When LSU saw John Chavis leave the Tigers to take on the role of defensive coordinator at Texas A&M, a high-profile vacancy opened up at the SEC program in Baton Rouge. A former SEC defensive coordinator has now been connected as a possible target; Penn State defensive coordinator Bob Shoop.
Shoop, who left Vanderbilt for Penn State when James Franklin was hired by the Nittany Lions, will interview “soon” for the job at LSU according to a report published by The Advocate, citing an anonymous source close to the coaching search. The report goes on to suggest Shoop has some enthusiasm about the possibility of a return to the SEC.
Penn State’s bright spot this season was Shoop’s defense. While the offense may have been hampered by the impact of recruiting restrictions under NCAA sanctions, the defense more often than not was the reason Penn State even managed to play in a bowl game in 2014. Penn State ranked seventh in the nation in defensive scoring and second in total defense this season. In a division that has seen offenses start to open things up, LSU could stand to see improvement on the defensive side of the football, although LSU’s defensive numbers were right in the same territory as Pen State this season in those two particular stats.
LSU has also reportedly shown interest in Oklahoma’s Mike Stoops, who has just been demoted on the staff. LSU defensive line coach Brick Haley and Alabama linebackers coach Kevin Steele have also been mentioned as potential candidates for the job at LSU.