Scott Woodward pens farewell letter to LSU

LSU and Scott Woodward have separated, ending a six and a half year run where Woodward came back to his alma mater and hoped to lead them to excellence across all athletics.

Woodward was named the LSU athletic director in April of 2019 and has hired Kim Mulkey in women’s basketball, Jay Johnson in baseball, Matt McMahon in men’s basketball, and Brian Kelly in football. LSU won national championships in baseball, women’s basketball, and gymnastics under his watch.

On Thursday night after he was let go, Woodward penned a letter to LSU fans thanking them for his time.

“Dear Tiger Nation:

It is with a heavy heart but also with my typical optimism, that today is my last day serving as your Director of Athletics.

I grew up a few miles from campus, attended Catholic High School, and enrolled at the University that would change my life in 1981. My four years as a LSU student were among the greatest of my life. My career took me into government and public relations before the opportunity to return to my alma mater in 2000 to lead external affairs for the University. Being back on campus each and every day was a true honor. My journey would take me to Seattle and to College Station, before finally returning home in 2019, to LSU and to Baton Rouge.

Others can recap or opine on my tenure and on my decisions over the last six years as Director of Athletics, but I will not. Rather, I will focus on the absolute joy that LSU Athletics brings to our state’s residents and to the Baton Rouge community. I will cherish the incredible relationships I have built within the University community and beyond our campus borders. And I will fondly remember the national and SEC championships for the joy that they brought to our student-athletes, coaches, staff, campus community and our incredible fans.

Our University will always hold a special place in my heart and I will never be too far from LSU. Nanette, Michael, Josh and I wish the Tigers nothing but the best.

Geaux Tigers!

Scott”

Verge Ausberry will be the interim athletic director until a new
president is appointed and then LSU and that new president make a
decision on who the next person in charge of LSU athletics will be.

LSU fired Brian Kelly on Sunday and since then has begun to put together the wheels in motion to start on the new coaching search and it became clear that Landry did not want Woodward involved. Now, the three most important positions in LSU athletics are open, with the school president, the athletic director, and the head football coach.

Stay tuned to the Bengal Tiger for the latest on LSU’s coaching search and more.