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LSU lifts interim tag, makes Ed Orgeron its permanent head coach

The interim tag has been lifted.

After multiple reports surfaced Saturday morning, LSU announced it will keep Ed Orgeron as its permanent head coach after he led the Tigers to a 5-2 record following the firing of Les Miles.

“This is a great day for LSU and for all of Louisiana,” LSU athletic director Joe Alleva said. “We got our man and he’s been here all along. Coach Orgeron has demonstrated his ability to run this program with excellence, even under difficult circumstances. Coach ‘O’ earned this job.

“I worked closely with (LSU) President Alexander and board leadership throughout a very deliberate process. By the end of that process, our decision was clear. Coach Orgeron took us step by step through every aspect of his plans for this program and there was no question that he is the man to lead LSU football.”

Orgeron hasn’t been a full-time head coach since his three-year stint at Ole Miss from 2005 to 2007 (where he was just 10-25), but he has twice held the role of interim head coach. After Lane Kiffin was fired at USC in 2013, Orgeron was 6-2 as the Trojans’ interim head coach, but was passed over for the full-time job when the school hired Steve Sarkisian.

[For more coverage on LSU’s hiring of Ed Orgeron, visit TigerBait.com.]

After being spurned by the Trojans, Orgeron went back to his home state to coach the defensive line at LSU for Miles in 2015. When Miles was fired in September, Orgeron was again elevated to interim head coach.

But this time, he’s sticking around.

Like at USC in 2013, LSU players were not shy about expressing their hope of keeping Orgeron in Baton Rouge. After the Tigers knocked off Texas A&M 54-39 on Thursday night, LSU players posted videos on social media of the team chanting “keep Coach O!” All the while, LSU administration was reportedly in talks with the representation of Houston head coach Tom Herman. The school also reportedly went after Florida State head coach Jimbo Fisher.

According to The Advocate, talks with Herman broke down early Saturday morning when it became clear Herman’s eyes were set on the inevitable opening at Texas. Yahoo Sports’ Pat Forde is reporting that Charlie Strong will be fired by Texas Saturday morning, paving the way for the hiring of Herman.

With Herman’s intentions apparently made clear, LSU quickly made its decision to stick with Orgeron, who reportedly met with administrators Friday.

Per The Advocate, Orgeron laid out his plans:

Orgeron, 55, “blew away” LSU decision-makers in a meeting Friday, sources said. He brought with him a massive binder detailing long-term plans, which included the hiring of a proven and successful offensive coordinator. He’s expected to go after Alabama coordinator Lane Kiffin, a good friend and Orgeron’s boss at Southern Cal and Tennessee.

University leaders are confident that they’ll keep defensive coordinator Dave Aranda, with plans to likely promote him and hand him a significant contract boost, sources say. Aranda’s unit is ranked 14th nationally, and it had allowed just 11 touchdowns in 10 games before the 54-39 win at Texas A&M on Thanksgiving night.

Orgeron inherits a program that has won at least eight games in all 11 of its seasons under Miles, but hasn’t won an SEC West title since 2011.

LSU coach Ed Orgeron celebrates with players after an NCAA college football game against Texas A&M Thursday, Nov. 24, 2016, in College Station, Texas. LSU won 54-39. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)
LSU coach Ed Orgeron celebrates with players after an NCAA college football game against Texas A&M Thursday, Nov. 24, 2016, in College Station, Texas. LSU won 54-39. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)

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Sam Cooper is a writer for the Yahoo Sports blogs. Have a tip? Email him or follow him on Twitter!