Pac-12’s top recruiter credits Coach O as the reason he jumped from USC to LSU
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LSU introduced its two newest coaches Thursday as running backs coach and recruiting coordinator Tommie Robinson joins the Tigers from USC and receivers coach, and New Orleans native, Mickey Joseph comes over from Louisiana Tech.
During his introduction of Robinson, LSU head coach Ed Orgeron described his new assistant coach as the “best running backs coach in the country” and noted his status as an elite recruiter – Robinson was recently named Pac-12 Recruiter of the Year and the nation’s No. 2 overall recruiter following the end of the 2017 recruiting cycle.
Robinson was the lead recruiter of five-star running back Stephen Carr and four-stars Austin Jackson, Bubba Bolden and Levi Jones to USC, as well as four-star running back Chris Warren to Texas.
An assistant leaving one elite program for another, without having any ties to the area or the program, may seem like a head-scratcher to some. According to Robinson, the deciding factor in his decision was Orgeron.
“It’s truly an honor for me to get the opportunity to work with Coach Ed Orgeron,” Robinson said. “He’s an outstanding football coach, leader of men and he’s a good man.
“The sell was Coach O. He’s giving me the opportunity to be an assistant head coach and recruiting coordinator, something I want to do and look forward to doing… At the end of the day, it was always about him. He’s a true friend of mine.
“I’ve been coaching for almost 32 years and in 2013, I had the most fun I’ve ever had coaching football. That was with Coach Orgeron. I can sit here and tell you a whole lot of things, but at the end of the day, the sell was Coach Orgeron.”
While LSU has a ton to offer in order to lure assistant coaches from around the nation, working for a coach that’s both fun and respected could be the ultimate trump card working in the school’s favor under Orgeron. LSU has never shied away from paying top dollar to assistants, which of course helps, but offering a fun and successful working environment is sure to pay dividends for years to come, as well.
When Coach O landed the LSU job on a full-time basis back in November, he promised to assemble the best coaching staff in the country. So far, it looks like he’s held true to his word.
A graduate of the University of Tennessee, Michael Wayne Bratton oversees the news coverage for Saturday Down South. Michael previously worked for FOX Sports and NFL.com
