Lane Kiffin didn’t come to LSU to reinvent the wheel - he came to hit the ground running. And with the staff he’s assembled in Baton Rouge, it’s clear the Tigers are betting on continuity over overhaul. That approach might not be flashy, but it’s calculated - and it could be the fastest route back to SEC contention.
Kiffin brought eight assistants with him from Ole Miss, and that’s not just about familiarity - it’s about results. That group helped engineer one of the most efficient offenses in the SEC and played a major role in getting the Rebels to their first College Football Playoff. These aren’t just familiar faces; they’re proven commodities in Kiffin’s system.
At the heart of that offensive brain trust is Charlie Weis Jr., who returns as offensive coordinator. Weis has been Kiffin’s right-hand man on that side of the ball, and his presence ensures LSU’s offense won’t need a long runway to take off. Add in tight ends coach Joe Cox and running backs coach Kevin Smith - both of whom know the system inside and out - and LSU has a ready-made offensive nucleus that can hit the ground sprinting.
That kind of continuity matters. Kiffin isn’t walking into a rebuild - he’s stepping into a program with expectations of immediate success. Installing a complex offensive system takes time, but when your staff already speaks the same language, the learning curve shortens dramatically.
Outside of the Ole Miss pipeline, Kiffin made a few targeted hires that make sense for where LSU wants to go. Eric Wolford takes over the offensive line - a veteran coach with deep SEC roots and a reputation for building tough, physical fronts. On the defensive side, Sterling Lucas and Joe Houston come in to bolster the line and special teams, respectively - both bringing fresh energy and positional expertise.
Then there’s the decision to retain defensive coordinator Blake Baker. That’s a big one.
Baker’s return gives LSU some much-needed stability on that side of the ball, especially with position coaches Kevin Peoples (EDGE), Corey Raymond (corners), and Jake Olsen (safeties) expected to stay on board. That kind of continuity on defense can’t be overstated - especially in a conference where defensive breakdowns can cost you a season.
Here’s how Kiffin’s first LSU staff officially shapes up:
- Offensive Coordinator: Charlie Weis Jr.
- Quarterbacks: Dane Stevens
- Running Backs: Kevin Smith
- Wide Receivers: George McDonald
- Tight Ends: Joe Cox
- Offensive Line: Eric Wolford
- Defensive Coordinator: Blake Baker
- Defensive Line: Sterling Lucas
- EDGE: Kevin Peoples
- Linebackers: Chris Kiffin
- Cornerbacks: Corey Raymond
- Safeties: Jake Olsen
From a production standpoint, this staff checks nearly every box. Kiffin’s teams have always been fast, creative, and aggressive on offense - and there’s no reason to think that’ll change in Baton Rouge.
He’s already made waves on the recruiting trail, too. Fourteen commitments in just a few days and a class that finished 13th nationally despite the late start?
That’s not just momentum - that’s a statement.
The early returns feel familiar if you followed his run at Ole Miss, where he went 55-19 and elevated the program to heights it hadn’t seen in decades. But LSU isn’t Ole Miss.
In Baton Rouge, the bar isn’t just winning - it’s winning big. Titles, not just 10-win seasons, are the standard.
And that’s where the lingering question comes in.
For all the familiarity and cohesion, this staff doesn’t feature a true outsider with national championship credentials. There’s no veteran assistant who’s been through the fire of a title run - no coach who’s stood on the biggest stage and knows what it takes to finish the job. It’s a tight-knit group, but perhaps a little too insulated for a program with LSU’s ambitions.
Kiffin made a bold move by leaving Oxford. He chose upside over comfort, betting on his system and the people who helped build it. Now, he’s doubled down on that bet by surrounding himself with coaches who know how to run his playbook to perfection.
The question isn’t whether this staff can win. The question is whether it can win big enough - in a place where “good” isn’t good enough and where the expectation is always a seat at the championship table.
Kiffin’s process is clear. Whether it needs one more piece to deliver on LSU’s lofty goals - that’s what we’re about to find out.