Urban Meyer reveals his biggest concern with LSU coaching search

LSU athletics will look a lot different next year. The school fired head football coach Brian Kelly on Sunday and parted ways with athletic director Scott Woodward on Thursday. On The Triple Option podcast, former Ohio State head coach Urban Meyer revealed he’s concerned LSU’s lack of an AD could discourage coaching candidates from signing with the school.

“I was kind of joking around that the governor played high school football, so I guess he’s an expert. That makes all of us experts. But someone on that search committee has got to be a football dude that says, ‘OK, now here’s what we’re looking for,'” Meyer said. “As a coach that went through the process of being hired, if I’m not hip to hip with my AD, and I know there’s stability… Gene Smith and I were like this (close together), Jeremy Foley and I were like this.

“You’re in meetings that are — it’s hardcore stuff happening; I mean, in real time. If you don’t have that, my concern at LSU — which is one of the top five jobs in America, no doubt… My concern is a great coach is going to say, ‘I’m not sure I’m not going to do that.'”

Verge Ausberry is serving as LSU’s interim AD and will lead the school’s search for its next head football coach. Woodward hired Kelly in 2021, signing him to a 10-year, $95 million deal.

As of this report, LSU owes Brian Kelly a buyout worth more than $53 million, the second-largest 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.

Before the school officially parted ways with Woodward, Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry publicly stated Woodward would not be responsible for hiring the school’s next head football coach. The statement received national attention and LSU dismissed Landry the following day.

“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.”

Many analysts consider LSU the top job opening in college football. However, if Meyer’s concerns ring true with coaching candidates around the country, the school may want to find its next permanent athletic director soon.