The name has always come up whenever LSU needed a defensive line coach in recent years, and now it has him.
LSU hired Texas defensive line coach Bo Davis in the same capacity on Wednesday, as Brian Kelly rounded up his coaching staff with one of the most important hires.
Davis, who played at LSU and previously worked for the Tigers as an assistant strength and conditioning coach, has established himself as one of the nation’s top defensive line coaches. He spent ten years on Nick Saban’s staff and has been coaching at Texas since 2021.
Texas made its first College Football Playoff appearance last season, thanks in part to the development of defensive linemen Byron Murphy and T’Vondre Sweat, the 2023 Outland Trophy winner and Big 12 defensive player of the year. Murphy was selected the Big 12 defensive lineman of the Year.
Davis agreed to a three-year contract worth $4.05 million, according to a source familiar with the arrangement. Davis’ annual pay begins at $1.25 million. His compensation then increases by $100.00 every year through the last year of the contract.
Davis received a higher offer from LSU than he did at Texas. He made $1 million per year, which is a significant salary for an assistant coach who is not a coordinator. Davis had one year remaining on his contract with the Longhorns, which included a $500,000 buyout, according to the contract.
“As a defensive line coach Bo brings a wealth of proven success at both the professional and collegiate level throughout his distinguished career,” Kelly said in a statement. “Additionally, coach Davis is an outstanding recruiter and developer of the players in his charge.”
Hiring a defensive line coach was critical for LSU, which has dealt with a high rate of turnover at the position. The last three coaches were all gone after one year.
Last season, Jamar Cain left in spring practice for a job with the Denver Broncos. Gerald Chatman, now the defensive line coach at Florida, served as the interim until LSU hired Jimmy Lindsey. He had to step away from the team because of a medical issue two days before preseason practice, so LSU moved John Jancek to the defensive line, which was not his area of expertise. Pete Jenkins was then brought in to help after five games.
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