Jeff Landry Blocks LSU Athletic Director from Hiring New Football Coach

Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry has taken a decisive stance regarding the hiring of the next LSU Tigers football coach, stating he intends to block Athletic Director Scott Woodward from making the final decision. Landry’s concerns stem from the financial burden left by previous coaching contracts, most recently the buyout of Brian Kelly, who was dismissed after compiling a 34-14 record over four seasons. LSU still owes Kelly more than $52 million, a figure Landry deems unacceptable for Louisiana taxpayers. At a press conference in Baton Rouge, Landry confirmed he played a role in discussions leading to Kelly’s firing and emphasized his focus on the fiscal implications of coaching contracts. While LSU’s athletic department is historically self-funded, Landry highlighted the risk to public funds and criticized the use of guaranteed contracts with large buyouts. He pointed to a pattern under Woodward’s tenure, referencing the $17 million buyout for former coach Ed Orgeron in 2021 and noting Woodward’s involvement in Texas A&M’s $77 million buyout of Jimbo Fisher, the largest in college sports history. Landry announced that the LSU Board of Supervisors, to which he has appointed nine of eighteen members since January 2024, will establish a search committee for the next head coach. He assured that the new contract would prioritize performance incentives over guarantees, underscoring his intent to protect taxpayers from future financial liabilities. “I’m tired of rewarding failure in this country and then leaving the taxpayers to foot the bill,” Landry stated. The governor also criticized sports agents for negotiating lucrative deals for college coaches and called for greater NCAA oversight to curb excessive contracts. As the search for LSU’s next football coach begins, Landry’s intervention signals a shift towards stricter fiscal accountability in Louisiana’s college sports programs. For more details, visit Louisiana governor vows to block LSU athletic director from picking the next football coach and LSU fires Brian Kelly as head coach.