Home Sweet Home: Tommy Casanova, an LSU legend, Returns to Baton Rouge as the Athletic Director’s Special Assistant

ming decades in the making, LSU legend Tommy Casanova is returning to Baton Rouge, not as the electrifying football player who captivated Tiger Stadium, but as the Athletic Director’s Special Assistant—a role that signals a meaningful fusion of legacy, leadership, and a lifelong commitment to excellence. For LSU fans and the broader Tiger family, Casanova’s return represents more than a personnel move; it is a powerful reunion between a university and one of its most iconic figures.

Casanova’s appointment by Athletic Director Scott Woodward comes at a time when LSU Athletics is both celebrating recent triumphs and charting a path into a more ambitious and strategically demanding era. His new position is expected to be advisory in nature, allowing him to contribute institutional knowledge, player-first perspectives, and championship expectations from the ground level up.

“It’s not every day that you get to welcome a true legend back home,” Woodward said during the announcement. “Tommy Casanova embodies everything LSU stands for—excellence, integrity, and relentless pride. His presence will be invaluable in helping guide our programs and inspire our student-athletes.”

Casanova, now 74, spoke with humility and genuine emotion when discussing the return.

“LSU gave me everything,” he said. “The foundation of my career, the relationships, the lessons—all of it began here in Baton Rouge. I’m honored to come back and give back to a place that shaped me.”

To understand why Casanova’s return is so monumental, one must understand his towering legacy. Casanova was not just a football player—he was a cultural phenomenon in the early 1970s. A three-time All-American defensive back (1969–1971), Casanova starred under head coach Charles McClendon and helped redefine the role of the defensive backfield.

His uncanny ability to read offenses, break on the ball, and deliver bone-jarring hits made him a nightmare for opposing quarterbacks and wide receivers alike. But what separated Casanova was his versatility. He returned punts, played offense in special packages, and brought an artistry to the game that few defenders ever manage.

He finished his collegiate career with 9 interceptions and an indelible reputation as a game-changer.

Following his college success, Casanova was drafted in the second round of the 1972 NFL Draft by the Cincinnati Bengals. In six seasons with the team, he earned Pro Bowl honors and established himself as one of the league’s most cerebral and tenacious safeties.

Still, even as the NFL beckoned, Baton Rouge remained close to Casanova’s heart. His return is a full-circle moment for the man who once walked through the tunnel at Tiger Stadium to the roar of tens of thousands.

The title of “Special Assistant to the Athletic Director” may sound ceremonial to some, but LSU sources confirm that Casanova will be deeply involved in strategic discussions, especially those that pertain to athlete development, wellness, and culture.

“He’s here to help foster championship standards, not just in performance but in character,” said one source within the athletic department. “We’re at a moment where NIL, the transfer portal, and increasing commercialism risk shifting the soul of college sports. Tommy’s wisdom and presence help anchor us in what matters.”

Casanova’s long career outside football reinforces this value. After retiring from the NFL in 1978, he pursued a medical degree and became a respected ophthalmologist in Louisiana. He also dabbled in politics, serving as a Louisiana State Senator from 1996 to 2000.

This blend of professional success in sports, medicine, and politics makes him a unique asset—someone who has walked in the athletes’ shoes and understands the complexities they face beyond the playing field.

“Tommy has a special way of relating to young people,” said LSU football coach Brian Kelly. “When he speaks, they listen—not just because of who he was on the field, but because of the way he carries himself. He’s a Tiger in every sense.”

One of the key areas where Casanova is expected to make an immediate impact is mentorship. LSU plans to integrate him into leadership development programs for student-athletes, bringing him face-to-face with the next generation of Tigers.

“In an era where the external noise is louder than ever, we need voices of clarity and consistency,” said LSU Women’s Basketball coach Kim Mulkey. “Tommy brings that voice.”

He is also expected to help steer LSU’s ongoing initiatives to connect current players with alumni, creating bridges across generations and cultivating a deeper sense of community.

“If you walk through the halls of LSU Athletics, you feel the presence of the past,” said Woodward. “But we want our athletes to *experience* it—to shake hands with it. That’s what Tommy brings.”

In returning to LSU, Casanova joins a lineage of great Tigers who have transitioned from the field to leadership roles—names like Billy Cannon, Kevin Faulk, and Marcus Spears.

But Casanova’s role is especially significant given the timing. LSU Athletics is in the midst of a golden era, with national championships in baseball (2023), women’s basketball (2023), and a football program knocking on the door of the College Football Playoff. Meanwhile, the demands on athletes have never been greater.

“There’s a big difference between being talented and being great,” Casanova said. “And greatness comes from how you approach every day—not just practice or game day. It’s nutrition, sleep, accountability, leadership. I’m here to help build that mindset.”

That mindset is sorely needed in today’s game, where distractions—from social media to transfer decisions—can derail even the most promising careers. Casanova offers a grounding presence.

The response to Casanova’s return has been overwhelming. Former players, fans, and Baton Rouge locals alike have taken to social media and local radio to express joy and pride.

“He was my childhood hero,” one fan posted on X (formerly Twitter). “My dad would tell me about the time Tommy returned a punt against Ole Miss and the stadium just exploded. To have him back? That’s special.”

Even in casual conversations at coffee shops around LSU’s campus, Casanova’s name now reappears with reverence.

“To a lot of us, Tommy was LSU football before the modern era,” said Andre Boudreaux, a lifelong LSU fan. “When we say ‘Tiger Pride,’ we mean people like him.”

Though Casanova will not be involved in daily coaching or direct athletic oversight, his advisory role ensures he will remain visible and influential. He is expected to travel with teams on key trips, appear at fundraisers, and offer counsel in internal planning meetings.

For Casanova, the role represents both a new chapter and a return to his roots.

“I never really left LSU,” he said. “It’s always been part of me. Now, I just get to give back in a new way.”

It is that spirit of service, combined with a career defined by excellence, that makes his return so meaningful. As LSU continues to chase championships and navigate a rapidly changing college athletics landscape, the presence of a Tiger legend like Casanova could be the steadying force the program needs.

In many ways, Tommy Casanova’s return symbolizes the enduring power of home. For a man who once wore the purple and gold with grace and fury, who later healed eyes as a doctor and helped shape policy as a senator, the call back to Baton Rouge is more than professional—it is personal.

LSU is not simply bringing back a football hero. It’s bringing back a mentor, a statesman, and a symbol of the university’s best values. In an era often marked by transactional relationships in college sports, Casanova’s return reminds us that some connections are too deep, too meaningful, to be broken