Afternoon Update >> Bo Pelini has now been formally announced as defensive coordinator.

A week ago we shared, via sources, that Youngstown State (FCS – OH) head coach Bo Pelini was a strong candidate for the defensive coordinator position on LSU.

Today, source tells FootballScoop that Bo plans to resign at YSU as soon as today and a deal is expected to get done to make Pelini the new defensive play caller for Ed Orgeron and the defending national champs in Baton Rouge.

Brett McMurphy is also reporting the same. Ross Dellenger has confirmed as well and adds that Pelini’s deal will pay him around $2 million per year. (Update: We are told Pelini’s deal will be closer to the $2.5 million Dave Aranda earned.)

Pelini has went 33-28 in five seasons as the head coach at Youngstown State. Back in 2016, he led the Penguins on an improbable run to the FCS title game. Since that run, the program has gone 9-15 in Missouri Valley play and have failed to return to the playoffs the past three seasons. This past year, they finished 6-6.

Before taking over at Youngstown, Pelini went 66-27 as the head coach at Nebraska from 2008-14. In Lincoln, Pelini never won less than nine games in a season, hitting the 10-win mark in three seasons

The opportunity to run the Tigers defense in Baton Rouge is a return for Pelini, who previously served as LSU’s defensive coordinator on Les Miles’ staff from 2005-07. His role as the defensive coordinator during the Tigers 2007 national title run helped land him the Nebraska head coaching job in 2008.

As always, stay tuned to The Scoop for the latest.

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Doug Samuels
Content manager - Doug took the reins in 2011 and the website has been better ever since. A former college player and small college coach, Doug now serves as the head coach at Comstock Park HS (MI).