LSU football will see a familiar face in the opposing coach's box this week. Joe Sloan, LSU's former offensive coordinator, now holds the same role at Kentucky.
Sloan was on LSU's staff from 2022-25. He was a member of Brian Kelly's first LSU staff, originally serving as the quarterbacks coach. In that role, Sloan tutored QB Jayden Daniels, and Daniels won the Heisman in 2023.
Kelly's first LSU OC was Mike Denbrock, but Denbrock departed for Notre Dame after 2023, and Kelly promoted Sloan to playcaller. Expectations were high after Sloan's work with Daniels, but the Tigers' offense took a step back in 2024.
In 2025, the LSU offense regressed again. Kelly and Sloan were both let go in October after LSU fell to 5-3.
Sloan's legacy at LSU is complicated.
Sloan did good work with Daniels and probably deserves more credit for what he got out of Garrett Nussmeier, but he struggled as a first-time SEC play caller. Sloan also led the recruiting effort for five-star QB Bryce Underwood, but Underwood ultimately flipped late to Michigan. NIL probably had more to do with that.
At Kentucky, Sloan works in tandem with UK head coach Will Stein, a fellow offensive mind, but Sloan is the primary play caller on game days. Kentucky's offense ranks 32nd in ESPN's SP+ -- a solid unit.
LSU DC Blake Baker should be familiar with Sloan after the two called plays against one another in practice for two years.
LSU faces Kentucky in Lexington on Saturday night.
This article originally appeared on LSU Wire: LSU football facing former offensive coordinator Joe Sloan this week
