LSU instantly becomes the best job available in college football. Some major names have been thrown around, but I think a few will get calls and ultimately turn them down. I do not expect Nick Saban to return to coaching as he turns 75 this week. Marcus Freeman and Dan Lanning are two others I expect to receive a phone call, but I doubt we see much interest from either of them. Let us discuss some coaches who may get a call and would likely be interested.
Lane Kiffin (Ole Miss Head Coach)
I fully expect Lane Kiffin to seriously consider LSU. He is 51-19 since taking over at Ole Miss and has elevated the Rebels from a middle of the pack SEC team to a perennial College Football Playoff contender. Kiffin seems comfortable in Oxford but winning a National Championship is easier at LSU. Prior to Brian Kelly, the previous three LSU coaches all won a National Championship. Kiffin likely understands this and will at least entertain the idea of LSU if they call.
Willie Fritz (Houston Head Coach)
Willie Fritz has nearly three decades of head coaching experience and holds a career record of 219-125. He spent eight years at Tulane, winning 12 and 11 games in his final two seasons. One of the biggest drawbacks to Fritz is his age. He is 65 and will turn 66 before next season. Fritz would be a great culture builder with strong recruiting ties in Louisiana and Texas. The question becomes whether LSU would bring him in knowing they may only have six or seven seasons with him. If he wins a National Championship, that feels worth it.
Jon Sumrall (Tulane Head Coach)
Instead of the former Tulane coach, what about the current one. Jon Sumrall is in his fourth season as a head coach and his second at Tulane. He is 38-10 overall and has won at least nine games in each of his previous three seasons. Tulane sits at 6-1 and appears on track to hit that mark again. Sumrall knows the SEC. He played at Kentucky and coached at both Ole Miss and Kentucky before beginning his head coaching career at Troy. At 43 years old, he would bring youth and energy to the LSU program.
Glenn Schumann (Georgia Defensive Coordinator)
Glenn Schumann is SEC through and through. He was a student assistant and graduate assistant at Alabama before following Kirby Smart to Georgia. He became co defensive coordinator in 2019 and took over as the primary defensive coordinator in 2024. He has helped oversee some of the best defenses in recent college football history. Schumann is only 35 years old but he comes with a wealth of championship experience. He has been part of six national titles while working under Saban and Smart. He may be a risk due to his age but the upside is massive.
Brent Key (Georgia Tech Head Coach)
Brent Key is coaching at his alma mater but if LSU calls, it seems likely he would at least listen. Georgia Tech has a lower championship ceiling. Making the College Football Playoff might be the best case scenario in Atlanta. Key has rebuilt Georgia Tech into a contender after the program went 10-28 under Geoff Collins. He also has SEC experience, serving as Alabama offensive line coach from 2016 to 2018. Key knows how to build a strong culture and may see Baton Rouge as a place with a higher long term ceiling.
Alex Golesh (USF Head Coach)
Alex Golesh’s name is coming up for most major openings. He has helped turn USF around and despite a recent loss to Memphis, his resume still stands out including wins over Florida and Boise State and a dominant performance against North Texas. Golesh brings SEC familiarity from his time as Tennessee offensive coordinator under Josh Heupel. While he is a rising star, he likely falls into the second tier of candidates. LSU may only explore that tier if several top options pass.
Joey McGuire (Texas Tech Head Coach)
What is the true ceiling at Texas Tech. There has been a significant financial investment in Lubbock and McGuire currently has Texas Tech positioned as a potential Playoff team. McGuire spent two decades coaching high school football in Texas before joining Baylor in 2017. He is now in his fourth season at Texas Tech with a record of 30-17. He recruits Texas extremely well and is very popular among players. The real question is whether he believes Texas Tech can win a National Championship and whether he would leave the state for a neighboring program with higher expectations.
