LSU fires athletic director Scott Woodward, interim AD to lead football coaching search

LSU has officially fired athletic director Scott Woodward, effective immediately, the school announced Thursday. On3’s Pete Nakos reported the two sides were expected to part ways.

In addition, LSU announced Verge Ausberry as interim AD, as On3 previously reported. The school said Ausberry will lead all aspects of the athletics department, including the search for a new head football coach.

“We thank Scott for the last six years of service as athletic director,” said Scott Ballard, chair of the LSU Board of Supervisors, in a statement. “He had a lot of success at LSU, and we wish him nothing but the best in the future. Our focus now is on moving the athletic department forward and best positioning LSU to achieve its full potential.”

In 2021, Woodward replaced head football coach Ed Orgeron with Brian Kelly, signing him to a 10-year, $95 million deal. On Sunday, Woodward and the school fired Kelly.

LSU owes Kelly over $53 million for his buyout. It’s the second-largest buyout in college football history, only trailing former Texas A&M head coach Jimbo Fisher. Fisher’s buyout was $76 million.

Woodward was also responsible for hiring Fisher at Texas A&M in December 2017. Before taking at his alma mater LSU, Woodward was Texas A&M’s athletic director from 2016-19. He left the school before it ultimately fired Fisher.

Evidently, Woodward will not be participating in LSU’s search for its next head coach. Woodward was Washington‘s athletic director from 2008-16.

While Scott Woodward’s head football coach hires haven’t worked out at Texas A&M or LSU, it’s worth noting he did make some successful moves in Baton Rouge. 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. He also guided LSU during the introduction of the NIL and transfer portal era, helping the school become an NIL powerhouse.

Brian Kelly received the bulk of attention this past weekend in the news cycle, but Woodward didn’t escape unscathed. Louisiana governor Jeff Landry emphatically called him out earlier this week and said he didn’t think Woodward should lead the coaching search at LSU.

Landry cited both Kelly’s contract and the one Jimbo Fisher received from Woodward at Texas A&M, both of which resulted in historic buyouts. Between the two, there’s nearly $130 million in buyout money. That’s why Landry vowed someone else would lead the search.

“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.”

With LSU’s decision, Woodward will receive plenty of more attention. LSU is now searching not only for a new head football coach, but a new athletic director as well.