Report: Longtime LSU assistant has received 'very strong offer' to join Steve Sarkisian's Texas staff
There’s currently only one defensive assistant on Ed Orgeron’s coaching staff at LSU for 2021. But it’s possible he also may not be with the Tigers for much longer.
According to Doug Samuels of Football Scoop, LSU cornerbacks coach/recruiting coordinator Corey Raymond has received a “very strong offer” to join Steve Sarkisian’s staff at Texas. Sarkisian, who spent the past two seasons as Alabama’s offensive coordinator, was hired to be the Longhorns’ new head coach last weekend.
Raymond has a long history at LSU. He played for the Tigers from 1987-91, before going on to have a six-year career in the NFL. His first college coaching job was at LSU as an intern in 2006, then he served as the team’s assistant strength and conditioning coach from 2007-08.
After spending two seasons at Utah State and one at Nebraska, Raymond rejoined LSU’s staff as the defensive backs coach/assistant head coach in 2012, a position he held until 2017. He then served as the cornerbacks coach from 2017-19, before adding recruiting coordinator to his title in 2020.
The Tigers’ defensive staff is already getting an overhaul, as they’re currently seeking a replacement for defensive coordinator Bo Pelini, who they parted ways with after the season. It’s also been reported that defensive line coach Bill Johnson is set to retire and safeties coach Bill Busch won’t return in 2021.
According to Samuels, Orgeron was set to meet with Cincinnati defensive coordinator Marcus Freeman on Thursday to discuss LSU’s defensive coordinator opening, after the Tigers head coach had previously stated that Freeman was his primary target.
Raymond isn’t the first SEC assistant to be targeted by Sarkisian, as it was previously reported that Ole Miss assistant Blake Gideon has been hired to join Texas’ staff. And it’s been suggested that Sarkisian could bring some Alabama staffers with him to the Longhorns.