Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry advised reporters Wednesday that LSU athletic director Scott Woodward will not be concerned in deciding on the Tigers’ new soccer coach, saying he’d let President Donald Trump do it earlier than Woodward.
The Tigers fired Brian Kelly on Sunday, a day after his crew misplaced 49-25 to Texas A&M at dwelling to drop to 5-3.
Kelly, 64, had a 34-14 document in 4 seasons at LSU, successful just below 71% of his video games. The Tigers have misplaced three of their previous 4 video games after climbing to No. 3 within the AP ballot earlier this season.
“No, I can inform you proper now Scott Woodward isn’t deciding on our subsequent coach,” Landry advised reporters throughout a information convention on the state capitol in Baton Rouge.
Landry mentioned the LSU Board of Supervisors will assemble a range committee to discover a new coach, however Woodward will not be part of it if the governor has his means.
“Perhaps we’ll let President Trump choose it,” Landry mentioned. “He loves winners. You realize, I am not going to be selecting the following coach, however I can promise you we’re gonna choose a coach and we’re gonna ensure that that coach is profitable. We’re gonna ensure that he is compensated correctly, and we’re gonna put metrics on it as a result of I am bored with rewarding failure on this nation after which leaving the taxpayers to foot the invoice.”
Landry criticized Woodward for agreeing to a 10-year, $95 million contract with Kelly that included incentives and which left LSU on the hook for a $54 million buyout below the phrases of the deal.
In an announcement Monday, Woodward mentioned the college would “proceed to barter his separation and can work towards a path that’s higher for each events.”
Landry criticized Woodward for agreeing to the same one-sided teaching contract when he was Texas A&M’s athletic director. The Aggies owed soccer coach Jimbo Fisher greater than $76 million once they fired him in November 2023, which was practically triple the highest-known teaching contract buyout at a public faculty on the time.
“We’re not taking place a failed path. And I wish to inform you one thing: This can be a sample,” Landry advised reporters. “The man that is right here now that wrote that contract price Texas A&M 70-some million {dollars}. Proper now, we have got a $53 million legal responsibility. We’re not doing that once more. And you realize what? I imagine that we’re gonna discover an amazing coach.”
Landry acknowledged that he met with LSU officers on the governor’s mansion Sunday evening to debate the legalities of firing Kelly and who was going to pay his hefty buyout.
“My position is concerning the fiscal impact of firing a coach below a horrible contract, OK?” Landry mentioned. “All I care about is what the taxpayers are going to be on the hook [for]. I used to be additionally not proud of the truth that we have been elevating ticket costs whereas we have been having a shedding season. And we have been paying a coach $100 million and we weren’t getting the outcomes.
“Now, look, I’ve no animus towards Brian Kelly. I do not dislike Brian Kelly. However I believe that it had gotten to the purpose, and I believe they realized that the spirit of the crew wanted a change.”