Kevin Smith Joins Lane Kiffin at LSU as Ole Miss Staff Exodus Continues
The coaching carousel is spinning fast in the SEC, and Kevin Smith is the latest name to jump aboard. The veteran running backs coach is expected to join Lane Kiffin at LSU, continuing a wave of staff movement following Kiffin’s departure from Ole Miss.
Smith’s move comes just one day after Ole Miss punched its ticket to the Sugar Bowl with a commanding 41-10 win over Tulane in the first round of the College Football Playoff. That win, led by newly promoted head coach Pete Golding, was a statement in itself. But behind the scenes, the Rebels are undergoing a major transition - and Smith’s exit is a key piece of that puzzle.
Smith, who has spent the last five seasons in Oxford, has built a reputation as one of the more respected running backs coaches in the college game. He’s played a key role in developing standout talents like Kewan Lacy, who emerged as a force for the Rebels this season, and Quinshon Judkins, now making plays in the NFL with the Cleveland Browns.
LSU made Smith’s arrival all but official with a video posted on social media showing him entering the Tigers’ facility on Dec. 21 - a clear sign of what’s to come. For Kiffin, it’s a familiar reunion. Smith previously worked under him at FAU and briefly at Miami, and now they’ll link up again in Baton Rouge.
But Smith isn’t the only Ole Miss assistant making the move. Offensive coordinator Charlie Weis Jr., who helped guide the Rebels’ offense through their 12-1 season, is also expected to follow Kiffin. That’s a significant shift for a unit that’s been among the most explosive in the SEC.
The exodus doesn’t stop there. Tight ends coach Joe Cox, wide receivers coach George McDonald, assistant quarterbacks coach Dane Stevens, and slot receivers coach Sawyer Jordan are all reportedly headed to LSU as well. It’s a sweeping overhaul that signals Kiffin is bringing much of his Oxford brain trust with him as he begins his next chapter.
For Smith, the move is another step in a coaching journey that’s been shaped by both his playing days and his time on the sidelines. As a former UCF star, he still holds the FBS single-season record for carries (450) and had 13 games with over 100 rushing yards in 2007 - a testament to his toughness and work ethic, traits that have translated into his coaching style.
Now, he’ll be tasked with helping LSU build a ground game that can compete at the highest level of college football. And with Kiffin assembling a familiar crew around him, the Tigers are wasting no time laying the foundation for what they hope is a championship-caliber program.
Meanwhile, Ole Miss turns the page. With Golding at the helm and a Sugar Bowl showdown on the horizon, the Rebels are looking to steady the ship amid the coaching shakeup. But make no mistake - the SEC just got a little more interesting with Smith and company heading to Baton Rouge.