LSU Football's Top Assistant Coach's Future on Lane Kiffin's Staff in Question

LSU Tigers head coach Lane Kiffin was formally introduced as the new shot-caller in Baton Rouge on Monday afternoon after taking the podium at Tiger Stadium.

In an unprecedented move, Kiffin elected to depart No. 7 Ole Miss (11-1, 7-1 SEC) amid a College Football Playoff run to take the gig in the Bayou State.

“Yeah, I think that, you know, it was a really difficult decision and, when you’re in those difficult decisions and you’re torn, very torn, back and forth, back and forth and there’s multiple options, you know? "There were really, you know, four different places, you know, that we had to think about in this,” said Kiffin.

“And, I just talked to them, and it really was apparent too. I felt like everybody I talked to outside of the state that I was in all basically said the same thing, okay. They all said, man, you are going to regret it if you don’t take the shot and you don’t go to LSU.

"It’s the best job in America with the best resources, and to win it. And, it’s obviously been done here before by a number of people.”

LSU Tigers Football. — Dec 1, 2025; Baton Rouge, LA, USA; LSU president Wade Rousse, left, LSU new head coach Lane Kiffin and LSU athletic director Verge Ausberry stand together at South Stadium Club at Tiger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matthew Hinton-Imagn Images | Matthew Hinton-Imagn Images

Kiffin has since started assembling his coaching staff in Baton Rouge with over a handful of assistants signing term sheets with the program on Monday after making the move from Ole Miss to LSU.

Charlie Weis Jr: Offfensive Coordinator - Weis has joined Kiffin in Baton Rouge after hopping on the flight departing Oxford on Sunday evening. The offensive mastermind has been with Kiffin for years where he gives LSU an experienced play-caller.

"Weis signed a three-year deal worth $6 million. His annual salary starts at $1.9 million, which would have made him one of the top-10 highest-paid assistants in the country this year, and increases annually over the course of the contract," The Advocate wrote.

Joe Cox: Co-offensive Coordinator, Tight Ends Coach - Cox joined Kiffin's staff in Oxford in 2024 where he took on the role as the team’s tight ends coach and co-offensive coordinator. The 39-year-old previously worked as the tight ends coach at Alabama in 2022.

George McDonald: Wide Receivers Coach - McDonald recently wrapped up his second season at Ole Miss after spending the previous three as the assistant head coach and receivers coach at Illinois. Now, he's Baton Rouge bound to join Kiffin and Co.

Nick Savage: Head Strength Coach - Savage is also joining Kiffin at LSU where he has experience in the SEC with both Ole Miss and the Florida Gators.

- Mike Williams: Senior Director of Player Personnel
- Sawyer Jordan: Analyst, Inside Receivers Coach

"All of them are on two-year agreements except Jordan, an analyst at Ole Miss this fall who has a one-year deal. Cox will make $800,000 per year, while Savage and McDonald both make an average of $825,000 per year," The Advocate wrote.

On Monday, CBS Sports' Matt Zenitz reported that Kiffin plans to retain LSU defensive coordinator Blake Baker amid coaching changes being made in Baton Rouge.

Baker joined the staff in Baton Rouge two years ago where he elevated a defense that was one of the worst in LSU history and helped build it into the No. 16 scoring defense in 2025.

Across the 2025 season under Baker's watch, LSU brought the Tigers into the Top-25 of total defense while also sitting among also among the top-15 in turnovers gained with 21 in total over 12 games this fall.

Lane Kiffin plans to keep Blake Baker as LSU’s defensive coordinator, sources tell @CBSSports.

Has LSU ranked 15th nationally in scoring defense this year, just two years after the Tigers ranked 81st in that category prior to him being hired. https://t.co/Hnyuu9BvQr pic.twitter.com/UNWJUTYzXc
— Matt Zenitz (@mzenitz) December 1, 2025

"I think our trust in Coach Baker, our buy-in to what he's teaching us and what he's preaching to us. He brings energy every single day, so it's hard not to being energy when the boss man is bringing it," LSU linebacker Whit Weeks said this season of what Baker provides the Tigers.

Baker has earned the trust of the LSU locker room with the proof being in the product across the 2025 season.

Sources tell me LSU DC Blake Baker is in New Orleans today interviewing for the Tulane head coaching vacancy. https://t.co/qwS5JzH21A
— Garland Gillen (@garlandgillen) December 1, 2025

Fast forward to Monday afternoon and Baker was reportedly in New Orleans (La.) interviewing for the Tulane Green Wave head coaching job amid Jon Sumrall's departure for the Florida Gators.

Now, his future in Baton Rouge could be in jeopardy if Baker is officially offered the Tulane job - his alma mater where he played his college ball.

More LSU News:

LSU Football Hires Elite Offensive Coordinator, Five Assistant to Lane Kiffin's Staff

Three Takeaways From Lane Kiffin's Introductory Press Conference With LSU Football

Lane Kiffin Reveals How Nick Saban, Pete Carroll Influenced Decision to LSU Football

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