LSU’s 5-3 record finally forced the Tigers’ administration to pull the plug on Brian Kelly. The tension reached a boiling point when the Athletic Director Scott Woodward wanted Kelly to fire offensive coordinator Joe Sloan. The step aimed to fix LSU’s weak offense. However, Kelly pushed for a different staff change, and the ongoing back and forth led the Tigers to fire him, with Sloan losing his job soon after.

And as soon as Sloan was sacked, LSU quickly found his replacement. And that is Alex Atkins. “Former Florida State and Charlotte OC Alex Atkins will take over as the LSU play caller, per the school,” Pete Thamel posted on X. Brian Kelly brought Alex Atkins onto the staff last offseason as the tight ends coach and run game coordinator.

Who Is Alex Atkins? LSU Tigers’ New Offensive Coordinator

Alex Atkins, a native of Chicago, earned his bachelor’s degree in history from UT-Martin in 2007. He started as a four-year starter on the offensive line at UT-Martin, where he earned all-conference honors twice. Right after college, he jumped into coaching in 2007 at his alma mater as a graduate assistant, quickly taking on the tight ends coach role in 2008.

Atkins’ coaching path then became a tour of the South’s college football landscape. He worked at places like Marshall, Itawamba Community College, Chattanooga, and Georgia Southern. He mostly focused on offensive line and run game duties.

Alex Atkins’ Net Worth and Contract Details

Alex Atkins has the second-largest salary among Florida State assistant coaches, behind only defensive coordinator Adam Fuller. He makes $1.25 million for the 2024 season, a raise from his 2023 salary of $1.15 million. He originally signed a three-year deal starting at $250,000 in year one, jumping to $450,000 in year two, and $650,000 by year three, with a cherry on top of $125,000 in incentives if LSU nails the SEC or national title.

Not bad for a tight ends coach who’s now temporarily callin’ the shots as OC. This also means LSU is banking on Atkins to revive their sputtering offense after a 124th-ranked rush attack and scuffling red zone play.

Alex Atkins Ethnicity & Background

Atkins is a Chicago native, growing up in a working-class neighborhood. Ethnically, Atkins is African American, as seen on official LSU pages, social media, and press coverage mentioning his roots in Chicago. Atkins’ sense of community isn’t just talk; he’s a proud member of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, one of the major African American Greek organizations that focuses on brotherhood, scholarship, and service.

Family Details: Alex Atkins’ Wife, Kids, Personal Life

Alex Atkins shares a very strong bond with his wife, Brittany Mitchell. The couple met as students at UT-Martin, where Atkins was a standout player and Brittany was also attending school. However, there is no public information about his kids on the internet.

Alex Atkins’ Career Stats & Coaching Highlights

Atkins stepped onto the field as a four-year starter for UT Martin. At Martin, Atkins started as a graduate assistant. A key turning point came at Tulane. From 2016 to 2018, Atkins served as the associate head coach and offensive line coach, with the addition of run game coordinator duties later. In his last year at Tulane, the Green Wave won seven games and the Cure Bowl behind an offense that posted the 23rd-highest rushing average in the country at 218.2 yards per game. In 2019, Atkins coordinated an offense that led Charlotte to its first bowl game in program history. His success caught the attention of Florida State, where he initially joined in 2020 as the offensive line coach.

Then by 2022, he was promoted to offensive coordinator. In that role, Atkins orchestrated one of the nation’s most explosive offenses, leading the Seminoles to a 10-3 record. But the momentum took a hit last year when Atkins got hired from Tallahassee. The reason? FSU’s 1-9 start to the season. In 2025, Atkins took another notable step, joining LSU as tight ends coach and run game coordinator. And now, he steps in as the offensive coordinator as Joe Sloan packed his bags.