Two weeks ago, former LSU head coach Ed Orgeron said that he would like to coach again. It wasn’t a coincidence that Power 4 jobs were beginning to open at the time and earlier than normal.
At the time, UCLA, Virginia Tech, Arkansas, and Oklahoma State were open. Since then, Penn State opened up on Sunday after the school fired James Franklin after three straight losses. One of those losses was to UCLA after DeShaun Foster was fired. Also on Sunday, Oregon State opened after they parted ways with Trent Bray after an 0-7 start and blowout loss at home to Wake Forest.
There are likely going to be more jobs opening up and some high-profile ones. Florida could open up as soon as this weekend after their game against Mississippi State. If Orgeron is serious about getting back into coaching, there will be no shortage of choices. Thursday, he was linked to one of the recent openings, and it is one that certainly is an eye-opener.
Ed Orgeron is Reportedly Interested in the Oregon State Job
When you look at the current openings and the potential openings, there are going to be some desirable jobs. According to Pete Nakos of On3, Orgeron is interested in the Oregon State job.
“A source told On3 this weekend that former LSU coach Ed Orgeron is interested in the job, having had some communication with individuals around Oregon State. Orgeron has publicly said he wants to get back into coaching, and he’s open to moving to the West Coast,” Nakos wrote.
Things under Bray went south and went south fast. The Beavers were 5-14 under him, and since the Pac-12 split and everyone went their separate ways. Bray was elevated to head coach after Jonathan Smith left for Michigan State. Since Smith left and the PAC-12 fell apart, there is a clear vision for Oregon State after the Big Ten and Big 12 passed on adding them. That has not made the job a desirable one this coaching cycle, according to Nakos.
“Five years ago, before the old Pac-12 fell apart, Oregon State would have been considered an attractive opening in this coaching carousel. Fast forward, and the Beavers are now 5-14 since the Pac-12 split. Sources have told On3 that Glenn Sugiyama, managing partner of the DHR International search firm, has been brought on to assist the search.
“Expect Oregon State to take a couple of big swings with Sugiyama running the search. He ran the search to hire Bray. Oregon State athletic director Scott Barnes is also expected to form a hiring committee.”
Ed Orgeron Having Interest in Oregon State is Very Surprising
When Orgeron told Jacques Doucet of WAFB-TV earlier this month that he wanted to get back into coaching. Not many people envisioned Oregon State being in the mix.
“All depends what the best thing available is, but I’m ready to coach again,” said Orgeron. “I left a little bit of meat on the bone. I’m ready to go.”
There are going to be more jobs to open up, and if Orgeron, at 64 years old, wants to get back into coaching after being out since 2021, then he’ll have his fair share of options. He won a National Championship at LSU and had success at Ole Miss, but seeing him take over a massive rebuilding project in Corvallis would be stunning.
Like Heavy Sports’s content? Be sure to follow us.
This article was originally published on Heavy Sports
The post Former National Championship-Winning Coach Interested in Oregon State Opening appeared first on Heavy Sports.