LSU Football: Ed Orgeron replacement that wouldn’t be hyped, but would be solid hire

LSU football will almost certainly have a new head coach in 2022.

Ed Orgeron isn’t coaching to the LSU standard — and he knows it.

Here’s what Orgeron said on Monday (via 247Sports):

"Orgeron: “The best thing for me to do is be very positive. [I] understand the expectation of LSU. I will say this and I will say it again, no one has to tell me the LSU expectation. I know em, I was born with em so I understand. I understand this is not the LSU Standard of Performance. I understand my job. I get it totally, I know exactly where I’m at and I’m going to go to work as hard as I can today.”"

Barring a 5-1 or 6-0 finish to the season, Orgeron is done as LSU’s head coach.

And that means a coaching search for the Tigers.

I’ve already discussed several names that could be options for LSU if/when Orgeron is fired. And I’ve discussed some names that likely aren’t realistic.

More names will probably emerge in the coming weeks/months.

One of the names that’s emerged in recent days as a potential option is particularly intriguing. It’s an option that probably wouldn’t be widely celebrated, but it could be a solid hire for the Tigers.

Could Bill O’Brien be an option for LSU football to replace Ed Orgeron?

A recent article from USA Today Sports suggested that Alabama offensive coordinator Bill O’Brien could be an option to replace Orgeron at LSU.

O’Brien wouldn’t be a “flashy” hire, but I think he could do a great job at LSU.

The Massachusetts native has an impressive resumé. O’Brien has spent time as an assistant coach at Georgia Tech, Maryland, and Duke. He was also an assistant with the New England Patriots for five years, including one year as Bill Belichick’s offensive coordinator.

In 2012, O’Brien was hired to replace Joe Paterno as Penn State’s head coach. O’Brien went 15-9 in two seasons before he was hired to replace Gary Kubiak as the Houston Texans’ head coach.

O’Brien, who will turn 52 later this month, coached Houston from 2014-2020. He was fired after starting the 2020 season with an 0-4 record.

During his seven seasons with the Texans, O’Brien won the AFC South four times. He only had one losing season (not counting his abbreviated final season) in Houston.

O’Brien has proved he can lead teams to consistent success. He did well in an impossible situation with Penn State (he was hired following the Jerry Sandusky scandal). And he will have a year running Nick Saban’s system under his belt after this season (and plenty of recruiting connections with key recruits from a year in Tuscaloosa).

There are bigger names out there. But O’Brien could be one of the most “safe” hires the Tigers could make if Orgeron is fired.