After Brian Kelly firing, LSU makes an additional coaching move

Had Brian Kelly survived Black Sunday in Baton Rouge, the plan would've been to move forward without offensive coordinator Joe Sloan. Kelly is no longer LSU's head coach, but the plan is still to move forward without Sloan.

LSU announced Monday morning that it has dismissed its offensive coordinator, effective immediately. Tight ends coach Alex Atkins will take over as offensive coordinator.

Sloan was an original member of Kelly's LSU staff, originally hired as quarterbacks coach. He excelled in that role, coaching Jayden Daniels to levels beyond what he displayed at Arizona State to eventually win the Heisman Trophy in 2023 and become the No. 2 pick in the 2024 NFL draft. 

Sloan was promoted to offensive coordinator ahead of the 2024 season, where he helped Garrett Nussmeier rank second in the SEC and fifth in the nation in passing at nearly 312 yards per game.

The offense has not clicked this season, though. LSU is sixth in the SEC in passing, but 12th in scoring, 14th in total offense, and dead last in rushing at 106.3 yards per contest. Nussmeier's numbers have plummeted, from 7.7 yards per attempt to 6.8, and from 29 touchdown passes a season ago to just 12 through eight games so far this year. A high-level NFL prospect entering the season, Nussmeier is currently 80th nationally in passing efficiency.

Sloan had three seasons' worth of offensive coordinator experience prior to LSU, manning the post from 2019-21 at Louisiana Tech before joining Kelly's staff at LSU.

Atkins is in his first season at LSU's run game coordinator and tight ends coach, but he's the only staff member with prior play-calling experience. He was the offensive coordinator at Charlotte in 2019 and served as the OC and offensive line coach at Florida State from 2022-24. Offensive analyst Tim Rattay is expected to be involved in managing the offense as well. Rattay is a former record-setting quarterback at Louisiana Tech who spent eight seasons in the NFL before moving into coaching. He's previously coached quarterbacks at Louisiana Tech and Oklahoma State, plus one season with the Washington Redskins.

Had Kelly remained on staff, the plan would've been for him to call plays over LSU's final game, according to a report from Matt Fortuna.

LSU is off this week before visiting No. 4 Alabama on Nov. 8. The Tigers then close their regular season with Arkansas and Western Kentucky at Tiger Stadium, and then a visit to Oklahoma on Nov. 29.