LSU has officially announced the dismissal of offensive coordinator Joe Sloan, effective immediately. This move follows the recent firing of head coach Brian Kelly and marks a significant shift in the Tigers’ football program. Tight ends coach and run game coordinator Alex Atkins has been elevated to interim offensive coordinator for the remainder of the season.
Sloan, who joined LSU in 2022 as quarterbacks coach, was promoted to offensive coordinator in January 2024 following the departure of Mike Denbrock. Under his guidance, quarterback Garrett Nussmeier had a standout 2024 season, throwing for over 4,000 yards and 29 touchdowns. However, this season, the offense has struggled, ranking last in the SEC in rushing and 96th nationally in total offense, averaging just 355.5 yards per game. The team’s recent performance, including a disappointing 49-25 loss to Texas A&M, led to mounting pressure on the coaching staff.
Atkins, who spent the previous three seasons as offensive coordinator at Florida State, brings valuable experience to the interim role. During his tenure at Florida State, Atkins led a high-powered offense that averaged 36.1 points per game in 2022. He was dismissed in 2024 following a challenging season but joined LSU earlier this year. In addition to Atkins’ promotion, analyst Tim Rattay will assume quarterback coaching duties for the remainder of the season.
This coaching shake-up comes amid broader changes within the LSU football program. Athletic director Scott Woodward reportedly had a “very tense” meeting with Kelly following the Texas A&M loss, leading to Kelly’s dismissal. The university is negotiating the terms of Kelly’s $54 million buyout, stemming from a 10-year, $95 million contract guaranteeing 90% of his salary. Associate head coach Frank Wilson has been named interim head coach for the remainder of the season.
As LSU navigates these changes, the focus will shift to improving offensive performance and stabilizing the program for the future. The upcoming games will be critical in assessing the effectiveness of the new coaching staff and determining the direction of LSU football moving forward.
