US football head coach Edward James Orgeron Jr. was born on July 27, 1961. He recently served as LSU’s head football coach from the middle of the 2016 season through the 2021 season. After serving as the head football coach at Ole Miss from 2005 to 2007, Ed Orgeron took up the same position at USC as temporary head coach in 2013.
In 2020, he guided the LSU Tigers football team to victory over the defending champion Clemson in the College Football Playoff National Championship. Orgeron was a defensive lineman on the football teams at LSU and Northwestern State.
Why Did LSU Fire Ed Orgeron?
Officially, LSU has not let go of Orgeron. A divorce is mutually agreed upon by the two parties involved. However, the two sides did not come to this understanding out of the blue; LSU’s disappointing 5-5 record amid the COVID-19 pandemic preceded its 2019 championship season.
The Tigers’ fortunes have not been much better in 2021, with a 3-3 record before their surprise victory over the Gators in Baton Rouge. It was thought that this would guarantee Orgeron’s job security for at least another week, but the events of this past Sunday have proven that this was incorrect. From 2019 onward, the Tigers have posted a 9-8 record.
A Letter from Ed Orgeron pic.twitter.com/eDzbLgBb5V
— LSU Football (@LSUfootball) October 17, 2021
According to Dellenger, the arrangement was reached because Orgeron’s relationship with the administration was strained due to “public and private actions,” “distrust,” and “outbursts.”
#LSU and Ed Orgeron have reached a separation agreement: He will not return in 2022 but expected to complete this season, sources tell @SINow.
Negotiations began last week before UF win.
It’s unprecedented in the sport – coach & school divorcing 21 months after winning it all.
— Ross Dellenger (@RossDellenger) October 17, 2021
In an article from The Athletic, Orgeron also made sexual overtures toward a woman at a gas station; the woman later revealed to him that she was married and expecting. He then responded, “Why does that matter?” A top official at LSU married the woman.
Another factor that played a role in the decision was the LSU team’s high-profile Title IX inquiry. It was stated that Orgeron was informed of allegations that former running back Derrius Guice sexually assaulted a 74-year-old woman and did nothing to stop it. Orgeron lost his team partly because he defended ex-president Donald Trump, whose black players claimed promoted racist ideas and rhetoric. His refusal to back player protests of racial injustice and inequality before the 2020 season further hurt his standing with the team’s fan base.
The lack of success on the field, combined with Orgeron’s admission that he didn’t formally interview defensive coordinator Bo Pelini or offensive coordinator Scott Linehan, made it impossible for LSU athletic director Scott Woodward, who did not hire Orgeron and had no loyalty to him, to look past the off-field issues and keep him on the job.
Why Ed Orgeron Will Still Coach Tigers For Rest of 2021
For all of Orgeron’s shortcomings, on and off the field, he has assembled what is theoretically one of the most talented teams in the country. LSU’s choice to keep him on through the season was probably influenced by that, as well as the fact that he is two years removed from a national championship season. The Tigers need one more win to qualify for a bowl game, but they still have to play Ole Miss, Alabama, and Texas A&M in their last five games against ranked opponents. Arkansas’s chances of climbing back into the top 25 are not zero.
Letting Orgeron stay in Baton Rouge until the end of his contract is the best option since it provides continuity for the program during the transitional period between coaches. For the Tigers to keep any members of the class of 2022 who have already committed to them, they will need to have a successful season. According to the 247Sports Composite rankings, LSU’s recruiting class is presently ranked ninth nationally and third in the SEC. Woodward’s comments also mentioned the recruiting effects of letting Orgeron stay until the end of the year.
A Letter from Scott Woodward, LSU’s Director of Athletics pic.twitter.com/eVGmqqIRbK
— LSU Football (@LSUfootball) October 17, 2021
On Sunday, The Athletic reported that Orgeron would reportedly receive his full buyout at the end of the season. According to Dellenger’s source, an LSU official confirmed that the coach’s contract would be terminated without cause and that the institution would pay the buyout in 18 installments totaling $16.95 million. Orgeron was awarded a six-year, $42 million contract extension on January 24, 2020, with an annual salary of $7 million. LSU defeated Clemson in the 2020 College Football Playoff title game 11 days before the announcement.
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