As soon as Ed Orgeron had the interim tag removed from his title by LSU over the weekend, the head coach got busy making sure he had the best staff in place to guide LSU in 2017 and beyond. One of the early steps was to secure defensive coordinator Dave Aranda. Mission accomplished.
Aranda has been signed to a three-year contract extension, according to a report from ESPN. Terms of the deal have not been disclosed, but Aranda was already making $1.2 million for the 2016 season, the first on a three-year deal after leaving Wisconsin.
Keeping Aranda was a key objective for Orgeron, as Aranda is one of the top defensive coordinators in the nation and showed some good work with LSU this season. LSU finished the regular season ranked 12th in total defense and seventh in scoring defense.
Now, Orgeron must find a competent offensive coordinator. Lane Kiffin has been floated around as a possibility if they can lure Kiffin away from Alabama for the same role. Kiffin should also be a name worth watching for potential job openings for a head coach.