LSU coaching search: Paul Finebaum has heard 2 names for Tigers job
By SDS Staff
Published:
The LSU coaching search is still ongoing, and the last of the best 3 open jobs has yet to be filled. Now, the Tigers have to contend with Oklahoma’s vacancy, too.
On Sunday, USC hired Lincoln Riley, and Florida hired Billy Napier. Now, LSU must make a hire quickly. The Tigers apparently put all of their eggs in one basket with Riley, and the former Oklahoma coach shot those rumors down Saturday night with an emphatic statement. Then overnight, USC was able to finalize a deal with Riley that shocked the country.
Meanwhile, in Baton Rouge, the search is still on for the next head coach, and athletic director Scott Woodward has his work cut out for him.
Paul Finebaum weighed in on LSU’s coaching search Sunday with ESPN’s Matt Barrie, and he’s heard 2 names for the job.
“Scott Woodward is on the clock right now because he needs a coach, and he needs one within 24 hours,” Finebaum said Sunday on the ESPN podcast. “You can’t waste much time.
“You still hear Dave Aranda’s name, even though he’s reportedly getting a new deal, who isn’t getting a new deal, and beyond that I don’t know if there’s a surprise, because you don’t know if he can go back to someone who maybe we thought was off the board,” Finebaum said. “But I thought it was interesting … Mark Stoops’ name was out there as well, but with all due respect to Mark Stoops, I don’t think that’s the whale that we all gave Scott Woodward credit for reeling in.”
Stoops has reportedly been the “fallback plan” at LSU, but Stoops — if he were to be offered the LSU job — might even stay at Kentucky. Aranda, the former LSU defensive coordinator, has reportedly had a new deal in the works. Iowa State coach Matt Campbell could also be on the board.
Where will LSU’s coaching search turn?
Saturday Down South reports and comments on the news around the Southeastern Conference as well as larger college football topics.
