Lindsay Ruhl

While most people on and around Tulane University’s campus have been riding the high of securing a spot in the College Football Playoff, there are folks working behind the scenes to set next year up for success after head coach Jon Sumrall announced he was leaving Tulane for the University of Florida. 

Some outlets expected Louisiana State University’s defensive coordinator Blake Baker to take the job. He played linebacker for the Green Wave from 2000 to 2004 and would have the opportunity to take over a program on the come-up.

However, LSU’s new head coach, Lane Kiffin, was able to keep Baker on his staff. He will be making around $3 million per year, which is about what Sumrall received at Tulane. 

Another viable candidate for head coach is former LSU head coach Ed Orgeron, who has reportedly shown interest in taking the job here. Although he has had multiple off-the-field issues and has been out of coaching since 2021, he led one of the greatest college football teams ever to a national championship in 2019. 

The next name on the list that isn’t currently in the building would be Jerry Mack, the head coach at Kennesaw State University. A former running backs coach for the Jacksonville Jaguars, Mack has turned around one of the worst programs in all of college football.

Kennesaw State finished 2-10 last season in their first year competing in the Football Bowl Subdivision. With Mack at the helm this year, the Owls finished 10-3 with a conference championship win.

Will Hall is another name to look out for. He was Tulane’s offensive coordinator in 2019 and 2020 before he was the head coach for the University of Southern Mississippi for four seasons. Back as the pass game coordinator this season with the Green Wave, Hall would bring continuity and experience as the head coach.

It’s an exciting time for Green Wave football.