Youngstown State football coach Bo Pelini announced he is taking the LSU defensive coordinator’s position on Monday. (Photo by Michael S. Burich)

YOUNGSTOWN — Youngstown State had hoped coach Bo Pelini would mold the Penguin football team into a regular Missouri Valley Football Conference and FCS national championship contender when the university hired him five seasons ago. Instead after a tenure of mixed results in his hometown, the coach is moving back to the top ranks of college football.

Reigning national champion LSU is bringing back Bo Pelini as defensive coordinator, the position he held when the Tigers won a national championship in the 2007 season.

Pelini’s hiring was announced by coach Ed Orgeron on Monday. He replaces Dave Aranda, who left the Tigers to take over as Baylor’s head coach after LSU’s victory over Clemson in the College Football Playoff final in New Orleans earlier this month.

“We are privileged to have one of the top defensive coordinators in all of football in Bo Pelini join our staff,” Orgeron said. “Bo has had some of the best defenses in football during his career and we are looking forward to him bringing his tremendous amount of knowledge and expertise back to LSU.”

After a seven-year run at Nebraska, Pelini was hired by the Penguins in December 2014. He went 33-28 in his five seasons at YSU, highlighted by an exciting run to the 2017 FCS national championship game. Following the national championship appearance, Pelini’s Penguins followed with records of 6-5, 4-7 and 6-6 in the three subsequent seasons.

“The opportunity to return to LSU is truly unique,” Pelini said. “Culturally, with my prior experience at LSU, I know it is a great fit for me. The chance to work with coach Orgeron, the ability to take charge of the Tigers defense, is something that I’m extremely excited about. All of that in a place that both my family and I immensely enjoyed when we were there before is very exciting for us.”

In a statement supplied by YSU, Pelini expressed gratitude to YSU for giving him a chance.

“The past five years have been terrific,” Pelini said in the statement. “I can’t thank President Jim Tressel and (YSU athletic director) Ron Strollo enough for the opportunity here and support along the way. For all of the people, honestly too many to name, who were part of my YSU experience, I also want to extend a heartfelt thank you.

“The experience for me professionally to coach my hometown university and to appear in a championship game, is something I will always treasure. For Mary Pat and I, Youngstown will always hold an element of home for us with our children graduating from Cardinal Mooney High School and so many of our family members residing here. My YSU days will always be special for the entire Pelini family.

“And trust me, I will be checking in every week in the fall to follow the Penguins as they continue to build on our successes and I know they have great days ahead.”

Strollo said a national search for his replacement will begin immediately.

“We’d like to thank coach Pelini for the passion that he brought on the field and for returning home to lead our program the past five seasons,” Strollo said in a statement. “We wish Bo and his family the best of luck in their future. The Youngstown State football program is very special to this community and we will work tirelessly to find someone to build on what coach Pelini established here.”

During Pelini’s three years as LSU defensive coordinator under then-coach Les Miles from 2005-07, the Tigers ranked third nationally on defense all three years. In two of those season, LSU ranked atop the Southeastern Conference in defense.

Pelini’s LSU defenses averaged 38 sacks per season and created a total of 71 turnovers. NFL first-round draft picks Glenn Dorsey and LaRon Landry were part of those defenses.

Pelini was at Nebraska from 2008-2014, going 66-27 and winning at least nine games each season. While his tenure at Nebraska was generally successful and largely devoid of controversy, he once apologized publicly when audio surfaced of his profane rant against “fair-weather” fans.

Pelini’s hire is pending approval from the LSU Board of Supervisors.

Pelini will receive a hefty raise from the $200,538 base salary he received this past season. His three-year contract with LSU is reportedly for $2.2 million per season.