Ed Orgeron addresses assistant coaches focusing on LSU, finding next job

Despite uncertainties about their futures, LSU‘s assistant coaches are focused on finishing the rest of the season strong, according to Ed Orgeron.

“What I see every day, they’re doing the best job for LSU at the moment,” Orgeron said. “We have meetings, everybody’s ready for meetings. We have offensive meetings and defensive meetings, the door’s shut, everyone’s in there, nothing’s changed in the building as far as I know.”

The Coach O Era in Baton Rouge is in its last few weeks, so it wouldn’t be a surprise if his assistants started having meetings with agents or networking with their connections. However, many may be edging to stay with LSU even when Orgeron leaves. That will be up to whoever the Tigers’ athletics director Scott Woodard hires next.

When Ed Orgeron and the Tigers reached an agreement for his departure at the end of the season almost two weeks ago, some of his assistants found out second-hand. Several coaches heard Orgeron would be leaving the program in 2022 through reporters, according to ESPN’s Adam Rittenberg.

Immediately following the news of Coach O’s departure, reports surfaced that his relationship with his staff is on the rocks.

“It’s one of those things where no one wanted to be there anymore,” Yahoo! Sports’ Pete Thamel tweeted that Sunday. “The players didn’t want to play for him, the coaches didn’t want to coach for him.”

The Tigers are 4-4 after the Week 8 loss to Ole Miss and many are limping through the bye week.

Orgeron bemoans injuries during bye week

The LSU Tigers typically have a Thursday Tiger Bowl scrimmage during their bye week. However, those plans are on hold this year.

“We don’t have enough players to do the Tiger Bowl scrimmage tomorrow, and we don’t have enough players healthy enough to have a full practice today,” head coach Ed Orgeron said on the Wednesday SEC coaches teleconference.

The Tigers have been plagued by a stunning number of injuries. Over 30 players have missed a game time this season, including many of their top players like Derek Stingley Jr. and wideout Kayshon Boutte. They are both out for the rest of the season. The most recent player to go down was left tackle Anthony Bradford. He will miss the rest of the year as well. 

LSU heads to Tuscaloosa to play one-loss Bama next weekend after the bye week. They still have games against Arkansas and Texas A&M remaining as well.