LSU football is halfway through spring practice. That means the coaching staff is finalized as Tigers’ head coach Brian Kelly gears up for his fourth season with the program.
This offseason was calm compared to the change LSU went through last year. Following the 2023 campaign, Kelly fired the entire defensive staff. If that wasn’t enough, offensive coordinator Mike Denbrock left for the same position at Notre Dame.
This year, both coordinators are back and LSU lost just one position coach on each side of the ball. Neither change was due to a firing as both coaches left for promotions.
Returning both coordinators creates stability within the program.
“I think more than anything else is that as they go into year two, they went through a year of understanding what our weaknesses were and what we need to be better at,” Kelly said of DC Blake Baker and OC Joe Sloan.
Here’s a look at LSU football’s complete 2025 coaching staff.
Offensive Coordinator: Joe Sloan
Sloan joined LSU in 2022 as quarterbacks coach. When Denbrock left for Notre Dame, he was promoted to offensive coordinator. Sloan was critical in the development of Heisman-winning quarterback Jayden Daniels. LSU’s offense had some growing pains in 2024, but Garrett Nussmeier’s strong finish has expectations sky-high in 2025.
Co-Offensive Coordinator and Wide Receivers: Cortez Hankton
Hankton was a member of Brian Kelly’s initial staff in Baton Rouge, leaving his position at UGA to return home. Hankton produced two first-round wide receivers in Malik Nabers and Brian Thomas Jr. After hitting the transfer portal, Hankton’s group should be top-notch again in 2025.
Run Game Coordinator and Tight Ends: Alex Atkins
Atkins is new. After LSU tight ends coach Slade Nagle departed for the OC job at Houston, LSU saw a chance to bring in one of the sharpest run game designers in college football. Atkins won’t just coach tight ends — he’ll play a pivotal role in coordinating and implementing the Tigers’ run game.
Offensive Line: Brad Davis
Davis was the lone assistant from the previous regime to be retained when Brian Kelly took over in 2022. Davis has proven to be one of the top offensive line recruiters in college football. He also played a big role in the development of Will Campbell, who will be a top-10 pick in the 2025 NFL Draft.
Running Backs: Frank Wilson
Frank Wilson is one of the top recruiters in the game. Few assistants in the country can recruit New Orleans at Wilson’s level. Wilson was on Les Miles’ staff at LSU from 2010-25 and returned to join Brian Kelly’s staff in 2022. With Caden Durham returning for his sophomore campaign, LSU’s running back room will be solid in 2025.
Defensive Coordinator: Blake Baker
Baker worked under Ed Orgeron in 2021 but didn’t stick around when Kelly got the job as Baker left to be defensive coordinator at Missouri. After turning Missouri into one of the SEC’s top defenses, Kelly brought Baker back to LSU. Baker delivered immediate results in year one and expectations are even higher in 2025.
Defensive Ends: Kevin Peoples
Peoples came with Baker from Missouri. In 2024, Peoples did some of his best work as he turned Bradyn Swinson into one of the SEC’s top pass rushers. Peoples has his work cut out for him in 2025 with a lot of new faces at defensive end, but there’s plenty of talent in the room.
Defensive Line: Kyle Williams
Williams is the lone new face on the defensive side of the ball. After Bo Davis left to take over the New Orleans Saints defensive line, Kelly brought another old friend back to Louisiana. Williams was one of the most productive defensive linemen in LSU history before becoming an All-Pro defensive tackle in the NFL.
Cornerbacks: Corey Raymond
Raymond is one of the original architects of DBU. He wasn’t retained when Brian Kelly first took over in 2022, but Kelly brought Raymond back for the 2024 season. LSU’s cornerback play saw immediate improvement with Raymond leading the way. He delivered on the recruiting trail too, signing five-star corner DJ Pickett.
Safeties: Jake Olsen
Like Peoples, Olsen followed Baker to LSU. Olsen was an analyst with LSU in 2021 and has coached all over Louisiana, making stops at Nicholls State, ULM, and Northwestern State.
Departures
The two notable departures are Slade Nagle and Bo Daivs.
Nagle left to join Willie Fritz at Houston. Nagle and Fritz previously worked together at Tulane with Nagle leading Tulane’s Cotton Bowl winning offense in 2022.
Bo Davis, considered one of the best defensive line coaches in the sport, is taking his talents to the NFL. He’ll be tasked with leading the Saints’ defensive line.
This article originally appeared on LSU Wire: A full look at Brian Kelly’s updated LSU coaching staff in 2025
