Scott Woodward, the LSU athletic director who has held the position for six years under pressure, resigned on Thursday night. This was four days after Brian Kelly’s firing and one day after Gov. Jeff Landry said Woodward would not hire Kelly’s replacement.Woodward, a Baton Rouge native and LSU graduate, was hired as athletic director at his alma mater in April 2019. LSU has since won national championships for football, baseball, women’s basketball, and gymnastics.Scott Ballard, chairman of the LSU Board of Supervisors, said: “We are grateful for Scott’s six years of service in his role as athletic director.” “He was a great success at LSU.Our focus is to move the athletic department forward, and position LSU so that it can achieve its fullest potential.Verge Ausberry will be the interim replacement for Woodward and will lead the search to find a new football coach. The university announced. In an open letter, Woodward wrote, “Our University holds a special place and I will not be too far away from LSU.”Woodward said, “Others will be able to summarize or comment on the six years I spent as Director for Athletics. But not me.” “Rather, I will focus on the absolute joy that LSU Athletics brings to our state’s residents and to the Baton Rouge community.According to Woodward’s agreement, he will be owed over $5 million until 2029. LSU hasn’t yet revealed the financial terms of Woodward’s separation agreement. Landry was holding a press conference on government issues not affecting LSU when asked about the Tigers coaching situation. He asserted Woodward wouldn’t be involved in selecting the next coach. The buyout for Kelly, whom Woodward signed to a 10-year contract worth about $100 million in December 2021, is about $53 million, which is among the largest in the history of college sports.Texas A&M’s $77 million buyout of former coach Jimbo Fisher, who was fired in 2023, is the largest.Woodward was Texas A&M’s athletic director when Fisher was hired to coach the Aggies in December 2017. But Woodward already had been at LSU for two years when A&M, in 2021, gave Fisher a contract extension that effectively doubled the cost of his buyout.Still, Landry assigned blame for Fisher’s buyout to Woodward.Landry stated that “this is a pattern”. “Right now, we’ve got a $53 million liability. … We won’t do it again.”Kelly’s firing on Sunday came a day after LSU lost at home to Texas A&M, 49-25 — the Tigers’ third defeat in four games.Kelly went 34-14 at LSU, never reaching the College Football LSU currently does not have a President. William F. Tate, its most recent president, moved to Rutgers as president in July. The Board of Supervisors will hire the next president. Its members are appointed to staggered six-year terms by the Governor. Since Landry assumed office in January of 2024, he appointed nine of 18 board members and will be able to appoint another four in 2026. Want the best stories delivered to your inbox every day? Follow leagues, players and teams to receive daily personalized emails! Create a FOX Sports account or log in and create a FOX Sports Account.
2025-10-31 04:02:58
After Brian Kelly’s Firing, LSU is Now Looking For a New Athletic Director
