Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry said he will not allow LSU athletics director Scott Woodward to choose the university's next football coach, saying he will “let President Trump choose him before I let him do it” after what he called a series of reckless contracts that cost taxpayers tens of millions of dollars.
The governor's announcements came days after LSU. head coach Brian Kelly firedwho was lured away from Notre Dame less than four years ago on a 10-year, $95 million deal that has now fallen through. Kelly's firing followed a 49–25 home loss to Texas A&M that dropped the Tigers to 5–3 and capped an early-season title hopes in disappointment.
“I can tell you right now, Scott Woodward is not choosing our next coach,” Landry told reporters at the state capital in Baton Rouge on Wednesday. “Maybe we'll let President Trump choose it. He likes winners.”
Landry blamed Woodward for a “pattern” of failure, pointing to a similar deal the athletic director made during the Texas A&M program when coach Jimbo Fisher was fired in 2023 with a $77 million buyout — at the time the largest in college sports history. “The guy who's here now wrote that contract that cost Texas A&M over $70 million,” Landry said. “We currently have $53 million in liabilities. We won't do that again.”
Kelly, 64, compiled a 34-14 record in Baton Rouge and won nearly 71% of his games, but his teams fell short when it mattered most. LSU's promising 4-0 start this season disintegrated into three losses in four games, and fans chanted “Fire Kelly” during Saturday's loss. By Sunday evening he was gone.
“When Coach Kelly arrived at LSU four years ago, we had high hopes that he would lead us to multiple SEC championships and national championships,” Woodward said in announcing the departure. “Ultimately, success at the level LSU required simply did not materialize.”
Landry said he met with university officials at the governor's mansion that evening to discuss legal and financial implications. Because LSU is part of the state's higher education system, part of Kelly's salary was funded by the state, although most came from donors and sponsors. The governor said he was concerned about the “fiscal impact of firing a coach on a terrible contract” and the feeling that the public would be left footing the bill. “I was not happy that we were raising ticket prices, having a losing season, and paying a coach $100 million and not having results,” he said.
Woodward, an LSU alumnus who has chaired the athletics department since 2019, defended the move in a short statement, saying the school “will continue to negotiate.” [Kelly’s] separation and work towards a path that is best for both sides.” Kelly's Ransom estimated around $54 million. Landry, however, argues that liability should be written into any future deal. “We will select a coach and make sure he is successful, compensated adequately and sticks to the numbers,” he said. “I'm tired of rewarding failure in this country and leaving taxpayers footing the bill.”
Kelly's departure continues a tumultuous season for major college programs. Penn State fired James Franklin earlier this month, followed by the firing of Billy Napier in Florida a week later. Across the country, at least a half-dozen universities have already parted ways with their head coaches before November. LSU named associate head coach Frank Wilson as interim head coach for the remainder of the season while a selection committee appointed by the LSU Board of Supervisors begins the search for a permanent replacement.
Kelly's four-year record stands in stark contrast to his predecessors. Nick Saban, Les Miles and Ed Orgeron won national championships in their first four seasons in Baton Rouge. During Kelly's tenure, he made three appearances in the minors but never made the College Football Playoff, even though he oversaw the quarterback. The Rise of Jayden Daniels to the Heisman Trophy.
The governor insisted he had nothing personal against Kelly, describing him as “a good man” but “who is no longer fit.” What upsets him most, he said, is the broader trend of athletic departments handing out broad, guaranteed contracts to coaches regardless of their performance. “I think the spirit of the team needed a change,” he said. “But we're going to make sure the next contract makes sense. We're done writing blank checks.”
