"It has been minimized to how much money do you have to spend": Nick Saban issues blunt take on LSU job opportunity after Brian Kelly's dismissal

The LSU Tigers fired Brian Kelly on Sunday, a day after their 49-25 loss to No. 3 Texas A&M at Tiger Stadium. It was LSU's third loss of the season, and the team announced that Frank Wilson, the Tigers' associate head coach and running backs coach, will take over as the team's interim head coach.

On Wednesday, former LSU coach Nick Saban weighed in on the Tigers' vacant coaching job following Kelly's dismissal.

“That’s changed dramatically, the whole question of what constitutes the best job,” Saban told On3. “What used to make a job great was facilities, fan support, good academic support, recruiting base and being able to create value for the players. Now that has been minimized to how much money do you have to spend on building a roster. That is the most important thing by far.”

Saban won seven national titles as a coach. He won six at Alabama and one at LSU.

In just under four seasons at LSU, Kelly posted a 34-14 record. He won the Southeastern Conference West Division title with the team in the 2022 season.

As per reports, LSU will owe Kelly $54 million as part of his buyout.

Ed Orgeron open to returning to LSU after Brian Kelly's firing

NCAA Football: Former LSU HC Brian Kelly - Source: Imagn

On Wednesday, former LSU coach Ed Orgeron said he would be open to returning to coach the Tigers after Brian Kelly's firing.

“I’d love to,” Orgeron said on ESPN’s "Unsportsmanlike" when asked if he would consider returning to LSU. “Are you kidding me? I just gotta get in my truck, I’ll be there today!”

LSU hired Orgeron in January 2015 as its defensive line coach. He was named interim head coach in September 2016.

Two months later, LSU made Orgron its full-time head coach, and he held the role until the end of the 2021 season, compiling a 51-20 record with the program.

Orgeron led LSU to an unbeaten 15-0 run in 2019, en route to winning the national championship. The Tigers then hired Kelly to replace Orgeron.

Edited by Arnold