LSU interim AD Verge Ausberry emphatically states the school 'is not broken'

Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry recently revealed that LSU Athletic Director Scott Woodward would not be trusted to lead the search for a new football coach. And now, after that, Woodward and the University parted ways Thursday night.

Woodward’s departure meant that Executive Deputy Athletic Director Verge Ausberry was tabbed as the University’s interim AD until a suitable replacement could be found. Ausberry, along with board chair Scott Ballard and Board of Supervisors member John Carmouche, gave a state of the program press conference on Friday morning.

Ausberry, who has been with the LSU athletic department for 24 years, emphatically stated that LSU is not broken. He still feels that following its tumultuous past week.

“I want to let our fanbase know one thing,” Ausberry said. “LSU is not broken. The LSU athletic department is not broken. I think we have the best athletic department in the country. I think we have the best staff in the country. The executives are second to none and I’d put them up against anyone. They’re the best and they will get the job done.”

Ausberry boasts multiple championship winning coaches at LSU

“Our coaches are second to none. We are the best,” Ausberry continued. “We have championship coaches here. I’ve been blessed to work with championship coaches Kim Mulkey, Jay Clark, Jay Johnson, Dennis Shaver, Garrett Runion. They’re great coaches and we have many other great coaches that win championships. That’s what we expect here. We’re LSU. This place is not broken. The athletic department is not broken. We win.”

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.

Woodward’s hirings of Kelly at LSU and Jimbo Fisher at Texas A&M culminated in nearly $130 million in contract buyouts. Woodward could not be trusted to lead yet another head coaching search, which led to his exit on Thursday.

While it seemed like the athletic department has been in turmoil since the move was made on Sunday, things are finally under control after days of jabs at Kelly and Woodward from Landry. LSU is a premier job in college football and it will now look near and far for its next head football coach, looking to avoid another situation like this one.