# BREAKING NEWS: “I Am Coming Back to Revive the Team and See Us Win Again,” Says Former Head Coach Edward James Orgeron Jr as He Returns to the LSU Tigers
**By: Clayton M. Rivers | June 19, 2025 | Baton Rouge, LA**
In an announcement that has rocked the world of college football and sent shockwaves through the SEC, Edward James Orgeron Jr.—affectionately known to fans and players simply as “Coach O”—has officially returned as head coach of the LSU Tigers.
“I am coming back to revive the team and see us win again,” said Orgeron, his familiar gravelly voice booming with passion during a press conference held inside Tiger Stadium. “This is my home. This is family. And I ain’t done yet.”
Coach O, who famously led LSU to a national championship in the undefeated 2019 season, steps back into the role nearly four years after stepping down. His return marks the beginning of a new era for a program struggling to reclaim its once-dominant status.
## The Shifting Winds at LSU
LSU has had a turbulent run since their 2019 title. While expectations soared following their national championship, the seasons that followed were marred by inconsistency, off-field distractions, coaching turnovers, and underwhelming recruiting classes.
After Orgeron and LSU mutually agreed to part ways at the end of the 2021 season, the program saw the hiring of high-profile head coach Brian Kelly, whose tenure started with promise but eventually faltered. Despite initial flashes of success, Kelly’s inability to maintain the elite culture and performance that LSU fans had grown accustomed to led to increasing criticism, culminating in a disappointing 2024 season that ended with a 6-6 record and a loss in the Texas Bowl.
That mediocrity proved to be the final straw.
On June 15, 2025, LSU Athletic Director Scott Woodward announced that the university had parted ways with Kelly and was “exploring leadership that reflects the spirit, culture, and expectations of LSU football.”
Four days later, Coach O walked back through the gates.
## The Comeback Nobody Saw Coming
“I wasn’t looking for a job,” Orgeron admitted during the press conference, clad in a sharp purple suit and a gold tie. “But when Scott called me, I didn’t hesitate. My heart’s never left Baton Rouge.”
Sources close to the athletic department revealed that initial conversations with Orgeron began privately weeks before Kelly’s departure, as key boosters began pushing for a return to the program’s grassroots identity—gritty, aggressive, and unapologetically Southern. In that vision, only one man fit the bill.
At 63, Orgeron still commands the same charisma and magnetic presence that endeared him to the LSU faithful. More importantly, he brings back a philosophy and toughness that Tiger fans feel has been missing: a physical brand of football, an obsession with the trenches, and a deep connection to Louisiana culture.
## “This Is Personal”
“I’m not just back to coach football games,” Orgeron said, pausing before thumping his chest. “I’m back to fix this, to bring back what we lost—swagger, pride, toughness, and belief.”
Orgeron spoke emotionally about his roots, growing up in Larose, Louisiana, and what the program means to working-class families across the state. “This team represents the people of Louisiana—the fishermen, the teachers, the cooks, the welders. This ain’t just football. It’s who we are.”
## What This Means for LSU
Though Orgeron’s return evokes nostalgia and hope, it also raises questions.
What kind of staff will he assemble? Can he recruit at an elite level again? Will his old-school methods thrive in the NIL and transfer portal era?
According to insiders, Orgeron is well aware of the changing landscape. In fact, he reportedly spent the past two years studying modern program management, visiting programs like Georgia and Michigan, and building connections with high school and JUCO coaches nationwide.
“He’s not the same coach from 2016 or even 2019,” said former LSU quarterback Myles Brennan, now a staff advisor. “He’s evolved, and he’s ready for this moment.”
### Key Staff Rumors
Early reports indicate that Orgeron is targeting several high-profile assistants, including:
* **Dave Aranda** – Defensive mastermind and current Baylor head coach, rumored to be weighing a return to Baton Rouge as Defensive Coordinator.
* **Joe Brady** – The architect of the 2019 passing attack, currently in the NFL, has been approached to rejoin as Offensive Coordinator.
* **Kevin Faulk** – Former LSU great, beloved in the locker room and community, rumored to return in a player development role.
“We’re gonna bring in great men,” Orgeron said. “Teachers. Mentors. Tigers through and through.”
## A Message to Recruits
Within an hour of the announcement, social media lit up with reactions from high school recruits across Louisiana and the Gulf South. One five-star linebacker tweeted, “Coach O back? Say less. #GeauxTigers.”
A Baton Rouge-based recruiting analyst told us, “Orgeron’s name still carries enormous weight, especially with kids from Louisiana and the Deep South. He’s raw, real, and relatable. Kids love that.”
In a direct appeal, Orgeron said: “To every recruit out there—if you want to play in front of 100,000 people, if you want to be part of something bigger than yourself, if you want to make your family proud, come to LSU. Come be a Tiger.”
## The Fans React
Outside Tiger Stadium, chants of “Geaux Coach O!” erupted even before the press conference ended. By sundown, the LSU campus had the feel of a Saturday in October.
“I feel like we got our soul back,” said 48-year-old lifelong fan Tanya Delacroix. “Coach O bleeds purple and gold. This ain’t just a comeback—it’s a resurrection.”
## A Championship Legacy—and a Chance at Redemption
Orgeron’s 2019 team, led by Joe Burrow, Ja’Marr Chase, and Justin Jefferson, is widely regarded as one of the greatest college football teams of all time. But critics point out that Coach O struggled to replicate that success in subsequent seasons, raising doubts about whether lightning can strike twice.
Orgeron doesn’t shy away from that challenge.
“Look, 2019 was magical. But we ain’t living in the past. We’re building a new story now. This team is gonna fight like Tigers—and we’re gonna win like Tigers.”
## Timeline Moving Forward
* **Fall Camp Begins**: August 2, 2025
* **Season Opener**: August 31, 2025 vs. Texas Longhorns at Tiger Stadium
* **Spring Game 2026**: Will feature alumni celebration for the 2019 team
* **Recruiting Focus**: Retain current commits, flip key regional prospects
## What They’re Saying
### Joe Burrow (via Twitter):
> “Coach O back in Baton Rouge? Man, I might have to suit up one more time. Just kidding—kinda. Love it. Geaux Tigers forever.”
### Booger McFarland (ESPN Analyst):
> “This is a bold move, but it’s the right one. LSU doesn’t need corporate polish. They need grit. Coach O brings that grit.”
### Paul Finebaum (SEC Network):
> “It’s either going to be the greatest comeback story in college football—or a beautiful disaster. Either way, I’m watching.”
## Final Thoughts
In a college football world increasingly dominated by cold calculations, analytics, and corporate maneuvering, LSU has decided to go with heart. They’ve brought back the coach who never stopped believing in this team, this school, and this state.
“I ain’t coming back to collect a paycheck,” Orgeron declared. “I’m coming back to win championships, raise young men, and bring glory back to Death Valley. This is my destiny. This is my home.”
Only time will tell how this next chapter unfolds. But one thing is clear: Tiger Nation believes again.
