Bussin' With The Boys – Coach O Reacts To LSU's Lane Kiffin Hire + Where His Next Dream Job Will Be

Date: December 9, 2025
Hosts: Will Compton & Taylor Lewan
Guest: Ed Orgeron (Coach O)

Episode Overview

In a highly entertaining and candid interview, Coach Ed Orgeron (“Coach O”), former LSU head coach and national champion, joins the boys on the bus for an epic storytelling session. The gang covers Coach O’s wild coaching journey, reacts to Lane Kiffin’s rumored LSU hire, dives deep into legendary recruiting tales, talks LSU’s return to prominence, and explores what kind of role would tempt Coach O back to football. Along the way, Orgeron’s classic storytelling, heartfelt advice, and unrivaled personality are in full force, making for a can’t-miss episode for college football fans.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Coach O’s Roots & Early Coaching Days

• Growing up in LaRose, Louisiana:
  • Small town — population grew to about 6,000, deeply Cajun culture.
  • “My grandparents didn’t speak English. Hunted and fished off the land.” (31:51, Orgeron)
• How Coach O got into coaching:
  • After failing to make it in the USFL with the Memphis Showboats, went to his college coach and started coaching for free.
  • Lived in the visitors’ locker room and “stole a cot out of the dorm.” (34:27)
  • “There was two things I could do: shovel shrimp or coach football.” (33:32, Orgeron)

2. Climbing the Coaching Ranks: Miami, USC, and Legendary Players

• University of Miami days:
  • Coached stars like Warren Sapp, Ray Lewis, and a young Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson.
  • Recruited players from tight end to D-line (e.g., Sapp).
  • “Dewey (The Rock) was the nicest, most well-mannered guy we coached. He wasn’t as talented, but tough.” (36:54, Orgeron)
  • “Warren Sapp thought there was only one man on campus who could whip his ass—me.” (39:06)
• Recruiting philosophy:
  • “I always wanted a smart quarterback… everything I did at USC, LSU is based on what I learned from Jimmy Johnson and Pete Carroll.” (51:12, Orgeron)
  • Known for relentless, creative recruiting — “You gotta compete to the end.” (133:03)
• USC stories:
  • Worked closely with Pete Carroll, credited Carroll as a “master motivator.”
  • “Wild Boy” team meetings — coaches sometimes taking off shirts to rile up the squad. (46:58)
  • Ran into Snoop Dogg, who unexpectedly took over a team meeting and fired up the team. (48:13)
• Loyal relationships:
  • Deep respect for Pete Carroll and Lane Kiffin, maintaining loyalty even after staff changes.

3. Recruiting War Stories & NIL Real Talk

• Legendary recruiting efforts:
  • “I broke the TSA line at an airport to stop a kid from going to Florida.” (90:23, Orgeron)
  • Reggie Bush recruitment: Orgeron convinced Bush and family to make an unexpected campus visit, pivoting him from Notre Dame/Washington to USC. (91:34)
  • Tried to get Adrian Peterson’s father transferred prisons so he could watch him play for USC.
    • "Coach, if my daddy could see every one of my games, I’d come tomorrow." (98:13)
    • “I tried, man, I busted my butt.” (98:44, Orgeron)
• On NIL & Old-School Deals:
  • “Back then we used to walk through the back door of the ‘cash.’ Now you just walk through the front door.” (54:54, Orgeron)
  • Acknowledges SEC’s long history of “creative” recruiting before NIL was legal, jokes about unwritten internal bidding rules in the SEC. (55:16+)
• Early offers & recruiting kids too young:
  • “I brought that concept from JoePa at Penn State to USC to the SEC… At Ole Miss, we’d offer 300 kids to get 1.” (57:41)

4. Leadership Lessons & Evolution as a Coach

• Biggest lessons after being fired at Ole Miss:
  • “You can’t coach the whole team like you coach the defensive line.” (66:31)
  • “If players know how much you love them, they’ll go through a wall for you. And if you can show them you can get them to the NFL, that’s huge.” (67:54)
  • “Never throw your players under the bus.” (69:13)
  • On accountability: “If you don’t know what your player is doing wrong, who will?” (68:49)
  • Trust as a leader is everything, both in college and NFL.

5. The LSU Dream & Wild Ride to a National Title

• Getting the LSU job:
  • Became interim head coach after back-channel warnings following Les Miles’ rocky start.
  • “Meet me at this gas station after the plane lands…” (112:23)
• Winning the locker room:
  • Motivated players by taking responsibility (“I love you, it was my fault, I’ll coach you better”), even after public heartbreaks. (120:17)
  • Used “no pads” practices to keep the team fresh, leading to key victories.
• Relentless pursuit of the head gig:
  • Told the AD, “You know in your belly I’m the best man for the LSU Tigers.” (127:08)
  • Outworked rivals (like Jimbo Fisher, Tom Herman) for the job, then brought a powerful staff, including plans to lure Lane Kiffin.
  • “I told myself, I won’t let go of the rope.” (133:08; determination not to repeat the heartbreak at USC)
• Recruiting Joe Burrow:
  • Son Cody points him to Burrow.
  • Joe’s visit: “Coach, all I wanna do is talk football and eat crawfish.” (137:52)
  • Pivotal pitch: “Joe, if I don’t get you, they’re gonna fire me. If I get you, we’re winning the national championship.” (140:17)
  • Used family—pressed Joe’s brother Dan to help: “Put your hands down your pants, squeeze, and call your brother!” (143:24)
• Turning the tide:
  • Leadership committee initially opposed starting Burrow; Coach O showed them practice grades, won their trust, and rallied the team. (147:20)
  • Miami opener rough, but team saw Burrow’s “it factor.”
  • “The moment he got rocked against UCF and refused to leave — that’s when he won over LSU forever.” (149:56)
• The magical 2019 run:
  • “Once I saw Joe in the building, I just made sure he was on the bus—and said, ‘throw it to Jamar, if he’s not open, throw it to Justin.’” (158:44)
  • 2019 LSU offense “could outscore anybody, even my best USC teams.” (159:20)

6. Reflections on the LSU Job, Brian Kelly, and Coach O’s Future

• On Brian Kelly at LSU:
  • “He’s a great coach, but Louisiana is a different place… you gotta be a people person. Not sure he’s a fit.” (164:57)
• Would Orgeron coach again?
  • “I don’t need to be the head coach. I could be a defensive line coach or recruiting coordinator… at a program that can win a national title and isn’t intimidated by having me on staff.” (79:14)
  • “I respect Alabama, but this boy ain’t never gonna coach at Alabama.” (79:47)
• What’s Coach O’s perfect day?
  • Wakes up at 5, says prayers, 7am AA meeting, deadlifts at Muscle Beach, walks/runs with wife, pool, dinner, repeats.
  • “I married a beautiful woman 21 years younger than me. Still can recruit.” (166:03)
  • “I’d fight a bear for a big bowl of chicken and sausage gumbo—with the potato salad in the gumbo, Louisiana style!” (173:21)
• Classic Coach O on being stopped by Bama fans while jogging:
  • “I’ll stop to take a picture, be respectful, but yell ‘Roll Tide’ and I’ll teach you about respect, son.” (169:16)

Notable Quotes & Moments

• On recruiting: “I broke the TSA line at the airport… I want to tell him, you do not go to that school. I want you.” (90:23, Orgeron)
• On NIL: “Back then, we used to walk through the back door of the cash… Now we just gotta walk through the front door.” (54:54, Orgeron)
• On getting the LSU job: “You know in your belly I am the best man for the LSU Tigers.” (127:08, Orgeron)
• On recruiting Burrow: “Joe, if I don’t get you, they’re gonna fire me. If I get you, we’re winning the national championship.” (140:17)
• How Coach O wants to coach again: “I don’t need to be a head coach. I’d love to coach the defensive line at a place ready to win big—never Alabama, though!” (79:14)
• On life & perfect days: “I married a beautiful woman 21 years younger than me… I wake up, say prayers, deadlift on Muscle Beach, and count my blessings.” (166:03+)
• On food: “I’d fight a bear for a big bowl of chicken and sausage gumbo with the potato salad right in the gumbo.” (173:21)

Key Timestamps

• Coach O on LaRose, LA roots: 31:38–32:47
• How he became a coach: 33:25–34:47
• Miami stories (The Rock, Sapp): 36:34–39:44
• USC, Pete Carroll, team culture: 46:25–48:33
• Recruiting wildness, NIL truth: 54:39–55:56
• Getting fired at Ole Miss and self-reflection: 66:31–67:54
• Fight for LSU head job: 112:23–133:14
• Burrow’s recruitment saga: 136:37–143:47
• Winning the team, going 15-0: 146:01–149:56
• 2019 LSU vs. 2004 USC—who wins?: 158:05–159:50
• On Brian Kelly at LSU: 164:12–165:26
• Coach O’s perfect day: 165:41–167:35
• Coach O on “Roll Tide” fans: 169:04–170:27
• Gumbo over Bud Light (“I’d fight a bear for...”): 173:03–173:26

Memorable Moments

• Coach O’s unfiltered stories and voice—pure Louisiana, pure football.
• Recruitment tactics that bend every rule—as Coach O says, “Gotta compete to the end. Hold the rope.”
• Eminem’s ‘Lose Yourself’ as real-life recruiting inspiration: “You only get one shot!” (141:05)
• The crowd melting for Joe Burrow during his LSU run—“Eaux” on the jersey.
• Reflections on life after football: Humility, gratitude, and affection for home, his family, and sobriety.

Final Thoughts

This episode is a banger for any football fan—full of bravado, heart, and absurd stories from southern football’s ultimate character. Coach O proves again he’s a living legend, giving listeners a first-row seat to the grit and grind behind national championships and the wild world of college football recruiting.

Listen if you love: Iconic football tales, behind-the-scenes college football culture, recruiting war stories, southern charm, and some of the best Ed Orgeron quotes ever captured on tape.