Ed Orgeron

Edwardo James Orgeron Jr. (/ˈoʊdʒərɒn/; born July 27, 1961) is an American football coach and former player. He is the head football coach at Louisiana State University (LSU), a position he has held since midway through the 2016 season. Orgeron previously served as the head football coach at the University of Mississippi (Ole Miss) from 2005 to 2007 and was the interim head coach at the University of Southern California (USC) in 2013. He led the 2019 LSU Tigers football team to a national championship, beating the defending champions Clemson in the 2020 College Football Playoff National Championship.

Ed Orgeron
Orgeron in 2018
Current position
TitleHead coach
TeamLSU
ConferenceSEC
Record45–14
Annual salary$6 million
Biographical details
Born (1961-07-27) July 27, 1961
Larose, Louisiana
Playing career
1979LSU
1980–1983Northwestern State
Position(s)Defensive lineman
Coaching career (HC unless noted)
1984Northwestern State (GA)
1985McNeese State (GA)
1986–1987Arkansas (Asst. Strength)
1988–1992Miami (FL) (DL)
1994Nicholls State (LB)
1995–1997Syracuse (DL)
1998–2004USC (AHC/DL/RC)
2005–2007Ole Miss
2008New Orleans Saints (DL)
2009Tennessee (AHC/DL/RC)
2010–2013USC (DC/DL/RC)
2013USC (interim HC)
2015–2016LSU (DL)
2016–presentLSU
Head coaching record
Overall61–41
Bowls4–1
Tournaments2–0 (CFP)
Accomplishments and honors
Championships
As head coach:

As assistant coach:

Awards

Orgeron played college football as a defensive lineman at LSU and Northwestern State University.

Early years and playing career

Born to Edward "Ba Ba" Orgeron Sr. (d. 2011) and Cornelia "Co Co" Orgeron on July 27, 1961, Ed and his brother Steve grew up in Larose, a town on the Bayou Lafourche in Lafourche Parish, Louisiana.[1][2][3] He is of Cajun descent. Orgeron attended South Lafourche High School in Galliano, Louisiana with future Michigan Panthers, New Orleans Saints, and Atlanta Falcons quarterback Bobby Hebert. Orgeron and Hebert played on the school's Class 4A state championship team in 1977. Orgeron signed to play football at Louisiana State University, but left the program after his first year to transfer to Northwestern State University in Natchitoches, Louisiana.[4]

Coaching career

Early coaching years

Orgeron began coaching in 1984 as a graduate assistant at Northwestern State and the following year coached at McNeese State in Lake Charles, Louisiana. He then served two years as an assistant strength coach under Ken Hatfield at the University of Arkansas. In 1988, he began his tenure with the University of Miami, under then-head coach Jimmy Johnson and his successor, Dennis Erickson. He was their defensive line coach for four of those years, in which he coached eight All-Americans (including NFL first-round draft choices Cortez Kennedy, Russell Maryland and Warren Sapp). While he was with the Hurricanes, the program won two national championships (in 1989 and 1991), and he recruited a young Dwayne Johnson (later known as "The Rock" in his professional wrestling and film careers) as a defensive lineman.[5]

Yes [my dismissal was necessary]. It led to a turnaround in my lifestyle. That's something that had to be done in my life, where I just [could feel] comfortable with what I'm doing today.

— Ed Orgeron on his 1992 dismissal by Miami.[6]

Starting in 1991, a series of personal problems began to surface for Orgeron: a local woman filed a restraining order against Orgeron, accusing him of repeatedly attacking her. In July 1992, Orgeron was arrested for his part in a bar fight in Baton Rouge, Louisiana; Orgeron acknowledged he had been intoxicated that night and had grown angry when not allowed back inside to retrieve his credit card.[6] In October 1992, Orgeron took a leave of absence from the University of Miami coaching staff for personal reasons; the departure turned out to be a permanent one, however, and he was replaced by assistant coach Randy Shannon.[7] Taking a respite from coaching, Orgeron worked on his personal life: the permanent injunction against him was eventually rescinded, and the felony second-degree battery charges he faced were dropped.[6] He stayed with his parents in Larose, crediting his father for helping him get his life in order.[8]

Orgeron returned to coaching in 1994, but as a volunteer linebackers coach at Nicholls State University.[8][9] The following year, he moved from the south to the northeastern U.S., accepting a job with head coach Paul Pasqualoni's staff at Syracuse University, where he coached the defensive line for three years.[6][10] Orgeron credited Pasqualoni for giving him a second chance at major-college coaching (after his prior personal issues had damaged his 'hireability'), and helping him develop as a coach on and off the field.[8]

USC (first stint)

In 1998, Orgeron was hired by offensive guru Paul Hackett, the newly hired head coach of USC (the University of Southern California), to coach the Trojans defensive line. After Hackett's 2000 firing, Orgeron was one of a handful of coaches retained by Hackett's replacement, Pete Carroll, a defensive specialist. The two had met during a high school football game when Carroll was still only a candidate for the head coach position, and connected over their shared passion for recruiting.[11] During the Carroll years, USC enjoyed much success, including two (Associated Press) National Championships. Orgeron took on the added responsibility of Recruiting Coordinator in 2001, and was named assistant head coach in 2003.[6] Orgeron won National Recruiter of the Year honors in 2004, the same year he was hired by Ole Miss to replace head coach David Cutcliffe.[11]

Ole Miss
Orgeron at Ole Miss in 2007

Upon arriving at Ole Miss, Orgeron attempted to bring USC's passing game coordinator, Lane Kiffin, with him as the new offensive coordinator, but Kiffin opted to stay with the Trojans.[12]

Entering the 2005 season, Orgeron had hoped to bring a USC-style offense to the Southeastern Conference (SEC), but found limited success. The University of Mississippi's offense finished the season ranked 111th out of 117 Division I-A schools, in total offense; 115th in scoring; and, 116th in rushing. Orgeron's defensive experience, along with returning linebacker Patrick Willis, helped the Rebel defense in 2005, but as a result of the offensive woes, the 2005 team struggled and finished the season with a record of three wins and eight losses—the Rebels' worst record since 1987.

In response to the results of his first season, Orgeron fired offensive coordinator Noel Mazzone,[13] replacing him with former University of Miami offensive coordinator Dan Werner.[14] Also, Orgeron hired Art Kehoe, the longtime offensive line coach at the University of Miami; both assistants had just been fired by the University of Miami. In 2006, Ole Miss finished the season ranked No. 108 in scoring offense, No. 111 in total offense, and No. 112 in passing offense.[15]

Orgeron's second recruiting class in February 2006 was successful, acquiring the written pledges of a national Top 15 signing class.[16] He followed that with the 32nd ranked recruiting class in February 2007.[17]

At Ole Miss, Orgeron recorded only two wins against teams with winning records (the 2005 and 2007 Memphis teams, which both finished at 7–5)—the fewest among active SEC coaches at the time. Until the 2007 season, he enjoyed the public support of The University of Mississippi's chancellor Robert Khayat and other administrators with oversight of the football program, including Athletic Director Pete Boone. In a November 2006 article in The Clarion-Ledger, Khayat said of Orgeron and the poor win/loss record since he was hired (7–14, at the time of the interview), "I think Coach Orgeron inherited a very difficult situation....I am 100 percent behind him, and I think that people ought to understand that he has a big challenge."

In 2007, Ole Miss finished the season 0–8 against fellow SEC teams, and 3–9 overall. It was the program's first winless (conference) season since 1982.

On November 24, 2007, after Ole Miss blew a 14-point fourth-quarter lead to in-state rival Mississippi State in the season finale, Orgeron was fired. He was replaced by former University of Arkansas head coach Houston Nutt (who had resigned from the Arkansas program three days after Orgeron's firing).

New Orleans Saints and Tennessee

On January 23, 2008, it was announced that Orgeron had been hired as the new defensive line coach of the National Football League's New Orleans Saints.

On December 31, 2008, Orgeron accepted a position with the University of Tennessee under its new head coach: former USC assistant-coach colleague Lane Kiffin. He worked as associate head coach, recruiting coordinator, and defensive line coach.[18]

USC (second stint)
Orgeron at USC in 2010

Orgeron returned to USC's assistant coaching staff on January 12, 2010, after Kiffin resigned from the University of Tennessee without notice to accept the USC head coach position vacated by Pete Carroll (who had returned to head coaching in the NFL). Orgeron was one of the highest paid assistant coaches in the Pac-12 Conference, with an annual salary of $650,000.

It was announced on September 29, 2013—after Lane Kiffin's firing—that Orgeron would be the interim head coach of the Trojans for the rest of the 2013 season, until athletic director Pat Haden found a permanent replacement.[19]

After his experience at Ole Miss, Orgeron decided to approach his second stint as a head coach differently. Instead of resuming the intense aggressiveness he had used as a defensive line and head coach, he used a different approach this time. Orgeron applied behavioral techniques he had used on his own teenage children, in an effort to approach his USC players "like my sons".[20]

After receiving much praise for their upset win at home over highly ranked Stanford, the Trojans suffered a humiliating 35–14 defeat to cross-town-rivals UCLA—for the second year in a row—on November 30, 2013. This greatly threatened Orgeron's chances of winning the permanent head coach position. The Trojans were 6–2 under Orgeron, finishing the regular season with a 9–4 record. On December 2, 2013, ESPN reported that another former USC assistant coach under Pete Carroll—Washington head coach Steve Sarkisian—had accepted USC's offer to become the next Trojans head coach.[21] After Orgeron was passed over for the job, he resigned.[22]

LSU
Orgeron as LSU head coach

On January 14, 2015, Orgeron was hired as the defensive line coach at Louisiana State University (LSU).[23]

On September 25, 2016, after LSU head coach Les Miles was fired following a loss to Auburn, Orgeron was named the team's interim head coach.

Orgeron stated that he was going to "flip the script". He promoted tight ends coach Steve Ensminger to offensive coordinator and brought back Pete Jenkins to take over as defensive line coach. Orgeron also decided to shorten practices and spend more time in the film room in order to keep players fresh. In addition, he brought the "theme of daily practices" he modeled from coach Pete Carroll during Orgeron's first stint as an assistant at USC. These practice days have descriptive nicknames like Tell the Truth Monday, Competition Tuesday, Turnover Wednesday, No Repeat Thursday, and Focus Friday.[24]

Under Orgeron's watch, LSU finished out the season with a 6–2 record. On November 26, 2016, LSU removed the "interim" tag from Orgeron's title and formally named him as its 32nd full-time head coach.

The beginning of the 2017 season saw Orgeron hire Matt Canada to be the offensive coordinator. Canada was known for an offensive playbook that was heavily based on setting skilled positions in motion prior to the snap, thus using jet sweeps often. The season began with LSU ranked in the top 15, but early losses to Mississippi State and Troy quickly found LSU unranked. However, the team went 7–2 in their remaining games, finishing the year with a 9–4 record.

The 2018 season began with a season opening upset of 8th-ranked Miami, followed by another upset of 7th-ranked Auburn. These victories helped LSU rise to 5th in the CFP rankings, but a loss to 25th-ranked Florida sent LSU tumbling back to 13th. In response, the Tigers pulled off a shocking upset of No. 2 Georgia followed by avenging the previous year's loss to Mississippi State. The victories over Georgia and Mississippi State propelled LSU to being ranked No. 3 by the CFP going into a game against top-ranked Alabama. The LSU offense that had seemed to turn around after Steve Ensminger took over the duties of offensive coordinator was unable to score against Alabama's defense. After the loss to Alabama, LSU was able to defeat Arkansas and Rice before falling to Texas A&M in a 7-overtime game. With a 9–3 record, LSU was invited to the Fiesta Bowl to play the University of Central Florida, who had not lost a game in the previous two seasons. On New Years Day 2019, LSU gave UCF their first loss since 2016. LSU finished the 2018 season with a record of 10–3 and were ranked sixth in the nation by the AP poll and seventh by the Coaches poll. LSU was not predicted to have a good season in 2018, and some, including respected SEC commentator Paul Finebaum, believed it would be Orgeron's last.[25] However, the successful season earned Orgeron a contract extension through the 2022 season.[26]

Orgeron during a post game interview with ESPN's Tom Rinaldi immediately after winning the 2020 College Football Playoff National Championship

After opening with a home win versus Georgia Southern, Orgeron's 2019 team recorded a statement road win over Texas in week two and proceeded to go undefeated through the regular season, including a 46–41 victory over Alabama at Bryant-Denny Stadium in Tuscaloosa. A win over Arkansas in the penultimate game of the regular season clinched the SEC West division title and secured a berth in the 2019 SEC Championship Game against Georgia.[27] This was their first appearance in the SEC Championship Game since 2011. The traditionally defensive-minded Tigers averaged over 48 points per game, led by quarterback Joe Burrow, Baton Rouge-native running back Clyde Edwards-Helaire, and standout receivers Ja'Marr Chase and Justin Jefferson. Burrow set new LSU and SEC single-season records for passing yards with 4,366; his 44 touchdown passes set a new LSU record and tied the SEC mark.[28] By the season's end, Burrow would go on set the NCAA single-season record for touchdown passes (60) en route to winning the Heisman Trophy. [29]Orgeron's Tigers defeated the Georgia Bulldogs in the SEC Championship Game to win their first SEC title since 2011. On Sunday, December 8, 2019, they were named the No. 1 seed in the College Football Playoff. They met the Big 12 Conference champion Oklahoma Sooners in the semifinals in the Peach Bowl, defeating them by a score of 63–28.

Following the regular season, Orgeron was named the winner of the 2019 AP College Football Coach of the Year Award and Home Depot Coach of the Year Award.[30][31] On January 13, 2020, Orgeron won his first national championship as a head coach with a win over the unbeaten defending national champion Clemson Tigers, 42–25, finishing the season 15–0. Orgeron and the LSU Tigers won the national title in their home state at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome in New Orleans.[32]

In media

Orgeron appears as himself in the 2009 film The Blind Side as Mississippi's head coach, recruiting Michael Oher. In 2005, Orgeron had won an intense recruiting battle for Oher. Director John Lee Hancock contacted Orgeron about playing himself, despite having been fired by Ole Miss prior to the filming of the movie; Orgeron agreed and impressed the filmmaker with his enthusiasm.[33]

In 2006, Bruce Feldman, then a senior writer at ESPN The Magazine, was allowed in-depth access to the Ole Miss program for a book about the recruiting process at a big-time college football program. The result was 2007's Meat Market: Inside the Smash-Mouth World of College Football Recruiting, a book filled with anecdotes about Orgeron, which The New York Times described as "one of the most insightful books ever written about college football."[34]

He is also a recurring guest on the podcast Pardon My Take.

Personal life

Orgeron is known for his strong, gravelly, Cajun-accented voice, and intensity while coaching.[6][8][12] In 2006, during his time at Ole Miss, he was parodied in an internet video titled "Colonel Reb is Cryin'".[35]

Orgeron was previously married to Colleen Orgeron.[7] He met his second wife, Kelly, at the 1996 Liberty Bowl, and the couple have three boys.[6] Upon returning to USC in 2010, Orgeron lived in a hotel across the street from the campus while his wife and children made their home in Louisiana.[36] On February 26, 2020, Orgeron and Kelly Orgeron filed for divorce.[37]

Orgeron's fourth cousin, Joseph Orgeron, was elected to the Louisiana House of Representatives in July 2020.[38]

Head coaching record
Year Team Overall ConferenceStanding Bowl/playoffs Coaches# AP°
Ole Miss Rebels (Southeastern Conference) (2005–2007)
2005 Ole Miss 3–81–7T–5th (Western)
2006 Ole Miss 4–82–6T–4th (Western)
2007 Ole Miss 3–90–86th (Western)
Ole Miss: 10–253–21
USC Trojans (Pac-12 Conference) (2013)
2013 USC 6–26–1T–2nd (South)
USC: 6–26–1
LSU Tigers (Southeastern Conference) (2016–present)
2016 LSU 6–24–2T–2nd (Western)W Citrus1413
2017 LSU 9–46–23rd (Western)L Citrus1818
2018 LSU 10–35–3T–2nd (Western)W Fiesta†76
2019 LSU 15–08–01st (Western) W Peach†, W CFP NCG†11
2020 LSU 5–55–54th (Western)
2021 LSU 0–00–0(Western)
LSU: 45–1428–12
Total:61–41
      National championship         Conference title         Conference division title or championship game berth

References
  1. "Orgeron to finalize deal with Rebels". ESPN. December 15, 2004. Retrieved September 29, 2013.
  2. "Edward Orgeron". Houma Courier. October 18, 2011. Retrieved September 29, 2013.
  3. "Ed Orgeron". USC Trojans. Archived from the original on October 2, 2013. Retrieved September 29, 2013.
  4. Hale, David M. (January 8, 2020). "The unbelievable tales of LSU head coach Ed Orgeron". espn.com. Retrieved April 12, 2020.
  5. Dan Friedell, How good was The Rock at football?, ESPN The Magazine, December 12, 2012, accessed October 2, 2013.
  6. Randy Mell, After UM, Orgeron Turned Life Around, Sun-Sentinel, December 31, 2004, accessed September 29, 2013.
  7. Randy Mell, Defensive Line Coach Gets Leave Of Absence, Sun-Sentinel, October 27, 1992, accessed September 29, 2013.
  8. Bud Poliquin, Poliquin: Ed Orgeron, the former Syracuse football aide, will long admire his old boss, Paul Pasqualoni, The Post-Standard, September 15, 2011, accessed September 29, 2013.
  9. "All-Time Assistants" (PDF). geauxcolonels.com. p. 35. Retrieved March 16, 2020.
  10. The Sun Herald Archived June 27, 2006, at the Wayback Machine
  11. David Wharton, USC's Ed Orgeron is a rah-rah recruiter, Los Angeles Times, February 1, 2011, accessed September 29, 2013.
  12. Gene Wojciechowski, USC coaching hire gets complicated, ESPN.com, November 13, 2013, accessed November 19, 2013.
  13. "Mississippi Team Report". www.cstv.com. Retrieved October 22, 2017.
  14. "Refreshing to..." olemisssports.collegesports.com. Retrieved October 22, 2017.
  15. "NCAA Division I Football Statistics". Retrieved October 22, 2017.
  16. "2006 Football Team Rankings". Scout. Retrieved October 22, 2017.
  17. "2007 Football Team Rankings". Scout. Retrieved October 22, 2017.
  18. Bruce Feldman (December 31, 2008). "Orgeron accepts associate head coach job at Tennessee". ESPN.com. Retrieved January 1, 2009.
  19. "USC tabs Ed Orgeron as interim coach after Kiffin fired". USA Today. September 29, 2013. Retrieved September 29, 2013.
  20. Dan Wolken, , USA Today, November 7, 2013, accessed November 19, 2013.
  21. "Sources: USC hires Steve Sarkisian". ESPN. December 2, 2013.
  22. Transcript (December 3, 2013). "USC Head Football Coach Steve Sarkisian Introductory Press Conference". Quotes from athletic director Pat Haden. USC Athletic Dept. Retrieved December 14, 2013.
  23. Kleinpeter, Jim. LSU adding Ed Orgeron to football coaching staff. nola.com. January 14, 2015. Retrieved September 25, 2016.
  24. Dellenger, Ross. Sources: Coach Les Miles, offensive coordinator Cam Cameron out at LSU; Ed Orgeron to be interim coach. The Advocate. September 25, 2016. Retrieved September 25, 2016.
  25. Hickey, Alex (February 28, 2018). "Is Paul Finebaum right to say Ed Orgeron has SEC's hottest seat?".
  26. Dixon, Shea (March 20, 2019). "Ed Orgeron's contract extension is approved".
  27. "No. 1 LSU down Arkansas 56-20, books SEC title game berth". nytimes.com. Retrieved December 5, 2019.
  28. "Burrow, No. 1 LSU dominate Texas A&M, 50-7". nytimes.com. Retrieved December 5, 2019.
  29. https://www.sportingnews.com/us/ncaa-football/news/nine-records-joe-burrow-set-college-football-playoff-championship/1aligatn4ea5a1wx6g9upgsuog#:~:text=60%20passing%20touchdowns,Hawaii's%20Colt%20Brennan%20in%202006.
  30. report (December 17, 2019). "LSU's Ed Orgeron named AP Coach of the Year". espn.com.
  31. report (December 11, 2019). "After leading LSU football to 13-0 record, Ed Orgeron wins Home Depot Coach of the Year Award". The Advocate.
  32. Kubena, As of the 2020/2021 season his team is getting beat like he owes someone money. He is a one hit wonder. Brooks (January 13, 2020). "'This is for everybody': LSU caps perfect season with national title win over Clemson". theadvocate.com.
  33. Schlabach, Mark (June 29, 2009). "Prominent coaches turn actors for film". ESPN. Retrieved July 1, 2009.
  34. Pete Thamel, Book Review: Meat Market, The New York Times, November 6, 2007, accessed September 29, 2013.
  35. Glenn Guilbeau, Ole Miss coach shows his sense of humor, Shreveport Times, November 16, 2006, accessed September 29, 2013.
  36. Klein, Gary (September 30, 2013). "Ed Orgeron is ready for his leading role as USC's interim coach". Los Angeles Times.
  37. "Report: LSU coach Ed Orgeron files for divorce from wife, Kelly, after 23 years of marriage". KLFY.com. Nexstar Broadcasting, Inc. April 1, 2020. Retrieved April 1, 2020.
  38. https://www.wdsu.com/article/joe-orgeron-wins-54th-district-seat-formerly-held-by-reggie-bagala-who-died-of-covid-19/33285587
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