Central City News Names 10 Greatest LSU Football Coaches of All Times

 The Central City News has chosen the following LSU head football coaches as the greatest of all times. Agree or disagree? Comment when this article is posted at Central City News on Facebook.

1. Nick Saban 

(2000–2004)

•Record: 48–16 (.750)

•Accomplishments: 

National Championship (2003)

Two SEC Championships.

•Impact: Saban modernized the entire athletic infrastructure and resurrected LSU into a national powerhouse, setting the elite standard for the modern era.

2. Paul Dietzel

(1955–1961)

•Record: 46–24–3 (.651)

•Accomplishments:

National Championship (1958)

SEC Championship

National Coach of the Year

•Impact: Dietzel brought LSU its first consensus National Championship in school history and created the “Chinese Bandits” defense.

3. Les Miles

(2005–2016)

•Record: 114–34 (.770)

•Accomplishments

National Championship (2007)

Two SEC Championships

National Coach of the Year

    • Impact: “The Mad Hatter” captured the second most wins in school history and maintained a high winning percentage, keeping LSU in the running for a national championship.

4. Charles McClendon

(1962–1979)

•Record: 137–59–7 (.692)

•Accomplishments: 

One SEC Championship 

13 bowl appearances

•Impact: He remains the winningest coach in LSU history, providing 18 years of consistency without a single losing season.

5. Ed Orgeron

(2016–2021)

•Record: 51-20 (.718)

•Accomplishments:

National Championship (2019)

One SEC Championship, 

National Coach of the Year.

    • Impact: “Coach O” masterminded the undefeated 2019 season, widely considered one of the greatest single-season runs in college football history.

6. Brian Kelly

(2022–2025)

•Record: 34–14 (.708)

•Accomplishments: 

SEC West Division Title 

Two 10-win seasons.

•Impact: While his tenure ended abruptly, his first two years brought stability and an SEC Championship game appearance.

7. Bernie Moore

(1935–1947)

•Record: 83–39–6 (.672)

•Accomplishments:

Two SEC Championships

    • Impact: Moore established LSU as a premier power in the new SEC, winning league titles in his first two seasons.

8. Bill Arnsparger 

(1984–1986)

•Record: 26–8–2 (.750)

•Accomplishments: 

SEC Championship 

Two Sugar Bowl appearances

    • Impact: A brilliant defensive tactician, Arnsparger revived a stagnant program in the mid-1980s before becoming the school’s AD.

9. Mike Archer

(1987–1990)

•Record: 27–18–1 (.598)

•Accomplishments: 

SEC Championship

    • Impact: Taking over at 34 years old, Archer led the Tigers to a shared SEC title in 1988.

10. Gaynell Tinsley

(1948–1954)

•Record: 35–34–6 (.507)

•Accomplishments: 

Sugar Bowl appearance • AP No. 9 (1949).

•Impact: The former LSU All-American player coached the famous 1949 “Cinderella” team that earned an historic Sugar Bowl berth.