It’s 2025, and Shaquille O’Neal is breaking news about the LSU Tigers and their head-coaching search to fill the vacancy left by a fired Brian Kelly.
There’s something about it that seems both right and wrong at the same time, but that’s the sports media landscape we live in, isn’t it? Take it with a Shaq-sized grain of salt for obvious reasons, but “The Big Diesel” recently revealed that he’s heard whispers of LSU reaching out to seven-time national champion head coach Nick Saban about a potential reunion in Baton Rouge.
“I heard through the grapevine that they were having conversations with Nick Saban,” O’Neal told Us Weekly. “That’d be awesome if we can bring Nick back.”
While this isn’t Brett McMurphy, Dan Wetzel or Andy Staples reporting the news, it’s well worth noting that Shaq is plugged into things at LSU. He was a two-time SEC Player of the Year for the Tigers from 1989 to 1992.
He’s not just an alumnus, though. He’s also potentially going to be an investor in LSU athletics. This past summer, Shaq announced his intentions to be the first investor in a new arena for LSU. Throw in his connections as a longtime member of the sports media landscape, and there’s absolutely a world in which this news nugget from O’Neal grows legs and becomes a real thing.
Nick Saban would be best option for LSU if he wants to come back
A reunion makes sense for LSU, too. Saban became a college football legend by winning six national championships at Alabama from 2007 to 2023, so it’s easy to forget that he actually won his first championship as a head coach at LSU in 2003.
Saban coached at LSU from 2000 to 2004 and racked up a 48-16 overall record with the Tigers. Kelly finished 34-14 in four seasons with the Tigers, but he could never get them over the hump by winning big games.
Per O’Neal, being able to win those big games has to be a prerequisite for LSU’s next head coach. That’s why Saban is such an intriguing option if he wants to come out of retirement.
“I know it will definitely be a winner and I know it’ll be somebody that’s in line with our culture,” Shaq said. “I know it’s somebody who’s going to bring us back to winning. We realize if you lose more than two games, we don’t get a significant bowl game.”
