Kirk Doll Season 2025
(updated 05/21/03)
Kirk Doll, a veteran on the defensive side of the football, enters his second year as LSU’s assistant head coach and linebackers coach. Doll joined the LSU staff in the spring of 2002 after serving as the assistant head coach at Notre Dame for eight years.
In his first year with the Tigers, Doll coached Bradie James to First-Team All-America honors as the senior set a school-record with 154 tackles in 2002. In addition, Doll assisted with an LSU defense that ranked among the best in the nation as the Tigers allowed 286 yards per contest, eighth best nationally.
While at Notre Dame, Doll helped lead the Irish to five bowl games, including an appearance in the Tostitos Fiesta Bowl in 2000.
Among Doll’s coaching responsibilities at Notre Dame were the linebackers, special teams and the kickers. In 2000, Notre Dame punter Joey Hildbold was a finalist for the Ray Guy Award, which is given to the nation’s top punter.
In 1995, Doll helped Notre Dame reach the Orange Bowl as the Fighting Irish defense allowed just 270 yards per contest, the lowest figure at the school since the 1980 season.
Prior to his stint at Notre Dame, Doll coached at Texas A&M for six years, helping the Aggies to five bowl games, including three appearances in the Cotton Bowl. Doll helped Texas A&M lead the nation in total defense in 1991 (222.4 yards per game) and rank third nationally in 1993 (247.6) . The Aggies ranked third nationally in scoring defense in 1993 by allowing only 10.8 points per contest. In his final three years at Texas A&M, the Aggies posted a 32-5 overall mark, including a 12-1 record in 1992.
Doll has also coached at the collegiate level at Arizona State (1985-87), Tulsa (1980-84) , Iowa State (1979) and Wichita State (1975-76). Doll coached outside linebackers at Arizona State, helping the Sun Devils to a 10-1-1 mark and an appearance in the Rose Bowl in 1986. Doll served as the offensive line coach at Tulsa for five years and he coached the tight ends for one spring as a part-time coach at Iowa State.
Doll’s coaching career has featured 14 bowl games, including appearances in the Rose Bowl, Orange Bowl, Cotton Bowl and Fiesta Bowl.
Doll, a native of Wichita, Kan., earned Bachelor’s degrees from both East Carolina and Wichita State. He played as both a defensive end and tackle at East Carolina for two years.
Doll is married to the former Kathy Reding and the couple has three children — Kate, Kelsey and Kyle.
The Doll File
Year at LSU: First (appointed March 4, 2002)
Birthdate: Sept. 24, 1951 at Wichita, Kan.
Wife: former Kathy Reding
Children: Kate, Kelsey and Kyle
High School: Wichita West
College: East Carolina, ’74 and Wichita State, ’76
Coaching Experience:
1975-76 Wichita State (graduate assistant)
1977-78 Texas City High School (asst. coach)
1979 Iowa State (tight ends)
1980-84 Tulsa (offensive line)
1985-87 Arizona State (outside linebackers)
1988-93 Texas A&M (linebackers)
1994-2001 Notre Dame (asst. head coach, linebackers, special teams)
2002 LSU (asst. head coach/linebackers)