On Wednesday, Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry made a significant announcement regarding the future of LSU football. During a press conference, he stated that LSU athletics director Scott Woodward will not be involved in the decision-making process for selecting the university's next head football coach. “I can tell you right now, Scott Woodward is not selecting the next coach,” Landry declared. He went on to emphasize his disapproval, saying, “Hell, I’ll let Donald Trump select it before I let him do it.”
This announcement comes on the heels of LSU's decision to part ways with former head coach Brian Kelly on Sunday. Kelly, who was hired in November 2021 after a successful 12-year tenure at the University of Notre Dame, compiled a record of 34-14 during his time with the Tigers. Notably, he led the team to the SEC Championship Game in 2022. In the official statement regarding Kelly’s dismissal, the athletic department revealed that the “terms of the separation are still being negotiated.”
Under the terms of his contract, which was a 10-year deal worth $95 million, LSU is obligated to pay Kelly approximately $53 million for his buyout. Reports from WDSU in New Orleans indicated that a private donor is expected to cover nearly the entire buyout amount, alleviating some financial burden from the university.
Governor Landry further confirmed that he met with LSU officials at the governor’s mansion in Baton Rouge on Sunday to discuss Kelly's dismissal and the subsequent buyout payment. He noted that the LSU Board of Supervisors will be forming a hiring committee dedicated to selecting Kelly’s successor. Out of the board's 14 members, Landry has appointed six, including Chair Scott Ballard and Vice Chair Lee Mallett.
Landry did not hold back in his criticism of Scott Woodward, particularly regarding his handling of contracts for head coaches. He highlighted Woodward’s decision to award Kelly the lucrative contract and recalled Woodward’s previous hiring of Jimbo Fisher as head coach at Texas A&M University in 2017, which also came with a hefty 10-year, $75 million contract. Fisher, later extended to an annual salary exceeding $9 million, was ultimately dismissed in November 2023, resulting in a buyout of nearly $77 million—marking the largest payout in college football history.
In his press conference, Governor Landry passionately asserted, “I can promise you, we’re going to pick a coach, and we’re going to make sure that that coach is successful, and we’re going to make sure that he’s compensated properly.” He stressed the importance of establishing metrics for success, declaring that he is “tired of rewarding failure in this country and then leaving the taxpayers to foot the bill.”
The Hill has reached out to the LSU athletic department for further comments regarding the current situation and the future of the football program.
