LSU’s defensive assistant, John Jancek, has left the team after a two-year tenure in various capacities, as reported by The Advocate. Although Jancek was initially retained when head coach Brian Kelly made defensive coaching changes in early January, the specific nature of his ongoing role needed clarification. Notably, he had one year remaining on his contract. Alongside Jancek, offensive analysts Terry Malone and John McDonell also departed from LSU, having been on staff for the past two seasons, according to Football Scoop.
John Jancek, a former defensive coordinator at Georgia and Tennessee, initially joined Kelly’s LSU staff in 2022 as a defensive analyst. Following a season, he was promoted to the positions of outside linebackers coach and special teams coordinator. However, his role underwent further adjustments due to the departure of defensive line coach Jimmy Lindsey, who stepped away from the team before preseason camp due to a medical issue.
Given Jancek’s limited experience in coaching defensive line, LSU brought in former defensive line coach Pete Jenkins to provide support in that area five games into the season. Bob Diaco, another coach retained during the recent changes, was still listed on LSU’s updated online directory as of Monday, although his role would likely need adjustments if he chose to stay with the team.
With Jancek’s shift to the defensive line, Diaco took on coaching responsibilities for outside linebackers and special teams in the last fall season. LSU has since made new hires, bringing in Kevin Peoples as the edge rushers coach and Slade Nagle as the special teams coordinator.
