Ad Disclosure
Days after rumors circulated that Ed Orgeron and USC may decide to partner again, it appears that deal will not be happening.
LSU defensive line coach Ed Orgeron will not become the Trojans’ next defensive coordinator, according to insidesocal.com.
“The biggest obstacle remains lingering bitterness over his relationship with Pat Haden and his departure from USC in 2013,” the website reported, citing anonymous sources.
Orgeron landed at LSU after sitting out 2014. Prior to that, he served as interim coach at USC after the school fired Lane Kiffin. Orgeron openly campaigned for the head coaching job, which athletic directorPat Haden eventually gave to the since-fired Steve Sarkisian.
According to a USA Today database, Orgeron made $465,000 in 2015 at LSU, a figure that insidesocal.com cites as less than half what he made with the Trojans.
Considering that Orgeron was stumping hard for a major head coaching job after Kiffin’s departure, it’s understandable that he’d be interested in a coordinator position at a big-time program. One also couldn’t blame Orgeron if he questioned his long-term future with the Tigers in light of coach Les Miles’ still-questionable job status beyond next year.
But LSU presumably wants him to return, as he did a nice job developing true freshman Arden Key and junior Lewis Neal this season. Based on the latest report, it sounds like a good bet that Orgeron will be back in Baton Rouge for what should make for a very interesting 2016 season.
An itinerant journalist, Christopher has moved between states 11 times in seven years. Formally an injury-prone Division I 800-meter specialist, he now wanders the Rockies in search of high peaks.
