Malcolm Henry
Eric Bieniemy needs a shot at being a head coach … on any level.
LSU needs a new head coach and could use a splashy, offensive hire.
This is my solution to both problems: Eric Bieniemy to LSU. Who says no?
Bieniemy has been a ‘hot name’ in NFL coaching rumors for the last two years, but deep playoff runs with the Chiefs has kept him from landing a position. He has more than earned a shot at a gig but the problem is, I think only Matt Nagy is going to get fired. There is no chance that Chicago will hire Bieniemy. They were just burned on the Andy Reid Coaching Tree and so that simple fact, in my opinion, all but eliminates Bieniemy from getting his shot with the only NFL opening of the year.
Bieniemy was born in New Orleans before his family moved to California, where he graduated from high school. He went on to star at Colorado and was a Heisman finalist; after graduating he went on to have a near-decade in the NFL.
Following his professional career he went to the college ranks as an assistant coach at Colorado as well as UCLA. In his two years at UCLA he was also the recruiting coordinator — so he understands how much weight that aspect carries.
He was offered the head coaching job at Colorado last year, but declined. It could have marked his first opportunity, but it was probably too far of a drop down from his current position — and paycheck.
Neither of those would be a problem with LSU. The program is elite. It is in the SEC. It is also going to pay him a pretty penny to get there.
It is a solid fit all around.
Currently he is not among the top six “odd’s on” favorites for the job:
Lane Kiffin, Ole Miss 2-1
Mark Stoops, Kentucky 3-1
Matt Campbell, Iowa State 4-1
Luke Fickell, Cincinnati 9-2
Dave Aranda, Baylor 5-1
Bill O’Brien, Alabama offensive coordinator 11-2
But between he or Joe Brady (Carolina OC that was on-staff for LSU’s national title) should lead the pack.
