Brian Kelly provides health update on assistant Jimmy Lindsey

LSU head coach Brian Kelly provided an update on defensive line coach Jimmy Lindsey during his press conference on Thursday.

Kelly shared that Lindsey is making progress after stepping away from the program in August due to a personal health matter. Lindsey is in his first season on the Tigers staff.

“Jimmy is continuing to make progress. He is in treatment right now,” Kelly said. “He’s about halfway through his treatments, and all reports are really positive in his treatment process.”

Jimmy Lindsey came to LSU after spending the previous two years at South Carolina. He has coached defensive lines in college football for more than 20 years.

Kelly is unsure when Lindsey will be able to rejoin the program, but he is thankful that Lindsey is making progress.

“No timeline has really been established relative to that right now as he’s right in the middle of his treatments,” Kelly said.

With Lindsey away from the program, John Jancek has been serving as the LSU defensive line coach. Jancek shifted over from his role as special teams coordinator and outside linebackers coach to lead the Tigers d-line.

Jancek has plenty of college coaching experience, including serving as the defensive coordinator at Georgia and Tennessee.

LSU is off to a 2-1 (1-0) start to the season. The Tigers will host Arkansas on Saturday at 7 p.m.

More on LSU defensive line coach Jimmy Lindsey

LSU first announced that Jimmy Lindsey was dealing with a personal health issue in early August. Here is the release from that time:

“Defensive line coach Jimmy Lindsey will step away from the LSU Football program as he deals with a personal health matter. In Coach Lindsey’s absence, John Jancek will serve as defensive line coach and Bob Diaco will coach outside linebackers and special teams,” Brian Kelly said. “Our prayers are with Coach Lindsey and his family, and we ask that their privacy be respected. We look forward to his return to the program.”

LSU hired Lindsey in May. Lindsey had spent the past two seasons as South Carolina‘s defensive line coach. While there, Lindsey boosted the Gamecocks to a strong finish in the 2022 season with wins over Clemson and Tennessee.

Additionally, Lindsey produced defensive lineman Zacch Pickens, who the Bears selected with No. 64 overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft. Lindsey also boasts coaching experience at Illinois, Western Kentucky and Chatanooga. Kelly was thrilled to add Lindsey to the program this spring.

“Jimmy is an outstanding defensive line coach and we are excited to welcome him to our staff,” Kelly said. “He will do a great job of not only coaching our players on the field, but also helping them develop off the field as we continue our commitment to graduating champions. Jimmy has a proven track record of developing defensive linemen and I know our players are going to benefit from his expertise.”