Brian Kelly updates timeline on LSU DL hire

On March 25, news broke that LSU defensive line coach Jamar Cain was leaving Baton Rouge to take a job with the Denver Broncos.

With the calendar inching closer to mid-April, the Tigers still have not announced Cain’s replacement.

When will LSU make things official with the hire of a new defensive line coach?

Kelly moving through spring with an interim DL coach

LSU head coach Brian Kelly met with the media on Tuesday, and when asked about the vacancy, the second-year headman seemed to have a firm plan in place.

“We wanted to get through the spring (practices),” Kelly said. “We feel like we’re in a great situation with (interim defensive line coach) Gerald Chatman on staff.

“So, there was no rush like ‘we’ve got to go find a defensive line coach’. He’ll be a candidate for the position, as well.”

Chatman is currently a senior defensive analyst at LSU who is filling in as the interim defensive line coach during spring practices. He’s most recently been the defensive line coach at both Tulane and Colorado.

Kelly puts a timeline on a potential LSU hire

As for the search for a new defensive line coach, Kelly said things will heat up once the Tigers wrap up spring practices on April 22.

“We’ll begin that process once we finish up the spring calendar for us, and then we’re on the road (recruiting),” Kelly said. “So, we can get on the road and get to candidates and make it a whole lot easier.”

While Kelly was mum on naming any potential candidates, his decision to provide a timeline on the hire could mean he’s combed through the applicants and potentially zeroed in on a top target.

“Expect something within the next three weeks or so,” Kelly said on Tuesday. “It’s LSU. We’ve got a great list of candidates that we have interest in.”