This fall’s new LSU football coaching hires bring young, energetic styles to the team

The LSU football team is just one season removed from its most historic run to date, but to most Tiger fans around town, it feels much, much longer.

Last season’s COVID-riddled 5-5 finish made for a rather draining season that was full of frustrating finishes, dismal defensive efforts and injuries and opt-outs galore.

Even though first-year defensive coordinator Daronte Jones hasn’t called a defense in over a decade, his young, innovative mind has brought new excitement to the team. Photo by Beau Brune / Courtesy LSU Athletics

LSU needed a boost of energy and enthusiasm, and it seems to have gotten it from the wave of young coaches Orgeron has tapped to replace a handful of the aging assistants from a year ago.

“We’re building a championship program, but while we build it, we’ve got to go through the lows,” Orgeron tells 225. “We’ve got to develop grit, and we’ve got to develop toughness. I sat in all the meetings the last couple years, and I felt we had to have a better personal relationship with our players.”

So Orgeron took it upon himself to make some changes.

“We’ve had some great teams, but when you go to a spread offense and defending the spread, the younger (coaches) know how to do it,” Orgeron tells 225.

Passing game coordinator D.J. Mangas, who was the quarterbacks coach for LSU’s national title team in 2019, is back to try and recreate the successes from that historic year. Photo by: MG Miller / courtesy LSU athletics

Jake Peetz will bring his modern spread offense to LSU as he takes over as offensive coordinator after a year of working in the NFL under former play caller Joe Brady.
Photo by: Chris Parent / courtesy LSU athletics

The 38-year-old Jake Peetz will take the place of retiring 62-year-old offensive coordinator Steve Ensminger. New passing game coordinator D.J. Mangas (31) replaces Scott Linehan (57).

Former defensive coordinator Bo Pelini (53) is out, while Daronte Jones (42) steps in. And 66-year-old Bill Johnson makes way for new defensive line coach Andre Carter (42).

“We cannot have the mistakes we made on defense last year. That’s not LSU football, which is why I made a change,” Orgeron says. “The younger guys are going to obviously relate better to the players, because they’re close to their age. I love their energy. I’m ready to get to work in camp and see what type of team we can be.”

All eyes will be on Orgeron and his new-look team, but he won’t be alone.

Mulkey and Johnson will most certainly feel the pressure to bring more of the same successes to their new programs and put LSU back in the national spotlight.

This article was originally published in the Tiger Pride 2021 issue of 225 magazine.