BATON ROUGE, Louisiana (WAFB) – A familiar face has joined the Tigers’ coaching staff.
Bo Davis will return to LSU as the team’s defensive line coach for the 2018 football season, according to head coach Brian Kelly.
Davis played for the Tigers in the early 1990s, worked as a graduate assistant for the football department from 1995 to 1997, and was a member of the strength and conditioning staff when LSU won the national championship in 2003, according to LSU Athletics. He has spent the last three seasons in Texas, where he has helped the Longhorns reach the College Football Playoffs with one of the nation’s top defenses.
LSU Athletics released the following news release about the announcement:
Bo Davis, a former standout nose guard in the All-SEC and highly regarded as one of the premier defensive line coaches in college football, is making a return to LSU, as announced by head coach Brian Kelly on Wednesday. Davis, who spent the past three seasons contributing to Texas’s formidable defense, will take on the role of defensive line coach for the Tigers.
During his six-year tenure with the Longhorns, Davis played a pivotal role in their defensive success, aiding in their College Football Playoff appearance in 2023. Notably, he served as the defensive tackles coach from 2011-2013 and later as the defensive line coach from 2021-2023.
Bo Davis has a deep connection with LSU, having played for the Tigers in the early 1990s, served as a graduate assistant from 1995-1997, and contributed to the strength and conditioning staff during LSU’s 2003 national championship victory.
Known for his expertise in developing top-tier defensive linemen, Davis brings an impressive coaching record, boasting 17 all-conference selections and seven all-Americans in his 12 years coaching the defensive line in college football. His coaching has produced winners of prestigious awards such as the Outland Trophy, Defensive Player of the Year in the Big 12 and Conference USA, as well as the Big 12 Defensive Lineman of the Year. Additionally, his players have been finalists for the Outland, Nagurski, and Bednarik Awards.
Coach Brian Kelly expressed excitement about Davis’ return, emphasizing his proven success at both professional and collegiate levels, along with his outstanding recruiting and player development skills.
Davis, a three-time national champion in his collegiate career (2003 with LSU, 2009 and 2015 with Alabama), most recently led the Texas defensive line in 2023, featuring standout players like T’Vondre Sweat and Byron Murphy. Under his coaching, the Texas defense allowed only 82.4 yards rushing per game in 2023 and held opponents to fewer than 100 yards rushing in eight games.
Beyond his college coaching experience, Davis spent five years in the NFL, serving as the defensive line coach for the Detroit Lions from 2018-2020 and also contributing to teams like the Miami Dolphins and Jacksonville Jaguars.
The LSU alum’s coaching journey includes two stints at Alabama, where he played a crucial role in developing standout defensive linemen and contributed to the team’s defensive prowess.
Bo Davis’ hiring is contingent on a satisfactory background check and approval from the LSU Board of Supervisors.