LSU is moving quickly to add a familiar name to Lane Kiffin’s staff, with former Baylor head coach Dave Aranda in line for an analyst role, according to Matt Zenitz of CBS Sports.
The timing matters. LSU is getting ready for a major SEC showdown with Alabama on Saturday, a game that could shape the College Football Playoff picture for both teams. While that spotlight is on the field, the Tigers are also working behind the scenes to strengthen the coaching staff before kickoff.
Aranda is no stranger to Baton Rouge. He served as LSU’s defensive coordinator from 2016-19, giving the program an established connection to a coach who already knows the place and the people. That familiarity appears to be a big part of why LSU is interested now.
Baylor let Aranda go earlier this season after nearly seven years at the helm. The Bears were 4-3 at the time, but the program opted to go in another direction after he fell short of the standard Baylor had set in the early 2010s.
Zenitz reported that Aranda is already in Baton Rouge as LSU works to make the hire official. It’s a notable move, especially considering how rarely a Power 4 head coach lands another job in the same season he’s dismissed. In this case, it also shows how highly Aranda is regarded across college football if he’s back in position to join a new staff less than a month after leaving Waco.
This is a breaking news article that will be updated accordingly.
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