The Next Head Coach? A List Of Candidates
- Shane Johnson
- Oct 27
- 7 min read
Well I don’t think anyone thought we would be here back on Labor Day weekend following the road victory at Clemson, but here we are. Brian Kelly has been fired after three and a half seasons at LSU. When everything is right the head coaching job at LSU is without a doubt a top five job in the sport. So where do the Tigers go from here? Well here’s list of potential candidates in no particular order. (This is not my ideal list or order)
Current Job: Ole Miss HC
Overall HC Record: 112-53
Previous 3 years: 28-6
Age: 50
Arguably the hottest name on the board is Lane Kiffin. Kiffin has Ole Miss at heights the program hasn’t reached in modern era. An offensive mastermind who has now proven he can win in the SEC as a head coach, this would likely be a very popular move amongst the fan base. There’s not much more to say here.
Current Job: Notre Dame HC
HC record: 38-12
Last 3 years: 29-7
Age: 39
Why not go back to the pipeline? Another Notre Dame coach coming to LSU? While Freeman would be coming from the same position as Kelly it would be a totally different hire. I would say this is probably the biggest long shot on this list but there’s no way you don’t gauge his interest. Freeman is a lifetime midwesterner and seems very happy at Notre Dame but that does not mean that he wouldn’t be a terrific fit at LSU. There’s not much to say about Freeman that everyone doesn’t already know. This hire would simultaneously be hilarious and a home run.
Current Job: Missouri HC
Overall HC Record: 56-27
Previous 3 years: 27-7
Age: 42
Another current SEC coach who has proven the ability to win in the conference. Drinkwitz is a Gus Malzahn protégé who was on the Auburn staff during the 2010 National Championship run. Another offensive mind who has proven numerous times to possess the ability to make good hires to his staff. Drinkwitz has spent much of his coaching career in the south, with stops in the states of Arkansas, Alabama, North Carolina, and Missouri. Given the keys to the Ferrari that is LSU Drinkwitz could be a very good hire.
Current Job: Vanderbilt HC
Overall HC Record: 23-34
Previous 3 years: 16-17
Age: 43
Bring back the magic 2.0? The last time LSU hired a Vanderbilt head coach it didn’t go to well. (I’m look at you Gerry Dinardo) Don’t let Clark Lea’s record foot you, the guy is on an upward trajectory. After taking a very tough job Lea has Vanderbilt competing in the SEC in ways we haven’t seen since Jay Cutler was there. His teams are extremely physical, and play very hard. Clark Lea has spent a lot of his career tied to Texas A&M head coach Mike Elko serving as position coach while Elko was a defensive coordinator at multiple stops including Notre Dame under Brian Kelly. Lea eventually took over the reigns as the defensive coordinator under Kelly and served in the role for two years before taking the Vandy job. It should be noted Lea is a Vandy alumni and could be a harder pull for that reason.
Current Job: Georgia Tech HC
Overall HC Record: 26-16
Last 3 years: 22-12
Age: 47
Another guy who is currently the head coach of his Alma Mater is Brent Key. Key was First-team All ACC as a guard in 2000 for the Yellow Jackets. Brent Key is a players coach and is known for having very physical teams. He took over as interim head coach in early 2022 and had his interim tag removed before December after Tech dramatically under his control. Prior to Georgia Tech, Key coached for Nick Saban at Alabama where he was considered one of the top offensive line coaches in the country. He was the offensive line coach for the 2017 National Championship team. Key is a very hot name now as he has Georgia Tech off to a scorching 8-0 start this season.
Current Job: Tulane HC
HC Record: 38-10
Last 3 years: 26-8
Age: 43
If a couple people tell you no this is your guy in my opinion. Not saying this is a good thing or a bad thing but Jon Sumrall is almost the polar opposite of Brian Kelly. Sumrall is young, innovative, energetic, his players love him, and he understands Louisiana. Sumrall would unite the fan base rather quickly, he’s a guy who would love being the head coach of LSU not just what it brought him. Sumrall played football for Kentucky where he also spent a year (2021) as defensive coordinator. Following his year as DC at Kentucky Sumrall took the Troy Head Coaching position where he spent two years winning 23 games. Sumrall is currently the Tulane head coach where he has the Green wave off to a 6-1 start.
Current Job: SMU HC
HC Record: 34-15
Last 3 years: 27-9
Age: 42
Rhett Lashlee is another Gus Malzahn protégé who spent a considerable amount of time learning under the latter including Malzahn being Lashlee’s high school football coach. Lashlee was the offensive coordinator for Auburn when they won the SEC championship in 2013. Lashlee was named the SMU head coach in November of 2021 and had the Mustangs in their first College football playoffs in just his third year. Lashlee played quarterback at Arkansas from 2002-04 which could be interesting because the Razorbacks also have a coaching vacancy.
Current Job: Arizona State HC HC Record: 19-15
Age: 35
The youngest coach on this list is Kenny Dillingham. Dillingham is yet another (and not the last) coach on this list who is currently at his Alma Mater. While his stock has taken a slight dip since the season started he’s still worth mentioning. Dillingham spent two years at Memphis in 2017 and 2018 where they had back to back top 5 offenses in college football. He then spent the following four seasons as offensive coordinator at Auburn, Florida State, and Oregon. Dillingham was hired to his “dream job” at Arizona State where he got the Sun Devils into the playoffs in just his second year. Dillingham is also known as an excellent recruiter.
Current Job: Louisville HC
HC Record: 91-53
Last 3 years: 25-9
Age: 54
Okay let me preface my quick summary by saying I wanted Brohm in 2016 post Miles and I wanted Brohm in 2021 post Orgeron. So yes I am calling for Brohm for third time. I also promise this the last guy on the list that is currently at his Alma Mater. Brohm is a former NFL quarterback who is just a winner. He has made a career out of consistently beating teams more talented than his, he’s 4-1 in his career against top 5 teams. Over six seasons at Purdue Brohm had a 36-34 record in 26-25 in BIG TEN play, anyone who understands the college football landscape knows how hard that is to do at Purdue. Now in his third season at Louisville has the Cardinals at 6-1 including a road win over Miami. Brohm offenses have always been extremely efficient and if he was given the weapons that LSU could provide it could become a juggernaut.
Current Job: USF HC
HC Record: 20-14
Age: 41
Alex Golesh is the new hot name in coaching circles following USF’s hot start this season. Golesh has a lot of ties to Tennessee head coach Josh Heupel. Golesh was the offensive coordinator for the Vounteers during the 2021 season which saw the best offense in team history. Golesh took the USF head coaching job following the 2022, he has the Bulls off to a 6-2 start this year including a win on the road against Florida. Golesh is likely a year or two away from landing a bigger P4 job but expect to see him name come up in some capacity.
Current Job: Georgia Defensive Coordinator
Age: 35
The first coordinator on the list is Georgia Defensive Coordinator Glenn Schumann. Schumann is very young but has already been a part of six national championship teams. Yes you read that right six, he has success in his DNA. There’s arguably never been a coach of this age that has gotten the chance to witness what a championship program looks like the way Schumann has, having spent his entire coaching career with Nick Saban and Kirby Smart. Schumann followed Kirby Smart to Georgia in 2016 and became the co defensive coordinator in 2019 with current Oregon HC Dan Lanning and took over the full DC role in 2024. While the hire could be risky given the lack of head coaching experience if it were to hit you could have your coach for the next three decades.
Current Job: Oregon Offensive Coordinator
Age: 36
Another current college coordinator on this list is Oregon offensive coordinator Will Stein. Stein was hired as the Ducks OC by Dan Lanning when he became the head coach. In the three years as offensive coordinator the Ducks have ranked 2nd, 17th, and 6th in total offense. Stein would be another high risk high reward type hire.
Current Job: Buffalo Bills Offensive Coordinator
Age: 36
Do I think this is going to happen? No. Would LSU fans be excited? Yes. We all know Brady was pivotal to the historic 2019 offense. Unfortunately Joe Brady will likely be an NFL head coach this time next year.
Current Job: Detroit Lions Defensive Coordinator
Age: 37
Another longshot. The former LSU linebacker is in his first season as the Detroit Lions and it’s safe to say he’s killing it. The Lions are ranked in the top 10 in total defense. Kelvin Sheppard was a member of 2007 LSU national championship team and was first team All SEC in 2010 before getting drafted in the 3rd round of the 2011 NFL draft. Sheppard joined the LSU coaching staff in 2020 as the director of player personnel prior to joining the Lions coaching staff. Could the former Tiger be a good fit?
Obviously your first call is to Dan Lanning but with the dual buyout with Oregon and Nike I think it’s very unlikely. There’s several other names that are out there that I omitted from this list for various reasons many of which are unrealistic from one side or the other. Names like James Franklin, and even Jon Gruden.
Who do you want to see as LSU’s next HC?
0%Lane Kiffin
0%Marcus Freeman
0%Eli Drinkwitz
0%Jeff Brohm