Many people are wrapping up our Christmas shopping. Not sure how much Christmas shopping LSU football coach Lane Kiffin is doing, but he has completed hiring his coaching staff.
On Monday night, Kiffin announced 11 new additions to the coaching staff. Eight of the new hires followed Kiffin from Ole Miss to Baton Rouge, including several names we already knew, like offensive coordinator Charlie Weis Junior.
We found out last week that Frank Wilson would not be returning as running backs coach, and the speculation was that Ole Miss running backs coach Kevin Smith would replace Wilson. That became official on Monday. Smith will also be the assistant head coach, so he will have a greater role on LSU’s staff than at Ole Miss.
Smith will be integral in keeping freshman running back Harlem Berry at LSU, but will Ole Miss's leading rusher and All-American Kewan Lacy follow Smith to Baton Rouge, something to follow next month.
Also following Kiffin to LSU is his brother, Chris Kiffin, who will be the co-defensive coordinator and linebackers’ coach. Which means Chris Kiffin will work hand and hand with Blake Baker defensive coordinator.
Kiffin was an analyst at Ole Miss the last two seasons and there are reports he will be an analyst with LSU, but with a bigger role now that he is with the Tigers.
Joe Houston, who was previously at Florida, is the special teams coordinator. He has also been part of coaching staffs led by Nick Saban
and Bill Belichick.
Interesting LSU will have three different coaches working with the defensive line. Sterling Lucas is the defensive line coach. Lou Spanos will be the assistant defensive line coach and pass rush specialist. Kevin Peoples, a holdover from Brian Kelly’s staff, will coach the
Lucas was the defensive ends and outside linebackers coach at South Carolina. One of the Gamecocks' best players on defense, 6-foot-5, 250-pound pass rusher, Dylan Stewart, could follow Lucas to LSU.
Stewart is a former five-star prospect and was the Freshman of the Year in 2024. In 2025, he played in 11 games and had 12 tackles for a loss, 4.5 sacks and forced three fumbles.
LSU also has a new offensive line coach. Eric Wolford was previously the o-line coach at Kentucky.
Here is a list of the new assistant coaches:
Joe Cox – Co-Offensive Coordinator / Tight Ends
Joe Houston – Special Teams Coordinator
Sawyer Jordan – Inside Wide Receivers
Chris Kiffin – Co-Defensive Coordinator / Linebackers
Sterling Lucas – Defensive Line
George McDonald – Passing Game Coordinator / Wide Receivers
Kevin Smith – Assistant Head Coach/Running Backs
Lou Spanos – Pass Rush Specialist / Assistant Defensive Line
Dane Stevens – Quarterbacks
Charlie Weis Jr. – Offensive Coordinator
Eric Wolford – Offensive Line