Louisiana State University football coach Ed Orgeron has been fired after a string of humiliating losses for the Tigers and a scandal whi...
Louisiana State University football coach Ed Orgeron has been fired after a string of humiliating losses for the Tigers and a scandal which saw him accused of ignoring a sexual harassment claim.
Orgeron, 60, will finish out the rest of the current season with the LSU Tigers before going their separate ways.
LSU announced Orgeron's departure in a statement shared on Twitter.
The university's director of athletics Scott Woodward wrote that Orgeron 'would not be returning' and said that the coach had agreed to stay on for the remainder of the season 'even when faced with this difficult news.'
Woodward also hinted at LSU's displeasure at Orgeron's performance, saying: 'Ultimately, we have very high standards for all our sports programs...
'Our last two seasons have simply not met those standards, and based on our on-field results and our evaluation of the potential for future immediate success, it is time for a new direction.'
Woodward added that no replacement has been hired, but that candidates are now being considered.
Orgeron will reportedly be paid a buyout of about $17.8 million.
The unranked Tigers upset No. 20 Florida in Baton Rouge on Saturday - a win that harked back to LSU's glittering 2019 season, which saw program claim its fourth national title, but bosses tired of Orgeron after a string of recent losses.
LSU coach Ed Orgeron, pictured at a game in Baton Rouge on October 16, has been fired from his position as announced by Sports Illustrated on Sunday
Oregron, pictured after winning against the Florida Gators Saturday, had led the team for five years, with initial soaring success recently replaced by a string of losses
LSU announced Orgeron's departure with this terse statement saying standards had slipped
The LSU Tigers now stand at 4-3 following their win against Florida and remain at 2-2 in SEC play.
Sports Illustrated had announced Orgeron's departure on Sunday after he had coached the team for five seasons.
Oregeron led the team 49-17 with one SEC championship and one historic national championship in 2019, following his promotion from interim head coach in 2016.
Despite Orgeron's initial success, the team soon began to flounder.
The Tigers had a rough performance in the 2020 season going 5-5 after a successful 2019 run that led them to the playoffs.
Orgeron is also accused of failing to report a rape carried out by disgraced former LSU star running back Derrius Guice.
The reason for Orgeron's suddent departure have been linked to his two past unsuccessful seasons with the Tigers and his alleged ignorance of sexual misconduct allegations against his players
Former running back Derrius Guice was accused of raping two women months apart in 2016
Guice came under fire after he allegedly raped two women months apart in 2016.
A year after the assault, Orgeron had allegedly told one of the victim's then-boyfriends that 'everybody's girlfriend sleeps with other people', and made no effort to report the alleged crime, it is claimed.
Guice was arrested in August 2020 on multiple domestic violence charges, with his achievements since stripped from LSU's records. He awaits trial.
The scandal was even more unwelcome for Orgeron and LSU, given the crisis that gripped the college under the stewardship of the coach's predecessor Les Miles.
Miles was banned from being alone with female students following an investigation in 2013.
He was fired at the beginning of the 2016 season.
Former head coach Les Miles was replaced by Orgeron after he was fired for sexual misconduct as he had allegedly been acting inappropriately with female students
LSU's Director of Athletics Scott Woodward released a statement to announce Orgeron's departure.
'His passion and pride for our football team and for our state are unrivaled and undeniable, and, even when faced with this difficult news, he still wants what is best for the Tigers, above all else,' the statement read.
Orgeron had also released a statement of his own on behalf of the LSU football program.
'Five years ago, I fulfilled a lifelong dream and returned to LSU to lead the Tigers into Death Valley,' he said in the statement.
'My love for LSU has only strengthened over the past five years. All I wanted to do when I accepted the position as head coach in 2016 was to build a championship program and make the state of Louisiana proud.
'I have always understood the expectations at LSU, and they are the same expectations I have for myself and our staff.
'I am disappointed that we have not met those expectations over the past two years. Thank you to the entire LSU family for the opportunity to coach one of the greatest college football teams of all-time.
'I'll continue to fight, as will our team, throughout the rest of the season.'
Orgeron had an extensive coaching history before joining the LSU Tigers.
He was the head coach at Ole Miss for three years starting in 2005 but was ultimately fired after three unsuccessful seasons.
However, he made a successful comeback after being hired as an interim coach with USC in 2013 leading the team to a 6-2 mark.
Orgeron is seen singing the school's alma mater with his players at the Mississippi State game on September 25
No comments