Sports reporter Glen Guilbeau with Outkick.com reports Baylor Head Coach Dave Aranda, Louisiana’s Billy Napier, and Iowa State’s Matt Campbell are the three finalists to replace Ed Orgeron as LSU’s head coach. Guilbeau says Aranda, who spent four years as LSU’s defensive coordinator, is the front-runner.
“What Scott Woodward does like about Dave Aranda from what I’ve been told is that he’s squeaky clean as far as the investigations and the Title IX issues at LSU that’s what (LSU Athletics Director Scott) Woodward wants,” said Guilbeau.
The 45-year-old Aranda is in his second season as head coach of the Bears and has them in contention for a Big 12 championship with a nine and two record. He left LSU after helping the Tigers win the national championship in 2019 and Guilbeau says he’s well thought of in Baton Rouge.
“He’s up and coming coach, but I agree with you he’s only in the second year of a head coach, I think in that regard Billy Napier is more qualified,” said Guilbeau.
Napier has led the Cajuns to four straight Sun Belt West Division titles in his four seasons as the head coach at U-L Lafayette. But Guilbeau says Florida, who just fired head coach Dan Mullen, is also very interested in Napier.
“If he goes to Florida he doesn’t have to try and sell himself because he’s coming from U-L, LSU people, including people in the athletic department have this attitude about U-L, which I think is wrong,” said Guilbeau.
He says Aranda and Napier are LSU’s first two choices, but Iowa State head coach Matt Campbell is also in the mix. Guilbeau’s sources tell him that LSU could make a hire at the end of this week or early next week.
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