LSU head coach Lane Kiffin is bringing another key assistant coach from his Ole Miss staff to Baton Rouge.
Ole Miss running backs coach Kevin Smith has finalized a deal to join LSU in that same role, according to a report. That’s per CBS Sports’ Matt Zenitz, who adds that Smith will earn “close” to $1 million per season and is expected to be among the nation’s highest-paid running backs coaches.
Smith was shown in a video posted by LSU on Sunday with other soon-to-be-ex Ole Miss assistant coaches.
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Smith has been the running backs coach at Ole Miss under Kiffin since the start of the 2023 season. He also worked in that role from 2020-21. In 2022, Smith was the running backs coach at Miami. As Zenitz noted, Smith helped identify and develop star running backs in Oxford such as Quinshon Judkins and Kewan Lacy.
Like other Ole Miss assistant coaches who have plans to join Kiffin’s staff in Baton Rouge, Smith is expected to remain with Ole Miss through the end of its run in the College Football Playoff. The Rebels will face Georgia in the Sugar Bowl on Jan. 1 with a spot in the semifinals on the line.
As for LSU, the Tigers are preparing for the official opening of the transfer portal on Jan. 2.
Spenser is a news editor for Saturday Down South and covers college football across all Saturday Football brands.
