LSU fires OC Joe Sloan as coaching shake-up continues after Brian Kelly exit

BATON ROUGE, La. — The LSU Tigers on Monday announced that offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach Joe Sloan has been relieved of his duties.

The move comes less than 24 hours after the dismissal of head coach Brian Kelly.

Sloan, in his fourth season on the Tigers’ staff, had been elevated to offensive coordinator at the start of the 2024 calendar year after serving as quarterbacks coach since 2022.

In the wake of Sloan’s departure, tight ends coach and run-game coordinator Alex Atkins will assume play-calling responsibilities moving forward.

LSU’s offense never gained the traction expected this season under Sloan’s direction. The unit ranked near the bottom of the SEC and nationally in rushing yards per game and red-zone efficiency.

The Tigers are also averaging just over 25 points per game and rank outside the top 80 nationally in scoring.

Quarterback Garrett Nussmeier, who entered the season with high expectations, has struggled, ranking in the middle tier nationally in total QBR and among the lowest in yards per attempt, with 12 touchdowns and five interceptions through eight games.

The decision to move on from Sloan is part of the broader shake-up triggered by Kelly’s firing Sunday night, after three losses in the last four games.

LSU athletics director Scott Woodward said in a statement that “the success at the level that LSU demands simply did not materialize.”

Sloan had helped develop two standout quarterbacks in his time at LSU. He was on staff when Jayden Daniels won the Heisman Trophy in 2022 and aided in the breakout of Nussmeier in 2023.

But the offense’s regression this season — particularly in the running game and in short-yardage situations — proved costly. LSU’s inability to establish an identity under the new regime raised doubts about Sloan’s fit as the Tigers fell out of SEC contention.

Woodward wasn’t waiting around long to get it fixed, apparently.

Alex Atkins brings considerable experience to the interim role. He previously served as offensive coordinator at Florida State, where his units ranked among the nation’s top 10 in total offense and efficiency.

Atkins joined LSU earlier this year as tight ends coach and run-game coordinator and now moves into the interim OC role as the Tigers navigate a period of transition.

“In light of recent performance and our commitment to excellence, we believe this is the right time to make a change and move forward with new leadership on offense,” Woodward said in a statement. LSU did not provide a direct comment from Sloan.

The move comes at a time when LSU’s program is reeling from the abrupt coaching changes.

The Tigers have fallen behind rivals Alabama and Texas in the SEC standings and face questions about stability both on the field and in recruiting.

With such prominent departures midseason like the head coach, offensive coordinator, and play-caller, players and prospects are likely to reassess the program’s direction.

Your guess is as good as mine on how they view it.

Atkins will oversee an offense searching for rhythm and consistency.

LSU has averaged just 5.2 yards per play over the last four games and has been outscored 58-24 in the fourth quarter during that span.

The Tigers have also struggled to sustain drives, ranking in the bottom third of the nation in third-down conversion rate.

The staff shake-up is expected to have ripple effects on LSU’s recruiting class. The Tigers entered the week with one of the SEC’s top-10 commitments for 2026, but several offensive recruits, including quarterback prospect Michael Davis and wide receiver Jalen Harris, have yet to reaffirm their pledges following Kelly’s dismissal.

LSU will evaluate internal and external candidates for the full-time offensive coordinator position, but for now Atkins will carry play-calling duties as the team prepares for its next conference matchup.

The athletic department has not specified whether an interim head coach will be appointed for the remainder of the season or if additional staff changes could follow.

For a program accustomed to championship expectations and national relevance it just shows the willingness to make rapid changes when those expectations are not met. They don’t take their time.

The Tigers now enter the final stretch of the season looking to regain competitiveness under temporary leadership, with the focus shifting toward stability, development and recruiting continuity.