US EditionLSU Fired Its Football Coach and Lost Its Athletic Director in a Week. What's Going On?
Governor Landry criticized costly contracts and asserted control over hiring, leading to LSU firing football coach Brian Kelly and athletic director Scott Woodward.
- On Sunday, LSU fired football coach Brian Kelly and athletic director Scott Woodward left hours after Louisiana governor Jeff Landry declared Woodward would not pick Kelly's successor, saying the LSU Board of Supervisors would choose it.
- Louisiana governor Jeff Landry criticized costly deals, citing Kelly's $100,000,000 contract and about a $53,000,000 buyout, framing the issue as taxpayer exposure.
- Within hours of the Texas A&M loss, LSU's record stood at 5-3 overall and 2-3 in SEC, following a Vanderbilt loss and Brian Kelly's 34-14 record lacked playoff appearances.
- A coaching search is under way, with Verge Ausberry saying the LSU athletic department is not broken and a board-inclusive search committee will find the next coach, while Scott Ballard affirmed Ausberry's hiring authority.
- Observers noted the moves echo historical political meddling, with critics comparing Jeff Landry, Louisiana governor, to Huey Long, former Louisiana governor, while James Carville warned Landry's actions have damaged LSU's reputation.
13 Articles
13 Articles
The Hamilton Spectator
The Toronto StarLSU fired its football coach and lost its athletic director in a week. What’s going on?
LSU fired football coach Brian Kelly earlier this week, and four days later, the man who did it, athletic director Scott Woodward, was gone, too. Both moves appeared to have heavy influence from Republican Gov. Jeff Landry and prompted the…
Associated Press News
LSU fired its football coach and lost its athletic director in a week. What's going on?
LSU fired football coach Brian Kelly, and just days later, athletic director Scott Woodward is also out after criticism from Republican Gov. Jeff Landry.
Fast and blunt: What Gov. Jeff Landry's push against LSU athletic director says about his style
After firing LSU football coach Brian Kelly Sunday, Athletic Director Scott Woodward began preparing to find his successor — until Gov. Jeff Landry made a surprise announcement.
Dave Portnoy: Louisiana governor's LSU rant 'what makes college football great'
The chaos surrounding the LSU Tigers athletics department right now has a ringleader: Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry. Landry inserted himself into the Brian Kelly drama in the days leading up to the fourth-year head coach’s firing. He followed that up by calling out athletic director Scott Woodward and claiming he’d consult President Donald Trump about the next coach. Woodward and the school parted ways soon after. Meanwhile, Landry has made the…
Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry expresses disappointment with LSU missing out on 'Bowl Championship Series'
Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry (R) has experienced quite the newsworthy week, inserting himself first in 2026 LSU football ticket prices, then into the firing of coach Brian Kelly and then creating a ruckus with comments about both Kelly’s reported $54 million buyout and recently sacked athletic director Scott Woodward. Landry wasn’t quite done, though, as he welcomed one and all into LSU’s 3-ring circus of dysfunction by somehow forgetting the past…
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