Afternoon Update >> Bo Pelini has now been formally announced as defensive coordinator.
Bo Pelini is returning to Baton Rouge as the Tigers' defensive coordinator! #GeauxTigers
🔗 https://t.co/jh1oepLC8T pic.twitter.com/yFgdkLo1bf
— LSU Football (@LSUfootball) January 27, 2020
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.
NEWS: Former #Huskers coach and current Youngstown State coach Bo Pelini is expected to replace Dave Aranda as #LSU's next defensive coordinator, sources tell @SINow.
Pelini's multi-year deal will pay him around $2M a year. He served as DC under Les Miles from 2005-07.
— Ross Dellenger (@RossDellenger) January 27, 2020
Youngstown State coach & former Nebraska coach Bo Pelini has been offered LSU defensive coordinator position & is expected to accept it, sources told @Stadium
— Brett McMurphy (@Brett_McMurphy) January 27, 2020