While the saga at Northwestern wages on, the football program will eventually have to address its head coaching vacancy. It’s probably not high on the list of priorities right now, but at some point – probably at the end of the season – they’ll have to find a replacement for Pat Fitzgerald. As fate would have it, a notable name emerged as a potential candidate. At least, depending on how you look at it.
Ed Orgeron, the former LSU coach who led the Tigers to an undefeated season and a CFB Playoff title in 2019, reportedly “would have interest” for the job. Bradley Locker of InsideNU reported the news on Wednesday afternoon. One key detail does exist though: Orgeron reportedly hasn’t heard from Northwestern.
Orgeron has coached at LSU, Ole Miss and once served as the interim head coach at USC. He has plenty of experience, obviously, but he didn’t exactly leave Baton Rouge on the highest of notes.
Both on and off the field, Orgeron left a bitter taste in the mouth of many due to his messy exit.
Does that make him a candidate at Northwestern? According to the report, NU hasn’t gotten back to him. Furthermore, they’re obviously dealing with a very sticky situation right now. Will they want to add to that?
Ed Orgeron does have a CFP title to his resume, but whether that’s worth the risk at Northwestern right now? Well, given everything that’s transpired, maybe not.
About Chris Novak
Chris Novak has been talking and writing about sports ever since he can remember. Previously, Novak wrote for and managed sites in the SB Nation network for nearly a decade from 2013-2022