, and shed tears as he talked about leaving the program. But he left for LSU because they were going to make him one of only 4 college coaches at the time making over $1 million a year (insane by today's standards).

But there was actually a bigger reason than the money. Saban wanted to run the top school in the state, and no matter what he did at Michigan State, they were always the "little brother" to Michigan. At LSU, he was on top.

There was no bidding war, there weren't a long list of job offers. Just LSU.

Where Was Les Miles Before LSU?

Then there was Les Miles, who wasn't the first choice to coach after Saban left. In 2005, Miles got hired after other choices all withdrew their names. He was coaching at Oklahoma State, and wasn't exactly setting the world on fire.

At OK State, Miles had a winning record in 3 of his 4 seasons, was 1/3 in Bowl Games, and never had a 10-win season. The highest poll ranking he got the team to was #14 in the AP Poll.

In 2005, Les Miles wasn't the first pick for LSU...he wasn't even their second pick. It wasn't until after Arkansas Coach Houston Nutt removed his name from consideration, and Louisville Coach Bobby Petrino did the same, that Miles was in position.

When he did get hired, the LSU Athletic Director at the time, Skip Bertman, made it a point to say that he wasn't going to pay Miles what Saban was making. With the quote "I'm not going to pay Saban money for a guy who hasn't earned it".

Could you imagine someone saying that after hiring someone like Lane Kiffin? The answer should be 'no', because Kiffin has at least 3 top-tier college programs who will pay him more than what Brian Kelly was making at LSU.

When Les Miles was hired, he wasn't the first pick, and wasn't the most expensive pick. But he turned out to be the best pick, as he secured a National Championship for the Tigers.

How Did Ed Orgeron Become The LSU Head Coach?

That brings us to LSU's most recent National Championship Head Coach, Ed Orgeron. At the time Orgeron took over as the LSU Interim Coach, he was considered a "retread" coach. He had been given one Head Coaching job, at Ole Miss, which only lasted three seasons. He was a career assistant coach, and interim coach, between college and the NFL.

He wasn't the national sexy pick, he wasn't the most expensive pick, but he was the right pick.

He'd go on to lead LSU to the greatest college football season ever, a National Championship, and brought in LSU's first modern Heisman Trophy winner. This was the guy that Joe Burrow said should get a lifetime contract at LSU during his Heisman acceptance speech.

What Type Of Coach Should LSU Football Be Looking For?

The last three National Championship Coaches didn't need to be the highest paid. LSU didn't need to bid against other schools. They all came to Baton Rouge to prove something.

While high priced mercenaries like Brian Kelly came for the paycheck.

Right now, Kiffin has all the cards. He's on the verge of the payday, so will he have anything to prove after? Is that what LSU should be looking for, or should they find a young, hungry coach with a chip on their shoulder...