LSU Tigers head coach Les Miles entered the season firmly on the hot seat after nearly being fired at the end of 2015. Now, after a 2-2 start with disappointing losses to Wisconsin and Auburn, the Tigers have made a change. LSU fired Miles Sunday, ending his time with the team.
The offense hadn't shown any improvement under Miles, which is a big problem considering they have championship-level talent everywhere other than at the quarterback position - where he has never developed anyone. Over the last three full seasons plus the start of this one, Miles is 14-12 in SEC play and a combined 2-8 against Alabama, Arkansas and Ole Miss. That simply didn't cut it in Baton Rouge.
Now that LSU has made a mid-season change, they are the premier opening in the college football world. Here are the 10 coaches they could target to replace Miles (if he gets fired):
10) Ed Orgeron, defensive line coach, LSU
Orgeron is one of the best recruiters going in the country, and he's proven that time and time again over stints at Miami, USC, and now at LSU. A Louisiana native, Orgeron has a finger on the pulse of the area and a program. Well deserving of another head coaching shot, Orgeron has the contacts and the drive to make it work in Baton Rouge.
He is the interim head coach with Miles fired, giving him an audition to keep the job.
9) Dan Mullen, head coach, Mississippi State
Mullen showed what he can do by taking Mississippi State to the No. 1 ranking in the country for most of the 2014 season, but it appears that he's taken the Bulldogs has far as he can take them and could be looking to a job upgrade. If he was able to make the Bulldogs one of the best teams in the country, imagine what he can do with everything LSU has to offer. The only question is if he'd leave Mississippi State for another job in the same division.
8) Kyle Whittingham, head coach, Utah
The Utah head coach led his squad to 10 wins last season, including wins over USC and Oregon. This year, he has duplicated that success, starting the season 4-0 to bring Utah back into the top 25. Whittingham is a very underrated coach, and while he wouldn't be a home-run hire, he is someone with a proven track record.
7) Jim Mora, head coach, UCLA
Mora's father coached the New Orleans Saints to their first-ever playoff berth, and Jim Jr. spent five years with the Saints as an assistant. He knows the area well. He's also a proven recruiter with a wealth of both NFL and college experience, along with a track record for cultivating talent while dealing with the pressures of a competitive recruiting environment. UCLA's proximity to marketing powerhouse USC has made Mora's job tough, but he's done a fantastic job with what he has and is ready to make the leap to an SEC school.
6) Lane Kiffin, offensive coordinator, Alabama
Yes, this may seem like a horrible idea, but Kiffin has rehabbed his image enough under Nick Saban for him to get another head coaching job. LSU would undoubtedly quiz him on what he learned under Saban and wouldn't give him a long-term deal. It would be a gamble, but someone is going to take it. Remember, Kiffin is still young (41) and one of the best coordinators in the country. He'd also have LSU's offense playing at a high level as soon as he stepped on campus.
5) P.J. Fleck, head coach, Western Michigan
Fleck is one of the rising stars in the coaching world, taking the Broncos from a 1-11 team in 2013, his first year on the job, to 8-5 last year. This year, they're 3-0 with road wins over Northwestern and Illinois. At just 35 years old, he could bring a young energy to a LSU program that's looking for a spark.
4) Greg Schiano, defensive coordinator, Ohio State
Schiano made his name as head coach of Rutgers, bringing them to national dominance last decade, before a stint with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers didn't end well. He's now serving as the defensive coordinator at Ohio State, where he has eight new starters - yet has them as one of the country's best units. He's not flashy, but Schiano would be a quality hire.
3) Bobby Petrino, head coach, Louisville
This is another risky gamble that may cause you to shake your head, but like Kiffin, Petrino has rehabbed his image at Louisville by winning. In just his third year since returning to the Cardinals, he has them ranked third in the country and looking like a legitimate playoff contender. He also has shown he can have success in the SEC, and offense definitely would not be a problem.
2) Tom Herman, head coach, Houston
No coach's star is burning brighter than Herman's right now, who has won a Peach Bowl and taking Houston to the No. 6 national ranking - and he hasn't even had the job for a year and a half. LSU would obviously be a huge step up in pedigree, and the Cougars won't be able to match the kind of money the Tigers will be able to throw at him. He's the best young coach in the sport, making him an easy target for LSU.
1) Jimbo Fisher, head coach, FSU
Fisher coached at LSU from 2000-06 in quarterbacks coach and offensive coordinator roles, playing an integral role at the end of the Nick Saban era and the beginning of Les Miles' tenure in Baton Rouge. If Fisher is going to leave Florida State, it'll be for a high-profile SEC gig. In fact, he and LSU were reportedly in contract negotiations last fall before LSU ultimately decided to keep Miles. What better gig than a return to LSU?
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