Louisiana State University is navigating a leadership crisis following the abrupt dismissals of head football coach Brian Kelly and athletic director Scott Woodward within the same week. The university now faces the challenge of rebuilding its athletic leadership while managing a staggering $54 million buyout for Kelly.
Interim athletic director Verge Ausberry addressed the situation on Friday, stating that despite the upheaval, LSU remains a premier destination for top coaching talent. The search for a new head coach is now underway, with a separate process planned for hiring a permanent athletic director.
Key Takeaways
- LSU fired head football coach Brian Kelly on Sunday, followed by the departure of athletic director Scott Woodward on Thursday.
- The university is now responsible for a $54 million contract buyout for Kelly, the second-largest in college football history.
- Verge Ausberry has been appointed as the interim athletic director and is leading the search for a new football coach.
- Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry has been publicly critical of the large contracts, though some of his statements regarding Woodward's responsibility have been disputed.
- Despite the turmoil, university officials maintain that the LSU coaching job remains highly attractive.
A Week of Unprecedented Change
The series of events at LSU began Sunday with the termination of Brian Kelly's contract. Just four days later, the university announced it had parted ways with athletic director Scott Woodward, the man who hired Kelly. The back-to-back departures have sent shockwaves through the college sports world, leaving one of the nation's most prominent athletic programs in a state of uncertainty.
The timing of the announcements was particularly notable, occurring during the week of the anniversary of Billy Cannon's iconic Halloween punt return, a celebrated moment in LSU history. Now, the university finds itself in the headlines for a completely different reason, facing questions about stability and future direction.
At a press conference Friday morning, officials attempted to project confidence. Interim athletic director Verge Ausberry, joined by LSU Board of Supervisors Chairman Scott Ballard, assured the media that the program's foundation remains strong.
"We’re LSU," Ausberry stated. "My phone is still ringing. A lot of people still want to come to LSU. It’s the best job in the country."
The Financial Fallout and Political Scrutiny
Central to the controversy is the financial implication of Kelly's dismissal. His contract stipulates a $54 million buyout, a figure that has drawn sharp criticism from Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry. The governor has publicly condemned what he calls "ridiculous" coaches' contracts and has emphasized the financial burden on the university, even if private donors are expected to cover the cost.
A History of High Costs
Brian Kelly's $54 million buyout is the second-largest in college football history. The largest belongs to Jimbo Fisher, who received a $77 million buyout from Texas A&M. Scott Woodward hired Fisher at Texas A&M in 2017, but it was Woodward's successor who approved the contract extension that led to the record-setting sum.
Governor Landry also incorrectly attributed the full financial responsibility for both the Kelly and Fisher buyouts to Woodward. While Woodward hired both coaches, he was not the athletic director at Texas A&M when Fisher's contract was extended. This public scrutiny from the state's highest office has added a layer of political complexity to the search for new leadership.
Evaluating Scott Woodward's Tenure
Scott Woodward's time as LSU's athletic director is a story of mixed results. In major college athletics, an athletic director's legacy is often defined by the success of the football program. In this regard, Woodward's high-profile hires of Jimbo Fisher at Texas A&M and Brian Kelly at LSU both ended in terminations with massive buyouts.
However, his impact on other sports at LSU has been undeniably positive. Woodward was responsible for hiring coaches who brought significant success to the university.
Championship Hires
Scott Woodward's hires in other major sports have been highly successful, solidifying his reputation as a builder of elite programs. These include:
- Kim Mulkey: Hired for women's basketball, winning a national championship.
- Jay Johnson: Hired for baseball, winning a national championship.
- Jay Clark: Hired for gymnastics, winning two national championships.
Despite these championships, the performance and subsequent cost of the football program ultimately overshadowed his other achievements, leading to his departure.
The Path Forward for LSU
LSU leadership has outlined a clear, if unconventional, plan for moving forward. A search committee, led by Ausberry, has been formed to find the next head football coach. This process will happen before a permanent athletic director is named. The university is also set to name a new president, adding another layer of transition to the institution.
Ausberry and the board are working to dispel the notion that political interference or the recent chaos will deter top-tier candidates. They emphasize the power of the LSU brand, its resources, and its passionate fanbase as key attractors.
Several high-profile names, such as Lane Kiffin of Ole Miss and Dan Lanning of Oregon, are often mentioned in coaching searches of this magnitude. However, the university may also consider up-and-coming coordinators from the college or NFL ranks. History shows that hiring a first-time head coach can be successful, as seven of the teams currently in the AP top 10 are led by coaches who had no prior head coaching experience at a major program.
The next five to six weeks will be critical for LSU. The decisions made in hiring a new coach, and eventually a new athletic director, will shape the future of the athletic department for years to come. While the program has endured a tumultuous period, officials are confident that LSU will navigate this crisis and re-establish its position as a national powerhouse.