Walking into week 10, the LSU Tigers dropped a big update on their next head coach hunting stunt. After pulling the trigger on Brian Kelly, LSU decided to take away the power from their AD Scott Woodward to finalize the next leader. It will now be taken care of by LSU’s Board of Supervisors, as Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry has set out clear instructions. As the Tigers fans were yet to wrap their heads around this sudden change, Landry dropped yet another fiery statement. 

With patience running thin, LSU finally got rid of Kelly during the fourth season of a 10-year contract worth about $100 million. Now, that’s indeed a big amount to put at stake in return for dropping out of the Top 25 AP Poll. Landry kept things sharp and clear as he was on call for the October 30th episode of the After Further Review: LSU podcast. “The board of supervisors on its own cannot say we want to pay somebody $100 million without putting the taxpayers liable,” the governor said. 

He continued, “That’s what people are missing. The board of supervisors is a subdivision of the state. If the board of supervisors in LSU goes bankrupt, we foot the bill.” LSU’s football tradition speaks for itself: national championships, NFL talent galore, and a reputation for winning big. That’s why the head coaching chair in Baton Rouge is always in high demand. Right now, LSU is burdened with a $53 million liability, and Landry will make sure that they are not doing that again. 

This season, the former LSU head coach was pulling in $9.4 million, with six years and $58.2 million left on his deal through 2031. Per his contract, he’s owed 90% of that remaining salary. So, LSU will now have to pay him a staggering $52.38 million buyout. Before Kelly, the Tigers paid their former head coach Ed Oregeron, $16.9 million.

“And the question becomes is like, do we need $100 million to lure a coach?” came the governor with this question. Clark Lea’s name is starting to come up in various coaching candidate lists. His only motive to bolt in 2025 would be self-preservation, slipping out before Vanderbilt slips back to 2-10 territory. That’s when Landry broke the silence on Lea taking up LSU’s hot seat. 

“My biggest concern is the fans because those fans in there are all taxpayers, and a lot of those fans over there didn’t go to LSU. They just enjoy LSU football, and I want to see a great winning team,” said the governor. As LSU has hit a ‘demolish and develop’ mode, they did not mind taking another drastic step with Woodward, no matter how heavy it has been on their pockets.

LSU Tigers’ drastic call for Scott Woodward

Vanderbilt’s latest statement win, a 17-10 victory over No. 15 Missouri, has the Commodores sitting at 7-1 for the first time since 1941 and ranked No. 9, their best spot in nearly nine decades. And who made that possible? The LSU Tigers. And the governor could no longer accept the dishonour. So, snatching away the power from Woodward was not enough.

That’s when ESPN Baton Rouge beat writer Matt Moscona came up with an analysis. He did some research in the LSU camp. He could already sense the Tigers showing Woodward the exit door. “I think that’s going to happen within the next two weeks. And I would expect one of the first things the university president does is replace the athletic director,” said Moscona. And within a few hours, it came true. 

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On October 30, Jacques Doucet posted the statement that read, “LSU Athletics announces department leadership transition.” The first line of it read, “LSU Athletics and Director of Athletics Scott Woodward have agreed to part ways effective immediately, the department announced Thursday.” When Woodward came home to LSU in 2019, he didn’t just take the athletic director’s chair; he reignited a championship machine. Under his watch, the Tigers have claimed national crowns in football, baseball (twice), women’s basketball, and gymnastics. Yet then LSU did not think twice to let go of him.

The frustration has peaked in the LSU Tigers camp. And Scott Woodward is held responsible for finalizing Brian Kelly to pass on the baton. Woodward’s contract calls for a buyout north of $6 million, payable through 2029, though that figure could shrink depending on the terms of his next job. Let’s see how this cleanup process serves the LSU Tigers in the upcoming times.