Best Candidates to Replace John Chavis as LSU Defensive Coordinator

It has been a rough couple of weeks for LSU head coach Les Miles. The Tigers not only lost to Notre Dame in the Music City Bowl, but they also saw their most talented coach leave. 

Defensive coordinator John Chavis has bolted to take the same position at Texas A&M, though the Aggies have yet to make it official. The news was first reported by 104.5/104.9 ESPN Baton Rouge's Jordy Culotta before the start of the Music City Bowl. 

Chavis was dominant as LSU's "Chief" of the defense. Since taking over in 2009, the Tigers never finished below fourth in the SEC in scoring defense. He helped develop All-Americans Patrick Peterson, Tyrann Mathieu and Eric Reid. 

The move for Chavis had more to do with LSU's struggling offense than it did the slight pay increase, a source told Jim Kleinpeter of The Times-Picayune. No matter the reason, The Chief is gone, and the Tigers must move swiftly and thoroughly to replace him. 

Chavis' departure will be brutal in the short, and possibly the long, term for LSU. The Tigers were hoping to land more elite defensive recruits for the 2015 class, but that becomes more difficult as one of college football's brightest minds is heading to a rival SEC West school.  

The search for finding Chavis' replacement will be an arduous one for Miles. Former Florida head coach Will Muschamp has already taken over as Auburn defensive coordinator. Former Nebraska head coach Bo Pelini has taken the same job at Youngstown State. Both Muschamp and Pelini were former national championship-winning defensive coordinators at LSU and could have potentially fit back in nicely in Baton Rouge.

Since those high-profile names are off the table, here are some other candidates Miles could possibly be evaluating in the next couple weeks.  

Brent Venables

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The best possible candidate for LSU would be Clemson defensive coordinator Brent Venables, though it is unlikely he bolts from one Death Valley to the other. Venables was named the 2014 FootballScoop Defensive Coordinator of the Year for good reason. 

The statistics Clemson posted defensively this season were amazing, per FootballScoop.com:

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Clemson led the nation in total defense (259.6 yards per game allowed), yards per play allowed (4.03) and plays of 10-plus yards allowed (113), making the Tigers just the second defense (joining 2011 Alabama) since the FootballScoop awards program started to lead the country in both metrics.

"

Unfortunately for LSU, Clemson reportedly signed Venables to a four-year extension, according to USA Today's George Schroeder. His salary will reportedly increase from under $875,000, although the terms of the contract are unknown. This should not stop LSU from at least trying to lure him to Baton Rouge.  

Venables is a high-energy coach who would fit in well with the culture Miles has set in Baton Rouge. This would be a long shot, yet Miles could really use him.  

Bob Shoop

LSU has shown interest in Penn State defensive coordinator Bob Shoop, though the two have yet to meet, per Ross Dellenger of The Advocate. 

Shoop has only been in Happy Valley for a year after leaving Vanderbilt alongside head coach James Franklin. Despite the Nittany Lions' rough 7-6 record, they finished first in the Big Ten in total defense by a wide margin under Shoop's leadership.

There were five occasions in 2014 where Penn State held the opposition to 14 points or less. The highlight was shutting down Rutgers quarterback Gary Nova, forcing him to toss five interceptions and no touchdowns.

Shoop has spent most of his career as a defensive coordinator and/or a defensive backs coach. He has developed a reputation to coach up marginal talent. LSU would immediately become the best collection of players he will have coached if he is hired.

Ed Orgeron

Mark J. Terrill/Associated Press

Sources told The Times-Picayune's Jim Kleinpeter Ed Orgeron is in the mix to be LSU's next defensive coordinator. 

Orgeron grew up in The Pelican State and attended South Lafourche High School in Galliano, Louisiana. He co-hosted a radio show recently on 104.5/104.9 ESPN Baton Rouge. His affable personality and unique voice has made him a popular figure in the South. 

Orgeron last served as interim head coach at USC after the firing of Lane Kiffin. His reputation as a tireless recruiter is well known throughout coaching circles.

Though he has made coaching stops at numerous places, he has never been a defensive coordinator. This ultimately makes him an unlikely candidate to win the job.

But even if Orgeron is not named the defensive coordinator, there is chance he could still join LSU's staff as a defensive line coach. 

Former USC defensive coordinator Clancy Pendergast, who coached with Orgeron, was once the hot name to replace Chavis. But that has since cooled down due to Pendergast's unfamiliarity with the South and the SEC, according to Kleinpeter. Pendergast could have lobbied to bring Orgeron with him. 

LSU defensive end Jermauria Rasco said after the Music City Bowl yesterday that if Chavis were to leave, defensive line coach Brick Haley would go with him, per Ben Love of Tiger Sports Digest. Now Chavis has been gone for over a week, Haley's move to College Station seems in the air.

Haley has now been rumored to take the defensive coordinator job Chavis vacated. This would still open the slot for Orgeron to be the defensive line coach, per Dellenger.  

Orgeron's expertise is on the defensive line. He has been a college defensive line coach at USC, Tennessee, Syracuse and Miami (FL) and also served a year in the same role for the New Orleans Saints. There is a chance he could add LSU to that list soon. 

Kevin Steele

DONNA MCWILLIAM/Associated Press

Alabama linebackers coach Kevin Steele has been a hot name in LSU's defensive coordinator search. 

The Times-Picayune and 104.5/104.9 ESPN Baton Rouge's Matt Moscona both have Steele being courted by LSU. His track record, though, is mediocre. 

Steele was fired as Baylor's head coach in 2002 with a 9-36 record with the Bears. He was dismissed from Clemson in 2011 as the defensive coordinator and was replaced by Venables. The only other time he served as a defensive coordinator was for Alabama in 2007.

Things have changed since then though. He served as Alabama's Director of Player Personnel in 2013 and just finished his first year as linebackers coach this year. Learning under Crimson Tide defensive coordinator Kirby Smart and head coach Nick Saban has undoubtedly given him valuable experience. 

LSU has lost to Alabama the last four times the two schools have faced. Steele would give the Tigers extra ammunition next November when they square off against the Crimson Tide in Tuscaloosa. 

Steele should not be LSU's No. 1 choice. But if the Tigers do end up hiring him, it would not be disastrous either. 

Greg Mattison

Carlos Osorio/Associated Press

It is hard to predict anything with Miles. Every coach on this list has at least been rumored to be the next LSU defensive coordinator. But there is a always a chance for a true dark horse to join the race. 

Michigan defensive coordinator Greg Mattison might not be on the radar, but it would certainly make sense if he ends up in Baton Rouge. 

Miles loves Michigan. He showed his love for the Wolverines when he hired his former coaching colleague Cam Cameron to be LSU's offensive coordinator. 

Miles may continue that trend with Mattison. 

Mattison coached alongside Miles and Cameron at Michigan back in 1992 and 1993. Turning down an opportunity to coach with old friends and better players would tough for him to pass up. 

New Michigan head coach Jim Harbaugh has yet to make any official decisions on his staff, per Michigan Sports Information. Wolverine247's Clint Brewster reports current Florida defensive coordinator D.J. Durkin, another possible dark-horse LSU defensive coordinator target, might join Harbaugh in Ann Arbor. The two coached together at Stanford from 2007-09. 

Yet Wolverine247's Steven Lorenz also reports Mattison will stay on Michigan's staff in some capacity. It is unclear, though, if that means he will remain at defensive coordinator. Either way, it does not prevent LSU from pursuing him. 

The Wolverines were a bad football team in 2014, but it was certainly not because of their defense. Michigan was fourth in total defense and fifth in scoring defense in the Big Ten.

Mattison also brings some NFL pedigree to the table. He served as the defensive coordinator for the Baltimore Ravens from 2008 to 2010, which was also the first three seasons Cameron was there as an offensive coordinator. 

Mattison might not be the sexiest name out there, but he would have no problems fitting in with Miles and Cameron right away.  

Other Names to Consider

Sue Ogrocki/Associated Press

Oklahoma defensive coordinator Mike Stoops

Mike Stoops

Oklahoma defensive coordinator Mike Stoops was interviewed over the weekend in Dallas by Miles, which was first reported by Dean Blevins of News9.com.

The Sooners' disappointing 8-5 record in 2014 was representative of their struggles on both sides of the ball. Bruce Feldman of Fox Sports reports head coach Bob Stoops is looking to make major changes, which may include his brother's leadership of the defense.

Unfortunately for Mike, a source told The Advocate's Dellenger that LSU's interest in him is "not serious." Yet that does not mean his name is completely out of consideration.

Brick Haley 

LSU could hire within and move Haley, the current defensive line coach, to defensive coordinator. That could also mean he assume Chavis' job of coaching linebackers and Orgeron get hired to take his place coaching the guys in the trenches.

Haley's last action at defensive coordinator was with Baylor in 2001, when Steele was the head coach. He has not coached linebackers since 2002 and 2003 when he was with Georgia Tech. 

Haley is a solid recruiter. His most recent work on the trail included his pursuit of former Texas A&M commit and 5-star defensive tackle Daylon Mack. If Mack eventually chooses the Tigers, it would be the second 5-star commitment Haley helped bring to Baton Rouge in 2015.

No coach on LSU's staff was closer with Chavis than Haley. The Tigers could hire him in hopes he provide the same creativity "The Chief" brought to the Tigers.

Stats, rankings and additional information provided by cfbstats.com, ESPN.com and LSU Sports Information. Recruiting information provided by 247Sports.

Quotes were obtained firsthand unless otherwise noted. Follow me on Twitter @CarterthePower.