LSU coaching search: Stephen A. Smith calls out AD Scott Woodward over buyout history

LSU athletic director Scott Woodward has been a target for criticism this week. While analysts don’t necessarily disagree with Woodward’s decision to fire head football coach Brian Kelly, they’ve chastised Woodward for allowing Kelly to negotiate a $53 million buyout when he signed with the school.

Woodward was also responsible for hiring former Texas A&M head coach Jimbo Fisher, who had a $76 million buyout, the only one larger than Kelly’s in college football history. On Wednesday, Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry said Woodward will not hire LSU’s next head football coach.

It’s worth noting that Woodward had already left Texas A&M when the school signed Fisher to a massive contract extension. Yet, Woodward has received heavy criticism all the same. On Thursday, First Take host Stephen A. Smith tore into Woodward for his lackluster history of hiring football coaches.

“We all know that Brian Kelly can coach and when he came over from Notre Dame, from a football standpoint, we didn’t consider it a bad hire. But, the negotiation matters,” Smith said. “What the hell were you doing putting yourself in a position where this man could get a $54 million buyout to not coach football. Why is your name associated with a $76 million buyout for somebody else to not coach football?

“That is $130 million for two coaches who are being literally being paid to sit at home. Now, that part is on your watch… That doesn’t mean that Scott Woodward is not a good man. It doesn’t mean—and I made sure to emphasize this—I never once said, like when I was talking about the other day, I didn’t say he should be fired.”

While Woodward hasn’t had much luck with his latest college football hires, he deserves credit for some other significant moves. Woodward hired LSU women’s basketball head coach Kim Mulkey, who led the Tigers to a national title in 2023.

Moreover, Woodward hired LSU baseball head coach Jay Johnson, who has led the Tigers to winning two of the last three College World Series. On Wednesday, Gov. Jeff Landry said LSU’s Board of Supervisors is going to create a committee to hire the school’s next head football coach.

“He’s picked some winners now,” Smith said. “If you’re Scott Woodward somewhere, you have to understand if it were anybody else, if it was a player, if it was anybody else that had their name attached to two buyouts in excess of $130 million—$130 million—to not coach, that’s not the greatest look.”