Penn State news by
Penn State's student blog

Topics

More

Report: Bob Shoop To Interview For LSU Defensive Coordinator Position

Update — Jan. 6: According to a report by The Advocate‘s Ross Dellenger, LSU head coach Les Miles will officially interview Penn State’s Bob Shoop for the Tigers’ vacant defensive coordinator position.

Per Dellenger:

LSU has moved into the next step in its search for a defensive coordinator with at least one candidate.

Penn State defensive coordinator Bob Shoop will interview for the job soon, multiple sources told The Advocate on Tuesday afternoon. Shoop is expected to interview with coach Les Miles after a week of flirtation between the two sides.

LSU’s search for a replacement for John Chavis has entered its second week with a host of candidates and possibilities, but Miles has officially interviewed very few coaches.

Shoop will join the list, according to sources close to the LSU search.

Miles, an offensive-minded coach who rarely dabbles in the defense, is “taking time” with the search and knows “the importance” of the hire, sources said. Still, a hire is expected by the weekend.

Shoop’s salary is not made available to the public, but John Chavis, LSU’s former defensive coordinator, made $1.3 million per year in Baton Rouge, the third-highest salary for an assistant coach in the country.

According to The Advocate, sources have said that Shoop is “highly interested” in the position. Onward State will have an update when more information is known.

*****

After a stellar first season as Penn State’s defensive coordinator, Bob Shoop is quickly becoming a popular coaching candidate among college football programs across the country.

According to Jim Kleinpeter of  NOLA.com | The Times-Picayune, Shoop is LSU’s third choice for its vacancy at defensive coordinator behind frontrunners in former USC and NFL defensive coordinator Clancy Pendergast and Alabama linebackers coach Kevin Steele. Kleinpeter said LSU “likely will want to make a hire soon to maintain recruiting momentum” after former defensive coordinator John Chavis left the Tigers for Texas A&M.

In his first season with the Nittany Lions, Shoop put together one of the nation’s best defenses for a team that finished the season with only 41 scholarship players. Penn State ended the regular season ranked 3rd in total defense (269.8 yards allowed per game) and 9th in scoring defense (17.7 points allowed per game) while assembling the nation’s top-ranked unit against the rush, allowing a measly 84.8 yards per game.

In addition to Penn State, Shoop also worked as a defensive coordinator at William and Mary (2007-10), Villanova (1997) and Yale (1994-96). At Vanderbilt under James Franklin, his defense finished nationally ranked at 18th, 19th and 23rd from 2011-13. Having already spent three seasons with the Commodores in Nashville, Tennessee, Shoop is coveted by LSU for his knowledge of the SEC and experience recruiting in the south.

This may be a coordinator job, but at Penn State’s pre-Pinstripe Bowl media day, Shoop was asked if he had interest in being a head coach again, after an unsuccessful stint at Columbia. “You know, I don’t know,” he said then. “There’s no blueprint in this profession. I love the job that I have now. I work hard at it on a daily basis. And like any coach who is professionally motivated, if it were the right opportunity and someone showed interest in me, I would listen.”

Stay tuned with Onward State for more information as the end of season coaching carousel heads into full swing.

Photo: 247 Sports

Your ad blocker is on.

Please choose an option below.

Sign up for our e-mail newsletter:
OR
Support quality journalism:
Purchase a Subscription!

About the Author

CJ Doon

CJ is a senior journalism major from Long Island and Onward State's Sports Editor. He is a third-generation Penn Stater, and his grandfather wrestled for the university back in the 1930s under coach Charlie “Doc” Speidel. Besides writing, one of his favorite activities is making sea puns. You can follow him on Twitter @CJDoon, and send your best puns to [email protected], just for the halibut.

[Photo Story] Elevated Views From Happy Valley

Our photographers looked down and saw the world below from a handful of elevated vantage points.

Penn State’s Restorative Justice Initiative Offering Bachelor’s Degrees To Incarcerated Individuals

The program will allow incarcerated persons to work toward a degree while in prison.

WBIT Creating Newfound Attention For Women’s College Basketball

The Lady Lions are headed to the semifinals after an energetic win in the last home game of the season.

Follow on Another Platform
113kFollowers
164kFollowers
59.4kFollowers
4,570Subscribers
Other posts by CJ

Get Out There And Meet People: CJ Doon’s Senior Column

Whether it’s natural curiosity or fear of the spotlight, I’m not sure, but I’ve always been more comfortable asking questions rather than answering them. Interviewing interesting people — friends, family, or strangers — is an enjoyable activity that I hope to turn into a living. At Penn State, I was afforded the opportunity to follow that passion — and then some.

Penn State Women’s Lacrosse Wins First Big Ten Championship

Jesse James Drafted No. 160 Overall By Pittsburgh Steelers