LSU hires former Kentucky offensive line coach Eric Wolford to same position

Former Kentucky offensive line coach Eric Wolford has been hired as LSU’s OL coach, according to On3’s Brett McMurphy. Lane Kiffin is piecing together his first staff in Baton Rouge, and has landed an SEC mainstay to coach his offensive line.

Wolford was previously reported to be heading to LSU, but now the move is confirmed. The move comes after Mark Stoops, who hired Wolford on two separate occasions, was fired after consecutive losing seasons in Lexington.

Will Stein was hired to replace him, and Wolford was not retained. Though, Wolford was only on a one-year contract with the Wildcats, but was the third highest-paid assistant on the UK staff at $900k.

He’s been coaching in the SEC exclusively since 2017, coaching offensive lines all the way. Wolford was at South Carolina from 2017-20 before spending the 2021 season with the Wildcats. Wolford was brought on to replace the late John Schlarman, who died of cancer during the 2020 season.

He spent one season with the Wildcats before infamously taking a recruiting trip to Alabama — and never returning. Nick Saban offered him the same job at Alabama, and Wolford took it. He spent the next two seasons working as the Crimson Tide’s OL coach until Saban’s retirement after the 2023-24 season.

Despite leaving UK in the manner he did, Stoops re-hired him ahead of the 2024 season and kept him on until Stoops was fired 2025. Now, he’s heading to Baton Rouge to help Kiffin lead the Tigers into the future.

Wolford is the latest addition to Kiffin’s budding staff at LSU ahead of the 2026 season. Defensive coordinator Blake Baker, along with several other key position coaches have reportedly been retained for next year. Elijah Robinson, who most recently served as the co-defensive coordinator and defensive line coach for Syracuse, is also expected to join Kiffin in Baton Rouge.

Kiffin still has a ways to go before he fills out his staff, as well as his roster. Notably, LSU won’t retain offensive coordinator Joe Sloan — as he’s expected to be hired at UK under WIll Stein.

Adding to the LSU-UK connections, Kentucky fans should note that Wolford will be back in Kroger Field next fall. Kiffin’s Tigers will battle Stein and his Wildcats in Lexington in 2026.