Sloan, Hankton to serve as co-OC's for LSU bowl game

Cortez Hankton and Joe Sloan will serve as co-offensive coordinators for LSU’s game against Wisconsin in the ReliaQuest Bowl, head coach Brian Kelly announced on Friday.

Sloan and Hankton are both in their second year with the Tigers. Sloan coaches the LSU quarterbacks, while Hankton serves as passing game coordinator and wide receivers coach.

“I’m confident in Cortez and Joe’s ability to run the offense,” Kelly said. “They will collaborate in the passing game and work with Brad (Davis) and Frank (Wilson) in the running game. They will execute a great game plan for us. They are a cohesive group of coaches and I’m excited about this opportunity for them. I know they will do a good job.”

Davis serves as LSU’s offensive line coach, while Wilson coaches the running backs. LSU’s offensive line was recently named one of three finalists for the Joe Moore Award, which is given to the best offensive line in college football.

The move came after Mike Denbrock departed the staff to take a position at another school.

The Tigers wrapped up pre-Christmas bowl preparations today and depart for Tampa and the ReliaQuest Bowl on Dec. 26. Kickoff between 13^th-ranked LSU and Wisconsin is scheduled for 11 a.m. CT on Jan. 1. The game will be televised on ESPN2.

(Editor’s note: This is a press release from LSUSports.net)

Mike Denbrock leaves LSU for Notre Dame

LSU offensive coordinator Mike Denbrock is headed back to Notre Dame to take the same position, sources tell On3.

LSU head coach Brian Kelly now has an open coordinator job and with that, an interesting decision ahead of him.

Denbrock served on Kelly’s staff at Grand Valley State for seven years in the 1990s, then also was with Kelly for seven years at Notre Dame from 2010-2016, spending the final three seasons as the offensive coordinator in South Bend. He arrived in Baton Rouge from Cincinnati, where he helped the Bearcats to the College Football Playoff.

Denbrock helped LSU field the best offense in the country in 2023 as he was named a finalist for the Broyles Award after this season. Quarterback Jayden Daniels won the Heisman Trophy, wide receiver Malik Nabers was a finalist for the Biletnikoff, and the offensive line was a finalist for the Joe Moore Award.

Denbrock had initially agreed to a three-year extension that was set to keep him in Baton Rouge after a season that shattered expectations offensively. Instead, he’s headed back to South Bend after that deal wasn’t signed.

Kelly might not have to look for for his next offensive coordinator with promising assistants like LSU quarterbacks coach Joe Sloan and wide receivers coach Cortez Hankton among the options. With the high-profile nature of the position, Kelly could go external with his search as well with a war chest of funds to acquire another impressive name.

Denbrock helped engineer an offense that posted 547.8 yards per game and scored 46.4 points while also developing into the most explosive offense with 102 plays of 20 or more yards, 51 plays of 30 or more, and 29 plays of 40-plus, the most in college football.

The Tigers ended the year 9-3 overall with impressive wins over Texas A&M, Florida, and Missouri, but it wasn’t enough to end the year in the Top 10. Now, LSU looks to get the 10th win of the season in the ReliaQuest Bowl against Wisconsin on New Year’s Day.