Per multiple sources, LSU and athletic director Scott Woodward are set to part ways after the firing of LSU football coach, Brian Kelly, which left LSU with a buyout of more the $50 million.
This comes on the heels of Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry saying Wednesday, Woodward woukd not be hiring the next football coach.
Pete Nakos of On3 Sports is reporting LSU executive deputy athletics director Verge Ausberry is expected to serve as the interim AD.
“I’m honored for the Board of Supervisors and university leadership to put their trust in me to serve the university in this role,” Ausberry said. “I arrived at LSU as a freshman student-athlete in 1985, and from that point forward, this institution has impacted my life and my family in ways I never could have imagined. It’s my responsibility to move this athletic department forward, including hiring the best football coach in America to lead our program. Our coaches and staff will continue to work every day to give our student-athletes the best experience possible and set a championship-level standard.”
“Verge Ausberry is a native son of Louisiana and LSU, who has spent all of his adult life working to better this athletic department and this state,” said John Carmouche, Board Athletics Committee Chair. “From the time he arrived on campus as a football student-athlete, he’s been associated with championship excellence and will continue to uphold that standard in his role as interim athletic director. He’s the ideal person to lead this department with full authority at this time, and together we show the country that LSU continues to be an elite destination for student-athletes, coaches and staff.”
Per the terms of his contract, Woodward is due $6.8 million, though a separation agreement has not been completed as of publication, Nakos reported.
“We thank Scott for the last six years of service as athletic director,” said Scott Ballard, Board of Supervisors Chair. “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.”
Woodward was named athletics director in 2019 and has since seen LSU win two national championships in Baseball as well as national championships in Gymnastics, Women’s Basketball, Men’s Track and Field and Football during his first season.
Of those champiobships Woodward hired, Kim Mulkey for Women’s Basketball and Jay Johnson for Baseball.
