Brian Kelly breaks down LSU's co-offensive coordinator situation
With coach hirings and transfer portal departures behind it, LSU’s offseason is beginning to wind down with January in the rearview. Head coach Brian Kelly joked that he’s stayed so busy it’s interrupted his golfing days, but the decorated coach has simultaneously built an elite defensive staff while replacing his offensive coordinator since the end of the season just one month ago.
Always meticulous, Kelly has his LSU program exactly where he wants it, but there’s always work to be done and Kelly understands that in today’s college football landscape, you’re always working. Kelly spoke with the media in Mobile, Alabama on Thursday at the 2024 Senior Bowl where he has two players participating in Charles Turner and Jordan Jefferson.
“Obviously we’re getting to the tail end of recruiting, it’s been a whirlwind because there are so many things going on,” Kelly said. “Transfer portal, NIL, retention and development of our own players. But I think we’ve done a really good job. We’ve had to hire some new coaches as well but I think we’re in a really good place and in a week or so we’ll get to focus on the team we have so that’s a good thing.”
The players continue to go through winter workouts as Kelly and his new staff piece together what 2024 will look like. Coming off of a year where the Tigers had the No. 1 offense in America and the Heisman Trophy winner in quarterback Jayden Daniels, the departure of offensive coordinator Mike Denbrock was a surprise to some, but Kelly decided to promote LSU’s quarterbacks coach Joe Sloan and wide receivers coach Cortez Hankton into co-offensive coordinator roles.
Kelly discussed the play calling duties and overall responsibilities on Thursday afternoon.
“Joe will take the chief responsibilities and certainly be the play caller,” Kelly said. “Cortez will have a major role as well but at the end of the day if you don’t like the play call you can see me or you can see Joe. I think we’ll have a clear delineation in terms of the roles. Both of them are outstanding. Joe will be the play caller, he’ll handle the quarterbacks and I think it’ll be a team approach. We’ve got great coaches. Brad Davis does a great job with the offensive line, Frank Wilson, Cortez certainly, Slade Nagle is an experienced offensive coordinator from Tulane who’s done great things and gives us an experienced play caller as well. I think we’re gonna lean on the group and Joe will get the lead in play calling.”
With that clarified, LSU can head into the upcoming spring months ready to move forward with a new LSU roster and Kelly and his staff can continue to put the finishing touches on the roster and recruiting.
