LSU athletic Director Scott Woodward Resigns Amidst Power Struggle and Coaching Turmoil
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LSU’s athletic department is in upheaval following the resignation of Athletic Director Scott Woodward on Thursday night, a move precipitated by the recent firing of football coach Brian Kelly and escalating tensions with Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry. Woodward, a Baton rouge native, departed after six years overseeing a period of significant athletic success, but also marked by substantial financial commitments to coaching staff.
Woodward would not be involved in the selection of Kelly’s replacement, signaling a clear loss of confidence from the state’s highest office. According to sources, Landry’s intervention represents a broader effort to exert greater control over the university’s athletic programs.
“The Louisiana governor and the LSU board has damaged the reputation of our university,” a prominent political analyst stated in an interview with the Associated Press. “This is not about my politics. Its about my university.”
Woodward’s Tenure Marked by Success and Costly Buyouts
Hired in April 2019, Woodward quickly established himself as a key figure in LSU athletics. He oversaw the hiring of successful coaches,including Kim Mulkey,who led the women’s basketball team to a national title in 2023. However, his tenure was also marked by substantial financial commitments to coaching staff, including a $100 million contract for Kelly and a $17 million buyout for former football coach Ed Orgeron.
The financial implications of these decisions became a central point of contention, with Landry specifically citing a $53 million buyout owed to Kelly as unacceptable. “This is a pattern,” Landry said. “right now, we’ve got a $53 million liability…. We are not doing that again.” The governor also pointed to a $77 million buyout paid by Texas A&M to former coach Jimbo Fisher – a coach Woodward previously hired during his time as athletic director at Texas A&M – as further evidence of fiscal mismanagement.
interim Leadership and the Search for a New Football Coach
Verge Ausberry, currently LSU’s executive deputy athletic director, will assume the role of interim athletic director and lead the search for a new football coach. The university’s Board of Supervisors has indicated its commitment to finding a leader who can position LSU for continued success.
Woodward, in a letter to LSU fans, expressed his enduring affection for the university. “Our University will always hold a special place in my heart and I will never be too far from LSU,” he wrote. He declined to offer further commentary on his departure,stating,”Rather,I will focus on the absolute joy that LSU Athletics brings to our state’s residents and to the Baton Rouge community.”
Fallout and Concerns Over University Governance
The circumstances surrounding Woodward’s resignation have sparked widespread concern about the influence of political forces on the university. The timing of Landry’s intervention and the lack of transparency surrounding the decision-making process have drawn criticism from alumni and observers.
Adding to the complexity, LSU is currently without a permanent president, as William F.Tate IV recently departed for Rutgers University. The Board of Supervisors is scheduled to select a new president on Tuesday, a process heavily influenced by governor Landry, who has already appointed nine of the board’s 18 members and will have the opportunity to appoint four more in 2026.
Kim Mulkey, visibly affected by Woodward’s departure, declined to address the media following her team’s exhibition game on Thursday, sending assistant coach Bob Starkey in her place. “she’s heartbroken,” starkey told reporters. “In 40 years of coaching, I’ve worked with two phenomenal athletic directors,” he added. “One was Skip Bertman (at LSU). The other one was Scott Woodward.”
The financial terms of Woodward’s separation agreement have not yet been disclosed, though his contract stipulates he is owed more then $5 million through 2029. The coming weeks will be critical for LSU as it navigates this period of uncertainty and seeks to restore stability to its athletic department.
