LSU head coach Lane Kiffin is wasting no time putting his stamp on the Tigers’ staff, and he’s doing it by sticking with what he knows. The latest move? Bringing longtime ally Kevin Smith with him from Ole Miss to take over as LSU’s running backs coach - a hire that’s both strategic and significant.
Smith, who’s worked under Kiffin at multiple stops, has agreed to a deal that will reportedly make him one of the highest-paid running backs coaches in the country, earning close to $1 million annually. That number alone tells you how much Kiffin values what Smith brings to the table - and it’s not just loyalty. It’s production.
During his time in Oxford, Smith built a reputation as a sharp evaluator and developer of talent. He played a key role in the emergence of standout backs like Quinshon Judkins and Kewan Lacy - two players who didn’t just flash potential, but delivered consistently at a high level in the SEC. Judkins, in particular, became one of the most talked-about backs in the country under Smith’s guidance, combining vision, power, and efficiency in a way that made Ole Miss’ ground game a legitimate threat week in and week out.
Smith’s coaching timeline with Kiffin is well-established. He served as the Rebels’ running backs coach from 2020 through 2021, took a brief detour to Miami in 2022, and returned to Oxford for the 2023 season. That continuity and familiarity with Kiffin’s system make him an ideal fit as LSU looks to hit the ground running in a new era under its new head coach.
But even with his LSU future set, Smith isn’t packing his bags just yet. Like other Ole Miss assistants expected to follow Kiffin to Baton Rouge, Smith is staying on with the Rebels through the remainder of their College Football Playoff run. That includes a marquee Sugar Bowl matchup against Georgia on January 1 - a game that carries semifinal implications and could be the last ride for this current Ole Miss staff.
Meanwhile, LSU is gearing up for a pivotal stretch of its own. With the transfer portal officially opening on January 2, the Tigers are positioning themselves to make a strong push in both recruiting and roster building. Having a proven developer like Smith in place is a major asset - especially at a position where immediate impact talent can change the trajectory of a season.
Bottom line: LSU isn’t just adding a running backs coach. They’re bringing in a proven difference-maker with a track record of maximizing talent. And in today’s college football landscape, that kind of hire can pay dividends fast.