LSU has bolstered its coaching staff by welcoming back Frank Wilson as an associate head coach.
Wilson resigned as head coach of McNeese State Tuesday morning, and his hiring was announced by LSU’s Brian Kelly early this afternoon.
He previously served on the LSU coach staff as a running backs coach and recruiting coordinator. Wilson, a New Orleans native, served a key role in attracting a number of elite student-athletes to the program. The Tigers assembled four Top 10 recruiting classes during his tenure.
Over those six seasons LSU compiled a 61-17 record, appeared in six bowl games, played for the 2012 BCS National Championship, and the 2011 SEC Championship.
Kelly adds a two-time national recruiter of the year to his staff. Wilson was recognized as the nation’s top assistant coach at his position in 2011. He also was named the 2011 Recruiter of the Year by Rivals.com, the 2014 NFL.com Top Recruiter in College Football and the 2015 Scout.com SEC Recruiter of the Year.
“Frank Wilson has a proven track record of identifying, recruiting, and developing elite student-athletes everywhere he has been,” Kelly said. “No one knows the recruiting landscape in Louisiana better than Frank, and his experience and character will be tremendous resources for our staff and student-athletes. His impact on our staff at LSU will be immediate and immense. We are thrilled he is returning home to ensure that we continue to sign the best student-athletes in Louisiana and throughout the country.”
One of the primary concerns for Kelly has been firming up LSU’s recruiting staff; both to retain players already committed to the Tigers, and to keep pace with the programs constantly in pursuit of Louisiana talent.
Wilson has also served as the head coach at Texas-San Antonio and Mc Neese. In six seasons he went 26-40. Wilson led UTSA to the New Mexico Bowl in 2016.
Wilson has experience coaching running backs, receivers, and special teams, and he made his mark at LSU as an elite recruiter and developer of talent. He coached seven running backs at LSU who went on to be selected in the NFL Draft, a group that included consensus All-America Leonard Fournette. Four LSU running backs Wilson recruited or coached earned All-SEC honors, a list that includes Fournette, Steven Ridley, Spencer Ware, and Jeremy Hill.
As the lead recruiter for the Tigers, Wilson landed some of the most decorated players in school history in Fournette, defensive back Tyrann Mathieu, wide receivers Jarvis Landry and Odell Beckham Jr. and offensive lineman La’el Collins.
Overall, Wilson has coached or recruited 40 individuals who have gone on to play in the NFL.
In six seasons at LSU, Wilson developed seven running backs that were selected in the NFL Draft, including first-team All-SEC performers in Fournette, Hill and Ridley.
Some information contained was provided by LSU Athletic Communications.