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‘It just didn’t work out’: Ed Orgeron says he still would’ve hired Bo Pelini with face-to-face interview
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Bo Pelini’s return to LSU didn’t work out well. Despite his experience in Baton Rouge and time as a head coach, Pelini didn’t find the same level of success he had in the past.
LSU ranked last in the SEC against the pass, 13th in total defense and 10th in scoring defense. There’s no question that the Tigers fielded one of the nation’s worst defensive teams just one year after finishing 15-0 and winning a national championship.
Pelini was promptly let go following the 2020 season.
After the season concluded, LSU head coach Ed Orgeron said that he made the hire without conducting an interview — a strange decision for a leader at a prominent institution.
On Monday, Orgeron clarified those comments, saying he had conversations with Pelini before bringing him back to Baton Rouge as the defensive coordinator, but he didn’t have a face-to-face interview with the former Nebraska and Youngstown State head coach.
“If I would have interviewed Bo Pelini face to face, I still would have hired him,” Orgeron said. “It just didn’t work out.”
Orgeron, asked about his comments that he didn't interview some coaches from last year. He says it wasn't a formal interview, but there were conversations.
"If I would have interviewed Bo Pelini face to face, I still would have hired him."
Said: "It just didn't work out"
— Brody Miller (@BrodyAMiller) July 19, 2021
Though it didn’t work out, Orgeron learned a valuable lesson in the process. He’s unlikely to make a similar mistake in the future, considering what happened to LSU’s defense during the 2020 season.
Dustin grew up in the heart of Big Ten country and has been in sports media since 2010. He has been covering Big Ten football since 2014. You can follow him on Twitter: @SchutteCFB