Another day. Another Alabama assistant football coach who needs replacing.
After losing middle linebackers coach Kevin Steele on Tuesday night, when he was announced as LSU's new defensive coordinator, the Crimson Tide had a second departure Wednesday morning when outside linebackers coach Lance Thompson was named as Auburn's new linebackers coach. Thompson's hire completes the defensive staff under new Auburn coordinator Will Muschamp, who served in the same role with the Tigers during the 2006 and '07 seasons.
Muschamp and head coach Gus Malzahn previously hired cornerbacks coach Travaris Robinson while retaining defensive line coach Rodney Garner.
"I'm excited to have Lance Thompson join our staff," Auburn head coach Gus Malzahn told the university's web site. "Lance is very familiar with Will, having worked with him before. He's an outstanding coach and an outstanding recruiter who is very familiar with our state and the Southeastern Conference."
Thompson and Muschamp worked under Nick Saban more than a decade ago at LSU. Thompson left LSU to become Central Florida's defensive coordinator from 2004 to '06 before reuniting with Saban when Saban was hired at Alabama.
After spending the 2007 and ''08 seasons with the Crimson Tide, Thompson left for three seasons at Tennessee, spending the first two working with linebackers and the third with the defensive line. He was hired again at Alabama in January 2012 and has since worked with the likes of Courtney Upshaw, Jerrell Harris, Adrian Hubbard, Xzavier Hubbard and Denzel Devall.
"I'm really excited and very appreciative to be joining the Auburn football family and work with Coach Malzahn, Coach Muschamp and the entire staff," Thompson said. "I have a great amount of respect for Coach Malzahn and what he represents and what he has accomplished in a short period of time. I hope to bring my strengths to the program to help Auburn football achieve its goals of winning a national championship."
Thompson was ranked the nation's top recruiter last January by ESPN and in 2008 by Rivals.com.
Orgeron back in SEC
Ed Orgeron, the head coach at Ole Miss from 2005 to '07 and Tennessee's defensive line coach in 2009, is back in the SEC.
LSU announced Wednesday that Orgeron will be the defensive line coach under Steele. He replaces Brick Haley, who is being reassigned within the athletic department.
"Ed is an expert when it comes to the defensive line," LSU head coach Les Miles said in a statement. "He will bring tremendous enthusiasm and energy to our program. His passion and love for the state of Louisiana makes him a great fit for us. Ed has done a great job at every coaching stop he's made."
Orgeron struggled to a 10-25 record with the Rebels but was given a second head-coaching opportunity in 2013. Following the firing of Lane Kiffin at Southern California five games into that year, Orgeron served as interim coach and guided the Trojans to a 6-2 mark to complete a 9-4 regular season.
"It's a great day," Orgeron said Wednesday afternoon in his introductory news conference. "I can't wait to go recruit tomorrow with LSU on my chest. I feel like I'm at home, and I remember passing across that bridge many times wanting to be in that stadium."
The Louisiana native did not coach this past season.
Contact David Paschall at dpaschall@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6524.