LSU coach Ed Orgeron will not return in 2022 but is expected to finish this season, multiple outlets reported Sunday.
Sports Illustrated reported that LSU and Orgeron reached a separation agreement, less that two years after the Tigers won the College Football Playoff championship. The Athletic said the school is expected to pay Orgeron his whole buyout, which is $17.1 million.
Orgeron, 60, has led the Tigers since September 2016, when he was named interim head coach following the firing of Les Miles. He has named to the permanent position two months later. His record with the Tigers in 49-17. He previously was the head coach at Ole Miss and the interim coach at Southern California following the departure of Lane Kiffin in 2013.
With a salary of $9 million, he trails only Alabama’s Nick Saban on the list of highest-paid college coaches, according to the USA Today database.
Since winning the championship, the Tigers are 9-8, including 4-3 (2-2 Southeastern Conference) this season. They beat No. 20 Florida 49-42 on Saturday.
In speaking with reporters on Monday, Orgeron said no officials had discussed his job status with him.
“No not at all. That’s for me to handle, nobody’s talked to me about my job status,” Orgeron said. “I haven’t had any discussions about it, as far as I know I’m the head coach of the LSU Tigers and that’s all that matters.”
LSU currently has the No. 9 overall recruiting class in 2022, per the 247Sports composite. The class includes two five-star Louisiana players: quarterback Walker Howard, the top-ranked quarterback in the nation, and 6-foot-6 tackle Will Campbell. The composite lists both as Top 25 overall players.
–Field Level Media
