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Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry said Wednesday that LSU athletic director Scott Woodward will be stripped of his authority in the school’s search for its next head football coach.
LSU is looking for a new football coach after deciding this week to part ways with Brian Kelly. Woodward announced Kelly’s departure Sunday, a day after the Tigers’ 49-25 loss to Texas A&M.
Kelly left Notre Dame after the 2021 season and ultimately spent less than four full seasons in Baton Rouge.
“We had high hopes that he would lead us to multiple SEC and national championships during his time in Baton Rouge,” Woodward said in the announcement. “Ultimately, success at the level LSU demanded just didn’t materialize, and I made the decision to make a change after last night’s game.”
LSU continues to finalize Kelly’s buyout for $54 million, a figure Landry has criticized.
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Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry said Wednesday that LSU athletic director Scott Woodward will be stripped of his authority in the school’s search for its next head football coach. (Win McNamee/Getty Images)
“We are not going down a failed path,” Landry said Wednesday at a news conference. “The guy who’s here now who wrote this contract cost Texas A&M $77 million. Right now we have a liability of $53 million. We’re not going to do that again.”
The $77 million figure Landry mentioned was in reference to former Texas A&M coach Jimbo Fisher, whom Woodward hired and whose contract negotiations he oversaw. According to multiple reports, private donors may be tapped to cover part of the costs of Kelly’s buyout, which could be further offset if Kelly lands another coaching job.
Woodward has served as LSU’s athletic director since 2019. The school paid Ed Orgeron a buyout of more than $17 million after he was fired in 2021.
LSU head football coach Brian Kelly, right, talks with LSU athletic director Scott Woodward before the game at Williams-Brice Stadium in Columbia, South Carolina. (LSU Athletics/University Images via Getty Images)
“No. I can tell you right now, Scott Woodward is not picking the next coach,” Landry said. “I’m going to leave [President] Donald Trump chose him before I let him.”
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The Republican governor added: “The supervisory board is going to create a committee and they are going to find us a coach.” Members of the board of directors or appointed by the governor.
PK Press Club Digital reached out to the LSU athletic department for comment but did not receive an immediate response.
LSU head coach Brian Kelly stands on the sideline during a game against Vanderbilt on Oct. 18 in Nashville. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)
Landry made it clear the Tigers’ next coach would be “properly compensated.” However, he called for “parameters” to be placed on the agreement.
“I’m tired of rewarding this country’s failure,” the governor said.
Landry also confirmed he was involved in discussions about a coaching change leading to Kelly’s removal.
“My role is about the fiscal impact of firing a coach under a terrible contract,” he said Wednesday. “All I care about is what the taxpayers are going to have to pay.”
Despite LSU’s efforts to increase funding to pay players in the transfer portal, Kelly largely failed to live up to expectations of competing for a national championship.
LSU is currently on a bye week; Alabama hosts the Tigers on November 8.
