Vanderbilt coach Gerry DiNardo has signed a five-year contract with LSU and will take four of his assistants with him, the Nashville Banner reported today.
DiNardo told the Banner in an interview Sunday night interview that he has already moved into LSU offices and will "do whatever is right" in terms of settling his contact obligations with Vanderbilt.DiNardo has three years remaining on his Vandy contract at a base salary of $135,000 per year, or a total of $405,000.
DiNardo resurfaced in LSU's hunt to replace Curley Hallman when Pat Sullivan couldn't break his coaching contract at Texas Christian.
"This is a great job and a great opportunity," DiNardo said. "I think LSU has the potential for great things."
DiNardo told the Banner he would take with him assistant Bill Elias, who will become DiNardo's top aide and recruiting coordinator at LSU.
Also going to LSU will be secondary coach Ron Case, offensive line coach Hal Hunter and receivers coach Bob McConnell.
"We have done some good things at Vanderbilt," DiNardo said. "But a new enthusiasm and new energy would be a real positive for the program."
DiNardo as LSU coach has drawn mixed reactions from Tiger players concerned about his losing record and coaching style.
Some LSU football players expressed disappointment when word spread that DiNardo was the university's choice.
DiNardo has an 18-26 record in four years at Vanderbilt. He replaces Hallman, fired last month after finishing with a four-year record of 16-28.
Holdover defensive coordinator Phil Bennett, who is interviewing for that position this week at two other universities, told the team to be patient, "don't judge on hearsay . . . meet the guy, find out what he's like, then draw their conclusions."
LSU broke its silence Sunday, acknowledging it offered DiNardo the job and announcing DiNardo's acceptance.
DiNardo and LSU athletic director Joe Dean still were finalizing details of the agreement Sunday, the university said in a news release.
"I feel like this has been a very thorough search," Dean said Sunday.
"The LSU community need not fret," outgoing Colorado coach Bill McCartney said in a press release. "Gerry DiNardo is a cut above. I really believe he will resurrect good fortunes there. As a matter of fact, hang your hat on it."