Les Miles introduced his new defensive coordinator, Kevin Steele, and his new defensive line coach, Ed Orgeron, Wednesday.

Here’s the full transcript, provided by LSU Sports Information:

KEVIN STEELE OPENING STATEMENT:
“Thanks, Coach Miles. It’s a great day to be an LSU Tiger. My family and I are extremely, extremely excited to be part of the LSU football program, and we want to thank Coach Miles for affording us this opportunity. I know this program pretty well in that my son was a graduate assistant for three years for Coach Miles, Gordon. And of course Caroline and Linda came down often to the games here.

I would go into the stadium and coach the game and drive home by myself because mom and sister were at LSU watching Gordon coach as a graduate assistant, so you know the pecking order in our family. They’re very excited about coming back and being an LSU Tiger.

As far as the journey getting here, this is an amazing opportunity, and the reason being is that I firmly believe that without question that the LSU defensive football is and always has been something in this league and across the nation that says relentless pursuit, great effort, and just a dominating attacking style defense. That is just what LSU football was built on. That’s what it is, and that’s what it’s continued to be under Coach Miles.

We’ll absolutely keep that philosophy and keep it rolling and create an environment where we can put the best players on the field to have fun and go be successful, give them opportunities to lineup in the ways you have to lineup with modern day football in this conference. And six, seven years ago, you went and you lined up against the I Backs and everybody hammered it, a little bit of play action pass and then it was like the NFL third down pass. Now, obviously, you guys cover this. It’s not that way anymore. It’s uniquely different. So you have to be creative with the ways that you generate pass rush, that you generate big plays or negative plays for offenses and prevent big plays, and we’ll be relentless in our pursuit to do that.

But I was sitting here thinking, Ed and I have talked ball already a little bit today and some recruiting. And Ed, I’m not sure if we had a funeral for you and I today that this many people would show up, so it’s kind of amazing. With that, I’ll open it up for questions.

KEVIN STEELE Q&A:

Q. Coach, is it more important to kind of adapt to what these players or personnel does to your style or are you going to try to do what LSU has done in terms of scheme?
KEVIN STEELE: Well, I believe it will be a mix. We’ll get in the room and watch all the tape. Obviously, I’m familiar with what the scheme is here. We’ll watch all the tape and collectively we’ll put together, with Coach Miles and the defensive staff, what style gives us the best way to affect offenses in this league. So it won’t just be taking a playbook out, dusting it off and throwing it on and saying this is what we’re doing. We have to adapt things to the talent on the field, because I promise you this, I cannot tackle.

Q. Coach, Kevin, you’re looking at 3 4 or 4 3? And secondly, what do you think in your opinion is the key to stopping up the hurry up, no huddle offense now?
KEVIN STEELE: Let’s take them one at a time, and I’ll ask you to readdress the second question, because I didn’t hear the last part of it very well. In terms of 4 3, 3 4, again, that goes back to the original statement and that we will put together philosophically. You’re going to have to use it all in this league. You’re going to have to have some odd front stuff particularly against the spread offense that much of the West is running, so to get those two edge guys out there. But there also is a place for the other, so we’ll have to mix that.

Q. The key to stopping the hurry up, no huddle offense right now?
KEVIN STEELE: I think I could give you an answer and you could type really fast, and it would probably be something people would read. But the truth is I don’t think anybody’s dissected it to the very minute point that they’re going to dump it and go like the wishbone, where one day everybody said enough of that. Everybody knows what they’re doing. I think it’s still a work in progress. But I think the thing that probably when you break it down in its totality and you just say, and this is a pretty simple answer to a complicated question, is when you really break it down in its totality, you have to create negative plays and get them behind the sticks early in the downs. Then the big plays in this league have gone up tremendously in terms of the big explosive plays for the offense. You have to eliminate that. You can’t survive if you don’t eliminate the big play, which is pretty prevalent in the league right now, when you start talking about those style offenses and put them behind the sticks in first down.

Q. Kevin, you talked about being familiar with this program. Could you talk about getting Orgeron with you and what that means, how familiar you are with his work. And secondly, just the resources that you have here at this school and defensively especially, being able to coach those kinds of guys?
KEVIN STEELE: Well, as far as Coach Orgeron, obviously his resume speaks for itself. In fact, just riding over here today one of the former NFL linebackers that I coached in the NFL sent me a text, “Congratulations. You’ll do great. Coach Orgeron, greatest hire ever; you’ll love him.” So I mean that’s just from a guy who played in the National Football League for ten years. I mean, his record speaks for itself in terms of producing players. But not only that, when people talk about Ed, it’s the relationship he has with his players and fellow coaches and the energy he brings. So we’re pretty excited about that.

Q. Just the players and the assets that LSU has been able to put into the league and get your hands on. How exciting is that?
KEVIN STEELE: It’s pretty exciting. It’s a pretty talented group of people. And that is because there is tremendous high school football and development of players in this state. This is a place that if you walk into a school to recruit a young man, you have an opportunity because of the letters on your shirt. Not because you’re a great recruiter and not because you’re a great coach, but because you represent the LSU Tigers, you’re in the door. That gives you a chance. Then if you can persuade enough mothers to lend you their son for a little bit, then you get a collective group of defensive players that are hard to move the ball against.

Q. You and Coach O have been described as a dynamite recruiting tandem, or could be at least. Can you talk about hitting the ground running on Thursday. And how much can you guys move up in the recruiting rankings before early February?
KEVIN STEELE: We’ll hit the ground tonight, and then of course live contact starts tomorrow. So we’ve just got a meeting with Coach Miles of planning, actually, where we’ll be the next three weeks. So we’ve got a pretty proactive plan to implement.

Q. How many guys do you think you can possibly flip, and how much gain can you make before February?
KEVIN STEELE: Well, gain is valued in terms of, and don’t take this wrong. There is a difference in a staff meeting talking recruiting and then reading the internet talking recruiting in terms of the rankings and this guy is this, and this guy is that. It’s totally different in a staff room and you’re evaluating film and trying to find the best fit for what you do. Obviously, I don’t think any video that I’ve watched on a recruit, I don’t ever remember seeing how many stars he had pop up and say, oh, okay, we can’t take this guy. He’s a two star. It’s truly evaluating his factors. His critical factors at his position. So moving up to us is quite different than moving up elsewhere, if that makes sense.

Q. You just touched on recruiting a bit, but Alabama has put together back to back good classes while you’ve been there. How would you best describe your role on that staff recruiting wise? Because you’ve been billed as a guy who kind of helps organize things top to bottom.
KEVIN STEELE: I’m at LSU now, so I don’t know anything about what’s going on there in terms of that. But I know what you’re saying. I know what you’re saying. The role was no different than Frank Wilson here or Ed Orgeron’s role. The thing about recruiting is it’s not one guy. Now the head coach has a critical factor in that, obviously. But as far as assistants go, it’s a team effort. It’s no different than Ed coaching the defensive line and he coaches the linebackers and Corey coaching the defensive backs. At the end of the day, we’re all involved in the defense. Recruiting is the same way. It’s multiple visits, different people connecting with different people, and it takes a complete family of coaches to create a family for them here and to recruit them here.
ED ORGERON OPENING STATEMENT:

“What a wonderful day. I want to thank Coach Miles and the LSU family for allowing me to be a coach mere. It’s a great opportunity for me and my family to come back home and represent the great coaches that have coached before us, the great players. To represent the great State of Louisiana and all the surrounding areas. I look forward to be able to coach these young men, to develop them and to the great defensive lines that we’re used to seeing at LSU, and also going out and recruiting the great State of Louisiana. I can’t wait to go out tomorrow and recruit with that big LSU on my chest. Man, I just can’t wait to do it.

I really appreciate Coach Miles. He’s been recruiting me for a while. And I knew we were going to end up together. Frank Wilson just had a great recruiting meeting. We’re set. I’m looking forward to working with Coach Steele, Corey Raymond, and all the coaches on the staff. I feel like I’m at home. And just what a great tradition. I remember passing across that bridge many a times, wanting to be in that stadium, and I can’t wait to be in that stadium and represent the State of Louisiana.

ED ORGERON Q&A:
Q. Coach, I know you’ve referenced the possibility of coming to LSU as a dream scenario. In what ways, now that you are here, has it come to fruition, a dream come true?
ED ORGERON: Well, it’s a place I always wanted to coach. You know, you grow up in Louisiana, south Louisiana watching LSU, I watched around the state with my cousins and watched all the great guys that played here, and just to be at Tiger Stadium.

I brought Ole Miss down here. I tried to beat Coach Miles; he beat me in overtime. It was a tough game. But it’s just a tremendous place to play. I wanted to go test my skills around the country, but I knew when I got older that I wanted to come back home and represent the State of Louisiana. My family lives in Mandeville, and just what a great opportunity for all of us. I’m very appreciative of it.

Q. Coach Orgeron, you are known as a recruiter. Kevin just touched on it. It’s a group effort, but so often you’ve been a lead dog. Now it seems you have a pack of dogs. Just what kind of asset would that be for you? And secondly, your coaching style is enthusiasm. It is energy. Do you feel that’s something the program can always use regardless of where it’s at?
ED ORGERON: Everybody has to coach their style and that’s the way I am. I’ve always been a part of a group that supplies some energy. I think the players are going to play the way you’re going to coach them, and we’re going to play with an exciting style, getting after the quarterback, having fun, being an attacking, aggressive, defensive line.

But I learned a long time ago if you want to be a great coach, you get great players. So I’m going out to get me some great players tomorrow. We have some great players here and along with being great recruiters and along with Coach Miles, I just think it’s makes us better, and it’s a collective effort to get a championship team at LSU.

Q. Coach, where does this LSU crop of defensive linemen compare to maybe the talent you’ve coached in the past? How do you assess what’s already on campus?
ED ORGERON: Well, it’s early. I don’t know. I haven’t worked with them yet. I know they have a talented group. But I’m here to develop them and get them better, and we’ll see.

Q. This has been a long process between the end of the season for LSU and this day. Were there a lot of ups and downs for you? Your name has been mentioned several times in this whole process. Emotionally, was there a lot of wondering what is going to happen?
ED ORGERON: Well, it’s a school I wanted to come to, no doubt. I was waiting for this opportunity. I didn’t know if it was going to happen. When it did happen, I took it. They asked me if I could be here at 9:00 o’clock in the morning, and I said, “I’ll be there.” My clothes were packed and I left this morning. Didn’t take me long to get here. Being off for 13 months, you learn a lot about yourself. You learn a lot about the game of football and how much you enjoy it, and how much you enjoy the grind, how much you enjoy the players, and how much you enjoy the recruiting, how much you missed Saturdays, how much you missed Sundays, how much you just miss totally being with a football team and being part of a collective effort.

Q. Coach Steele mentioned the text from one of his former players saying, “Coach Orgeron, great hire” and stuff like that. What do you think of the fanfare that you’re already getting? People are treating like this like a celebrity hire, like you’re a celebrity coming back on the staff.
ED ORGERON: Yeah, yeah, I got to produce (laughing). Listen, I came here to represent LSU and be part of a great staff. All I want to be is part of the team. One team, one heartbeat. I realize that the people of Louisiana are excited I’m here. I’m also excited there are some great coaches on this staff. I want to be part of a great team and a great winning effort.

Q. Coach, since you were off this year, did you have a chance to observe LSU this year during the season?
ED ORGERON: I watched every game, cheered every play, especially when they beat Ole Miss (laughter). Thank you, Coach.

Q. How different a guy or coach are you now than you were a long time ago at Ole Miss as a head coach?
ED ORGERON: I mentioned it before, I went to Ole Miss as a defensive line coach and coached those guys the way I coached Warren Sapp and Cortez Kennedy, and it kind of doesn’t work when you approach a quarterback and a wide receiver in the same manner. So I had five years to think about it. Really I looked at myself and how I needed a change. Those eight weeks that we had at the University of Southern California, that is the coach I became, a more mature coach. I found out the first thing you’ve got to do is let your players know you care about ’em. I said I’m going to treat my players like my sons. We’re going to be one heartbeat, one family, and the success that we have shows the type of coach I want to be. But I’m here to be a defensive line coach, going back to aggressive style and enthusiastic style and getting my guys ready to play. My greatest gift as an assistant coach is to get my guys to perform on Saturday, get them to go to class and do a great job of recruiting for Coach Miles.

Q. What’s that say about Les to get guys that are former head coaches, guys that have been in the league, whether it be Cam or you or Kevin?
ED ORGERON: Well, you know, having been a head coach, you know what you want out of your assistants. When you come back and be an assistant, you feel that you can do the things that the head coach wants you to do without him talking about it. I think coach has a very, very strong staff here, and I’m here to represent Coach Miles and his staff in the best way I can.

Q. Coach, in game responsibilities been set yet? Would Coach Steele be up in the box and you down on the field? Has that been discussed?
ED ORGERON: No, we haven’t discussed that yet, but hopefully I’m down on the field with enthusiasm and cheering the guys on. That’s what I’ve been a part of. You’ve got to be there with the defensive linemen every play, getting them riled up, getting them after the quarterback. So I have a good feeling that’s where I’m going to be, and hopefully that’s what I can do the best.

Q. Coach, it’s been said about you you’re not afraid to go anywhere to get any player. Can you talk about just your attitude in recruiting guys and just going anywhere to bring any guy into town?
ED ORGERON: You’ve just got to go in there with confidence, and you’ve got to believe in what you’re representing. I believe in LSU and I believe in the great system that they have here. I’ll be excited, and it comes from the heart. I’m not a big text guy, a big social media guy. But I go in there and find out who is the decision maker, get to know them and represent LSU, and being a good listener. I think being a recruiter is being a good listener. If you listen well enough, they’re going to tell you what they want, and you deliver that. One of the things here about LSU is you are going to get a great education. You are going to play in the SEC, play great football. Get a chance to be an NFL player, first round draft pick and get developed. The biggest thing is you can recruit five stars, four stars and three stars, it doesn’t matter how you get there. Once you get to campus, we have to develop them and be great players. I’ve had a chance to recruit several great defensive linemen. Not one has stepped off the bus, tore his shirt off with an “S” on his chest and started playing. It just doesn’t happen that way. So I’m looking forward to developing these great players.

Q. You’ve coached with Frank Wilson a couple times before and both of you are kind of considered cream of the crop when it comes to assistant recruiters. What have you talked about in terms of being together in Louisiana, like you said with LSU polo on?
ED ORGERON: Let me tell you, I went through a two hour meeting with Frank Wilson, that’s the best recruiting meeting I’ve ever seen. Detailed, orientated, very knowledgeable. I tried myself to come to Louisiana and beat Frank on three guys; there was no way it was going to happen. He’s a tremendous competitor. He gets the champion. He’s got a great smile about him, a great presence about him and he’s relentless. And he loves LSU, so I’m just looking forward to being part of him and working with him. I’m proud to say that he and I are very close.

HEAD COACH LES MILES Q&A:
Q. How does this strengthen your staff in terms of recruiting?
COACH MILES: I think it’s a much more enthusiastic I think there is a lot more energy in the room. I think there is a lot to do. I think there is an opportunity to certainly putting the defensive coordinator in place, the defensive line coach for the future, and both guys will go out and represent LSU extremely well. I think there’s a lot, how much, I don’t know, but I can tell you that these two hires will be met with great enthusiasm.

Q. How much was that a key there in getting a fiery guy like Ed on this staff to maybe rock your boat and kind of spring some life back into the program? Was it needed or was it just …
COACH MILES: Oh, bring some life back into the program? Give me a ball, I want to throw something at the guy. There are strengths and weaknesses of all of our coaching staff, and to bring on a guy that has great enthusiasm and energy, represents it in how he’ll coach. Represents it in really his every day. If you get a leader as an assistant coach, it’s always better. It affects it. He does more than his job. He just affects the room.

Q. Did you ever in the process consider adding an additional defensive coach through reconstruction of the staff, if you will, another guy on that side of the ball?
COACH MILES: We have four there now. I think that’s kind of how we’re going to go. No.

Q. What is the status of Brick Haley. You said you have four. Where is he at now?
COACH MILES: Brick, first of all, has done a great job. His contribution here is valued and respected.

Q. Is there any type of sales pitch for you? I guess if you’re in his shoes, what are the benefits of staying here and not taking an assistant or coordinator job?
COACH MILES: Well, certainly those are things that he would speak to, not I. But the good news is he’s in position to do the things that he wants to do.

Q. With both of your hires, do you expect to consider a louder practice field, much louder?
COACH MILES: Yeah, considering occasionally we play music, I would think that there is plenty of decibels out there. But I would have to say that there could be more noise.

Q. When did you finally go ahead, and Ed said he was told to get here at 9:00 a.m., when was that told to him and when did you kind of lock him up?
COACH MILES: I want to say it was around 5 o’clock yesterday. About 5 o’clock yesterday. I would have to say we were fortunate to have that in a position where we could offer him an opportunity and have him come down the road. He was not tied up with another team. I had chased Ed around several times for other openings, and Ed and I knew each other. We talked football. I mean, we were well ahead in the hiring there and same thing with Kevin. I kind of tried to get him on our campus except for an issue with a Clemson buyout; he had already been here for some time. But, again, that was fine with us.

Q. 5 o’clock yesterday is around the same time that Kevin Steele, the news was coming out about him. How were these hires interconnected? Were they connected at all? You’ll hire this guy, that means I’m going to hire that guy?
COACH MILES: I don’t know necessarily that they were connected in any way other than it was what was best for LSU. You know, we gave great thought to it. It took a long time, the process. And we’re, again, really think these hires are just what we need. We’re a team whose goals are these: To win the West, win the SEC, play in the tournament and win the National Championship. These are the kind of guys that are motivated and really have the energy to attain those goals.

Q. Coach, motivated and also great recruiters, of course, both of these, and you’ve put together some great recruiting classes recently. What do you think about the idea of a recruiting dream team?
COACH MILES: Oh, yeah, that’s a great idea. Heck yeah, as long we have basketball stuff to wear. We’ll see if Malone will come down from northern Louisiana and we’re all over it. Honestly, I think we’re much improved and our staff did a great job. I think here’s what happens in a staff: The assistant coaches all compete. They compete for recruits. They compete to make our team better. What Kevin Steele and Ed Orgeron will bring, these are the things that in that meeting that we were all in both guys shared the personal theory, and both guys shared the knowledge of what was the lay of the land of recruiting in a particular situation. It really was just what you wanted. Again, I think these guys will show the way.

Q. Is this the best group of recruiters you have in one staff?
COACH MILES: Yeah, I think these two guys really put us in a position to have just an excellent recruiting staff, and there is a lot to it. First of all, you have to watch the film and make the evaluation. That evaluation has to go through a staff. Then to get to know the people, that family, that mother and father, et cetera. So there is a great way that these guys have of doing that, and it would be sincere and real and it will be great for our staff.

Q. Coach Steele, what makes you think he’ll be a good game day defensive coordinator coach for you?
COACH MILES: He has really been an excellent coach every place he’s been. His wealth of knowledge, his ability to communicate the plan, his enjoyment for his players, the idea that there is a relationship there that is awfully important to him. And we’ll put him on the board, and he has some great answers. He understands football. Here’s a guy that’s coordinated and been the head coach and really been alongside some of the best defensive teams in the country for years for a career.