LSU Football: Another potential defensive coordinator candidate for Tigers

LSU football needs a new defensive coordinator after parting ways with Bo Pelini.

One of the most important hires LSU football will make this offseason will be a new defensive coordinator.

Tigers head coach Ed Orgeron hired Bo Pelini this past offseason to replace Dave Aranda as LSU’s defensive coordinator and the move didn’t exactly work out.

Though it was a short season, there seemed to be plenty of tension between Coach O and Pelini (at least based on Orgeron’s media sessions).

Orgeron routinely passed up opportunities to praise Pelini and often appeared frustrated with the state of the Tigers’ defense. It certainly wasn’t a surprise to see LSU move on from Pelini.

So where do the Tigers turn now?

Recently I published six potential options to replace Pelini (you can check that out here).

As with any coaching search, there are additional options that will pop up.

LSU football could pursue another former head coach to lead the defense

Just because Pelini didn’t work out, doesn’t mean LSU should shy away from hiring a former head coach to lead the defense.

Sure, it can be a difficult transition to make. Going from being the guy leading the show to simply being an assistant isn’t always easy. But good football coaches are good football coaches. Ultimately it’s all about the right fit.

And I think former Florida defensive coordinator Charlie Strong could be a good fit.

Strong, who has served as the head coach at Louisville, Texas, and South Florida, is currently serving as a defensive analyst at Alabama.

Being at Bama as an assistant under Nick Saban is one of the main reasons I think this move could work for LSU.

Strong wouldn’t be going straight from being a head coach to a defensive coordinator. He’s had a year to learn how to be an assistant again.

I think Strong also knows his head coaching days are pretty much behind him at this point (at least at the Power-5 level). Pelini, however, was likely hoping to parlay a successful run as LSU’s defensive coordinator into another gig as a Power-5 head coach.

Strong has plenty of SEC experience. He has recruiting ties in Texas. And he has a solid resume as a defensive coordinator.

The Tigers could definitely do a lot worse than hiring Charlie Strong to replace Bo Pelini.