Orgeron named recruiting coordinator, defensive line coach at UT

New Orleans Saints defensive line coach Ed Orgeron has accepted a position on new coach Lane Kiffin’s growing staff to be Tennessee’s recruiting coordinator and defensive line coach.

The move happened suddenly on New Year’s Eve less than two days after multiple reports had Orgeron leaning towards accepting a similar position at LSU.

Orgeron last coached in college at Ole Miss in 2005-07 and compiled a 10-25 record. Despite being fired from that post, Orgeron was widely credited with upgrading the Rebels’ talent level.

Following Orgeron’s departure, Ole Miss went 8-4 and 5-3 in the SEC under first-year coach Houston Nutt.

Before going to the NFL, Orgeron garnered national acclaim as one of the top recruiters in the nation and a solid defensive line coach at Southern California and Miami.

Orgeron joined USC’s staff as defensive line coach in 1998. He was named recruiting coordinator in 2001 and promoted to assistant head coach in 2003.

While at USC, the Trojans won national championships in 2003 and 2004. Orgeron coached one of the nation’s best defensive lines, led by All-American defensive end Kenechi Udeze – a first-round choice by the Minnesota Vikings in 2004 – and all Pac-10 selections Shaun Cody and Mike Patterson.

In 2005, Patterson was a No. 1 pick by Philadelphia and Cody a second-round selection by Detroit.

Prior to joining USC’s staff, Orgeron was the defensive line coach at Syracuse from 1995-97. He came to Syracuse from Nicholls State, where he coached linebackers in 1994.

Orgeron’s stop in Miami produced great results on the field. At Miami from 1988-92, he coached eight All-Americans, including NFL first-round picks Cortez Kennedy, Russell Maryland and Warren Sapp.

During Orgeron’s tenure with the Hurricanes, Miami won the national championship in 1989 and 1991 and appeared in five New Year’s Day bowl games.

Orgeron opened his coaching career in 1984 as a graduate assistant at Northwestern (La.) State, his alma mater, and was also a graduate assistant at McNeese State (La.) in 1985.

During his playing days, Orgeron was a starting defensive lineman at Northwestern State for four years and served as captain as a senior. He received a degree in Liberal Arts, and was named to Northwestern State’s Top 100 Players in 100 Years of Demon Football.

© 2008, Knoxville News Sentinel Co.
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