LSU coaching search: Board of Supervisors chair reacts to Jeff Landry comments on Scott Woodward's role

After Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry said the LSU Board of Supervisors would take a leading role in the Tigers’ coaching search, chair Scott Ballard expressed surprise. He said he didn’t know that would be the case.

While speaking with reporters Wednesday, Landry made it clear he didn’t think athletics director Scott Woodward should lead LSU’s coaching search. He pointed to the major coaching contracts Woodward gave Jimbo Fisher at Texas A&M and, most recently, Brian Kelly in Baton Rouge. They totaled nearly $130 million in combined buyouts.

In his comments, Landry said LSU’s Board of Supervisors would help lead the search. Apparently, that was news to Ballard.

LSU Board of Supervisor's chair Scott Ballard reacts to Governor Jeff Landry's statement regarding the search for the next head LSU football coach.

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“No, I didn’t know that,” Ballard told WBRZ-TV on Wednesday when asked about Landry’s announcement that the Board of Supervisors would be heading up the coaching search.

Ballard then vowed LSU would go get a high-level coach for the program in light of Kelly’s departure. He said that’s where the school’s focus would be as it goes through the next steps.

“Next steps are, we’re going to go hire the best coach for Louisiana State University,” Ballard said. “I promise you. Geaux Tigers.”

Landry made headlines Wednesday when he said Woodward would not be selecting the next Tigers head coach. Instead, he said the university’s Board of Supervisors would put a committee together to help find Kelly’s replacement.

LSU announced its decision to fire Kelly earlier this week, and the school is on the hook for a $53 million buyout. In a statement, Woodward previously said the two sides were working to negotiate the terms of the separation.

Jeff Landry addressed Woodward’s previous stop at Texas A&M, as well, where he gave Fisher a lucrative contract that included what became the largest buyout in college football history. In fact, Landry went so far as to say he’d led President Donald Trump hire the next coach before Woodward.

“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.”

Landry was involved in conversations about Kelly’s future at LSU as conversations took place over the weekend, sources told On3’s Pete Nakos. It’s important to note LSU does not currently have a university president