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When it comes to coaching, especially at the college level, authenticity will get you a long way with regards to recruiting and connecting with players. And there are few college football coaches as authentic as Ed Orgeron.
“Da Coach O,” as he’s affectionately called, coached anywhere and everywhere across the country before returning to LSU where he won a national championship with the Tigers in 2019.
On the other side of that spectrum, we have Brian Kelly, who was hired as Orgeron’s replacement in 2022 and then fired following the 2025 season.
According Orgeron, he knew Kelly had little chance of succeeding shortly after his hiring was announced.
Ed Orgeron Says Brian Kelly’s Fake Accent Was A Harbinger Of Things To Come
Shortly after Kelly was hired, he was formally introduced to LSU fans at halftime of a men’s basketball game. During the introduction, Kelly gave a short speech, and everyone watching immediately realized something was odd.
Kelly, who was born in Massachusetts and spent his entire coaching career north of the Mason-Dixon Line, was suddenly speaking with a southern accent.
Even his own daughter called him out for it.
It was that exact moment that Orgeron says he knew Kelly had no chance of succeeding at LSU.
“It’s over,” Orgeron said during an appearance on the Pardon My Take podcast. “You ain’t got a chance. You ain’t got a chance, man. Not only did the fans see it, the players saw that. And they’re like… hmm. One of the things is that players have to trust you. You have to be who you are. If you try and be somebody that you ain’t, they’re going to smell it right away.”
Kelly’s time in Baton Rouge wasn’t a complete disaster. The Tigers went 34-14 in 3.5 seasons under the former Notre Dame head coach. But the expectations are high at LSU, especially for an outsider.
Now, it’s Lane Kiffin’s opportunity to try to live up to those expectations, and he’s smartly bringing Orgeron back into the fold to help along the way.