LSU Football: NFL assistant recommended Andre Carter to Ed Orgeron

LSU football head coach Ed Orgeron took his time this offseason hiring new defensive assistants.

Coach O had to replace three coaches on the defensive side of the ball (defensive coordinator/safeties, linebackers, defensive line).

Orgeron didn’t rush the hires, instead, he leaned on the bevy of coaching connections he’s made over the years.

Former Tigers defensive coordinator Dave Aranda recommended Daronte Jones to replace Bo Pelini as LSU’s defensive coordinator. Coach O went with Aranda’s suggestion.

For the vacant defensive line coaching position, Orgeron turned to an old NFL coaching buddy.

Former New Orleans Saints interim head  coach Joe Vitt helps LSU football out

Coach O said on Tuesday morning, during an interview on 104.5 in Baton Rouge that new defensive line coach Andre Carter was “highly recommended” by Joe Vitt (via Brooks Kubena).

Vitt and Orgeron worked together on the New Orleans Saints coaching staff in 2008 (Orgeron was the Saint’s defensive line coach in 2008, while Vitt was the assistant head coach/linebackers coach).

Carter and Vitt first crossed paths in Miami in 2017 when Carter was an assistant defensive line coach and Vitt was a consultant. Carter and Vitt were on staff together with the New York Jets in 2019 and 2020 (Carter as the defensive line coach and Vitt as the outside linebackers coach).

Prior to becoming an NFL assistant coach, Carter spent 13 seasons in the NFL as an outside linebacker/defensive end.

I love that Orgeron searched far and wide for assistants this offseason. He did his due diligence to make sure he found the right fit. It would’ve been easy for Orgeron to just hire some guys he’d previously worked with — that’s what most coaches end up doing.

But instead, Orgeron leaned on some of the great connections he’s made over the years to bring the best possible hire to Baton Rouge.

That’s why Coach O is an elite coach. He’s smart enough to know that he doesn’t always have all the answers.