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LSU Football: Five Potential Candidates for the Head Coach Position

By Justin Melton

Sep 10, 2016; Baton Rouge, LA, USA; LSU Tigers head coach Les Miles congratulates Russell Gage (39) after a tackle against the Jacksonville State Gamecocks during the second half at Tiger Stadium. LSU defeated Jacksonville State 34-13. Mandatory Credit: Crystal LoGiudice-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 10, 2016; Baton Rouge, LA, USA; LSU Tigers head coach Les Miles congratulates Russell Gage (39) after a tackle against the Jacksonville State Gamecocks during the second half at Tiger Stadium. LSU defeated Jacksonville State 34-13. Mandatory Credit: Crystal LoGiudice-USA TODAY Sports /
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Sep 24, 2016; Huntington, WV, USA; Louisville Cardinals head coach Bobby Petrino looks on from the sidelines against the Marshall Thundering Herd in the second half at Joan C. Edwards Stadium. The Louisville Cardinals won 59-28. Mandatory Credit: Aaron Doster-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 24, 2016; Huntington, WV, USA; Louisville Cardinals head coach Bobby Petrino looks on from the sidelines against the Marshall Thundering Herd in the second half at Joan C. Edwards Stadium. The Louisville Cardinals won 59-28. Mandatory Credit: Aaron Doster-USA TODAY Sports /

4. Bobby Petrino

Bobby Petrino is a really hot name in the coaching ranks right now. Everyone remembers his disastrous fall from grace with the Arkansas Razorbacks, but that doesn’t matter to a hungry LSU fanbase.

Petrino is 55 and hails from Lewistown Montana. Over the course of his career, Petrino has been a GA, a wide receiver coach, a quarterback coach, an offensive coordinator, and a head coach. Petrino first rose to national prominence when he became a head coach at Louisville in 2003.

During his first stint with the Cardinals, Petrino led the team to wo conference titles and a win in the Orange Bowl. He then left to become the coach of the NFL’s Atlanta Falcons. His one season in the NFL was a disaster. Petrino bolted for Arkansas.

During his time with the Hogs, Petrino amassed a 34-17 record. His last two seasons with the Hogs were both double-digit win campaigns. He looked poised to take Arkansas to the next level. Then the motorcycle incident happened.

Petrino was eventually fired by Athletic Director Jeff Long. But he didn’t stay unemployed for long. After a one year vacation Petrino was hired as head coach of the Western Kentucky Hilltoppers. He coached there for one season. The Hilltoppers went 8-4.

In the 2014 season Petrino returned to Louisville, where he has been ever since. Currently his team is undefeated and ranked number four in the entire country.

Verdict:

Petrino would be a great hire for LSU. He offers something Les Miles and his staff didn’t, competent quarterback coaching. Could Petrino turn Brandon Harris into Lamar Jackson? Probably not. But he would undoubtedly make him a better player. LSU’s offense would quickly become one of the best in the SEC. And the LSU defense would be good as long as Petrino hired a quality defensive coordinator. This would be a home-run hire. But do they want the media scrutiny? We will see.

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