The LSU Tigers are one of two Power 5 Conference schools (Purdue) that have already fired the head coach, and will be perhaps the premier opening in the country when all is said and done. Interim head coach Ed Orgeron has gone 4-2 (including 3-2 in SEC play) since taking over for Les Miles, which has put him in the mix for the permanent job.
However, Orgeron is not a top-tier candidate for the Tigers. They love the way he was been able to motivate and rally his players, and he has a proven track record as an excellent recruiter, but Saturday's loss to Florida may have cost him the job. LSU plans to pursue many of the top names in the coaching world, meaning this could be a long search. Here are the 10 coaches that LSU will target once the season ends:
10) Jim Mora, head coach, LSU
Mora's father coached the New Orleans Saints to their first-ever playoff berth, and Jim Jr. spent five years with the Saints as an assistant. He knows the area well. He's also a proven recruiter with a wealth of both NFL and college experience, along with a track record for cultivating talent while dealing with the pressures of a competitive recruiting environment. UCLA's proximity to marketing powerhouse USC has made Mora's job tough, but he's done a fantastic job with what he has and could be ready to make the leap to an SEC school.
9) Larry Fedora, head coach, North Carolina
Fedora's name has been mentioned with every job opening this offseason due to his success at North Carolina. After leading the Heels to an 11-3 record last year, he has them at 7-3 this year and among the better teams in the country. Though he doesn't have any ties to LSU, he has spent time in the SEC as an assistant at Florida from 2002-2004.
8) Dan Mullen, head coach, Mississippi State
Mullen showed what he can do by taking Mississippi State to the No. 1 ranking in the country for most of the 2014 season, but it appears that he's taken the Bulldogs has far as he can take them and could be looking to a job upgrade. If he was able to make the Bulldogs one of the best teams in the country, imagine what he can do with everything LSU has to offer.
7) Lane Kiffin, offensive coordinator, Alabama
Yes, this may seem like a horrible idea, but Kiffin has rehabbed his image enough under Nick Saban for him to get another head coaching job. Texas would undoubtedly quiz him on what he learned under Saban and wouldn't give him a long-term deal. It would be a gamble, but someone is going to take it. Remember, Kiffin is still young (41) and one of the best coordinators in the country.
6) Bobby Petrino, head coach, Louisville
This is another risky gamble that may cause you to shake your head, but like Kiffin, Petrino has rehabbed his image at Louisville by winning. In just his third year since returning to the Cardinals, he has them as a playoff contender. He also has shown he can have success in the SEC, and offense definitely would not be a problem.
5) Ed Orgeron, interim head coach, LSU
Orgeron is one of the best recruiters going in the country, and he's proven that time and time again over stints at Miami, USC, and now at LSU. A Louisiana native, Orgeron has a finger on the pulse of the area and a program. He has proven - through five games - that the program is in good hands under his leadership. Well deserving of another head coaching shot, Orgeron has the contacts and the drive to make it work in Baton Rouge.
4) Greg Schiano, defensive coordinator, Ohio State
Schiano made his name as head coach of Rutgers, bringing them to national dominance last decade, before a stint with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers didn't end well. He's now serving as the defensive coordinator at Ohio State, where he has eight new starters - yet has them as one of the country's best units. He's not flashy, but Schiano would be a quality hire.
3) P.J. Fleck, head coach, Western Michigan
Fleck is one of the rising stars in the coaching world, taking the Broncos from a 1-11 team in 2013, his first year on the job, to 10-0 (with road wins over Northwestern and Illinois) and the No. 14 ranking in the AP Poll this year. At just 35 years old, he could bring a young energy to a LSU program that's looking for a spark.
2) Tom Herman, head coach, Houston
Herman's star has dimmed after Houston lost to both Navy and SMU, but he is still the top candidate for every opening and is the top choice here. LSU would obviously be a huge step up in pedigree, and the Cougars won't be able to match the kind of money the Tigers will be able to throw at him. He's the best young coach in the sport, making him an easy target for LSU. However, there are reports that Texas is his top choice over LSU.
1) Jimbo Fisher, head coach, Florida State
Fisher coached at LSU from 2000-06 in quarterbacks coach and offensive coordinator roles, playing an integral role at the end of the Nick Saban era and the beginning of Les Miles' tenure in Baton Rouge. If Fisher is going to leave Florida State, it'll be for a high-profile SEC gig. In fact, he and LSU were reportedly in contract negotiations last fall before LSU ultimately decided to keep Miles. It seems like Fisher will stay at Florida State, but the two sides will likely at least have a conversation when the regular season ends. It's his job if he wants it.
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