Joel Klatt names two active coaches who will get calls in LSU's coaching search

Joel Klatt named two massive, retired names that would be his first two calls if he were making the hire for the now-open head coaching job at LSU. Then, from there, he named two more who are still actively coaching who would be his third and fourth calls for the Tigers.

Klatt talked this out during his show on Monday. That started with Nick Saban and Urban Meyer being the coaches he thinks will get calls first from down in Baton Rouge.

“Then it goes to, maybe, the more feasible ones. Although, who knows? Maybe (Nick Saban or Urban Meyer) will be the next coach at LSU,” said Klatt.

As for those more feasible candidates, Klatt began with Oregon’s Dan Lanning. Lanning, who’s 42-7 (.857) with the Ducks, including 20-2 (.909) since last season in Eugene, has established himself as one of the best coaches in the sport. And, with ties to the conference, LSU may be one of those jobs that he would at least consider, although Klatt again noted how settled he is right now at Oregon.

“You go to the next call, and here’s the next call that is made. I think the next call is going to be Dan Lanning. Dan Lanning, obviously, has a past in the SEC, and he’s been successful there as a coordinator for the national champion Georgia team in 2021. Then he goes to Oregon and he’s been very successful building them into a perennial power – last year, the undefeated No. 1 seed in the College Football Playoff. He recruits well out of the portal. He recruits well out of high school. He’s got great energy. Like, Dan Lanning is a home run. So, he’s going to get a call, and Oregon will probably have to match a $15 million a year offer. I think that’s where LSU is going to be if they’re talking about Urban Meyer, Nick Saban, or Dan Lanning,” said Klatt. “Listen, I know that Dan really likes it in Eugene. And, just a couple of years ago, he turned down Alabama. So, you know, like, he’s turned down this level of job prior. His family loves it in Oregon. And I think he loves the autonomy at Oregon, and he’s building something that’s very special and very well might end in a national championship this year. I think they have that caliber of team in terms of this year, with Dante Moore at quarterback and that defense and how they can play.”

“You could say, like, Lanning is not going to leave Oregon. And, listen, I hope he doesn’t. I really do. I hope he doesn’t,” added Klatt. “He did turn down Alabama. LSU is a better job than Alabama. I think it is. I think it could be argued all you want. I know ‘Bama fans would argue with me on that, but that’s the way, kind of, I feel about it, and it boils down to resources.”

Ole Miss’ Lane Kiffin was then the second one for Klatt when it came to the Tigers’ job. It’s not anything new at this point as Kiffin, who’s 51-19 (.729) overall with the Rebels, including being on pace for a fourth double-digit win season out of six total in Oxford, is being mentioned everywhere right now on the coaching carousel. However, Klatt said he’s the last obvious candidate worth calling based on how he’s currently viewing the potential names amidst all the openings around college football.

“My fourth call, and I think it’s my final call, is going to be Lane Kiffin. And, Lane Kiffin is going to get a call, and this is why Lane Kiffin, you know, is going to be such a hot commodity. If you look around right now, I said three of the top-ten jobs in college football are now open. I can’t remember a cycle in which we had this high-profile of jobs open and ready, and willing to spend money and ready to swing big. And yet, I can’t remember as thin of a talent pool in the coaching search,” Klatt said. “Lane is going to be at the top, and Dan Lanning is going to be at the top of everybody’s list. Nick Saban is getting the call. Urban Meyer is getting the call. Bob Stoops might get a call. Because, the list is thin.”

In the end of this, though, Klatt put an emphasis on a fit being found in this coaching search at LSU. It’ll be necessary for one of the best jobs in the sport that’s now open again, with Klatt naming his top-four as far as his candidates go.

“This is where you have to ask yourself, if you’re LSU, like, what’s the best fit?” Klatt asked.

“I just talked about the big swings that they could take, but I will argue this last point. You don’t make this hire, if I’m the athletic director, to win the press conference. You have to get a guy that fits your program, your fanbase and what you want to do at LSU. You can go take a huge swing, but, if it’s the wrong swing, you’re going to be sitting right back here in three of four years doing the same thing over again and spending another $100 million to buy out another coach,” said Klatt. “Fit is going to be very important to LSU. I think it’s one of those things that, if they get this right, this will return to a perennial power each and every year. And, like I said, my calls? Saban, Urban Meyer, Dan Lanning, and then Lane Kiffin.”