On March 24, Lane Kiffin and LSU will begin spring football practice. The first-year Tigers head coach, meanwhile, is still assembling a team of top-notch coaches while keeping a few vital support staff members.
After the last two seasons in Baton Rouge, it was rumored that LSU safeties coach Jake Olsen was heading to the Washington Commanders of the NFL.
Lane Kiffin Celebrates as Top LSU Staff Member Rejects Washington Commanders Position
Nonetheless, Matt Zenitz, a college football insider, reported on Monday that Olsen had ultimately decided to stay with the Tigers after initially making plans to leave for Washington. Additionally, he had a link there because he had previously collaborated with the new Commanders’ defensive coordinator, Daronte Jones, at LSU in 2021.
Olsen will remain on the Tigers’ team after two years of coaching safeties under defensive coordinator Blake Baker. Following his initial acceptance of the NFL opportunity, sources indicate that Kiffin and LSU made a concerted effort to keep him. After leaving Ole Miss to join LSU, offensive coordinator Charlie Weis Jr. received offers from NFL clubs, but he chose to remain in Baton Rouge.
Baker maintained Olsen despite having the option of going back to Tulane as head coach following Jon Sumrall’s departure for Florida, which is a significant victory for him. Prior to both joining LSU in advance of the 2024 season, Olsen had previously worked under Baker in Missouri, which strengthened their dedication to the Tigers.
Baker and Olsen initially worked under previous LSU head coach Ed Orgeron in 2021 as the linebackers coach and analyst, respectively. Olsen’s coaching career began in Louisiana, with stops at Nicholls State, UL-Monroe, and Northwestern State, where he was named to the American Football Coaches Association’s “35 Under 35” list in 2018.
Olsen contributed to turning Damone Clark into an All-American during his first tenure at LSU in 2021. Prior to returning to LSU in 2024, he worked as the linebackers coach for Missouri for two seasons. According to reports, he earned $350,000 that season.
With Olsen’s help, AJ Haulcy received All-American recognition in 2025. In addition to the predicted starters Tamarcus Cooley and Dashawn Spears, LSU also acquired Ty Benefield from Boise State and Faheem Delane from Ohio State. These elements keep enhancing the prospect of a great season for the Tigers in Kiffin’s debut year.
Chris Kiffin was appointed co-defensive coordinator and linebackers coach, and Sterling Lucas was hired from South Carolina as interior defensive line coach, adding to the Tigers’ coaching staff. With a score of 84. 6, LSU ranked No. 20 in the PFSN College Football Defense Impact Metric at the end of the 2025 season.
