Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry claims next LSU coach will have 'a totally different contract'

Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry is making things clear on the state’s latest football coaching search. Landry claimed that the next LSU head coach will have ‘a totally different contract’ during an appearance on Thursday’s edition of ‘The Pat McAfee Show.’

With four games remaining in his fourth season as LSU‘s head coach, Brian Kelly was fired following an embarrassing 49-25 home loss to No. 3 Texas A&M last Saturday night. After opening the season with College Football Playoff aspirations, LSU dropped to 5-3 with its second consecutive defeat.

Per On3’s Pete Nakos, Kelly will now receive $740,185 a month until Dec. 31, 2031, if his buyout is not negotiated down. He’s making $10.175 million this season. These numbers are completely unacceptable for Landry, who went scorched earth this week about the entire situation.

“Legitimately, I think everyone is in agreement here in the state of Louisiana that the next coach we hire is gonna have a totally different contract,” Landry said. “These big-name coaches are big names because they win. What are they afraid of? If you’re the best, you shouldn’t have to worry. You say ‘Guess what? I’m putting my reputation on the line and when I win, this is how much money I want.’

“There’s no guarantee. The way the contracts are structured now, in five years the guy can get tired of doing it and not have to worry about coaching. As long as I go through the motions, I get another five years at $10 million a year. It’s not a bad gig. If you’re giving entertainment to ESPN and we don’t enjoy watching you, guess what happens? You lose sponsors. That’s the free market.”

Landry reveals Scott Woodward will not be selecting new head coach

Along with going in on the contract, Landry revealed that LSU athletic director Scott Woodward would not be selecting the next Tigers head coach. Landry said the university’s Board of Supervisors would put a committee together to help find Brian Kelly’s replacement, as Woodward was responsible for the disastrous hirings of Kelly at LSU and Jimbo Fisher at Texas A&M.

“No. I can tell you right now, Scott Woodward is not selecting the next coach,” Landry said. “Hell, I would let Donald Trump select it before I let him do it … I don’t know. But the Board of Supervisors is going to come up with a committee and they’re going to find us a coach.”

“I’m not gonna be picking the next coach. But I can promise you, we’re going to pick a coach and we’re going to make sure that that coach is successful and we’re going to make sure that he’s compensated properly and we’re going to put metrics on it because I’m tired of rewarding failure in this country and then leaving the taxpayers to foot the bill.”

Woodward’s hirings of Kelly at LSU and Fisher at Texas A&M culminated in nearly $130 million in contract buyouts. With Landry leading the charge, they are hoping a situation like that does not arise again within their program.