LSU was without a Director of Athletics for only five days.
At least logical thought prevailed Tuesday when Verge Ausberry was named LSU’s new Director of Athletics, the successor to Scott Woodward.
Ausberry, who arrived at LSU as a football signee from New Iberia (La.) 40 years ago, had been named Interim Director of Athletics last Thursday. It was announced one day later that Ausberry would lead a committee to hire a new Tigers head football coach.
It would have made no sense for Ausberry to make the decision regarding Brian Kelly’s replacement if he was not going to be the new coach’s boss. Of course, the LSU administration did not handle the Kelly/Woodward dismissals in the smoothest manner.
Just hours after being named the LSU System President, Wade Rousse announced the appointment of Ausberry as Director of Athletics. The timing of this hiring would indicate that Ausberry had been university’s choice for a few days.
There were three other people whose names had been linked to the LSU Director of Athletics position – SLU Athletic Director Jay Artigues, Georgia Athletic Director Josh Brooks and McNeese Athletic Director Heath Schroyer.
Reportedly, a committee was in place to hire a new Director of Athletics for the Tigers. However, not enough time had passed for a thorough search. Ausberry certainly does have the experience to run the LSU athletic department.
After completing his football career with the Tigers, Ausberry began his employment at LSU as an intern in school’s compliance department. Ausberry worked as an academic advisor and an officer in Tiger Athletic Foundation before becoming an assistant athletic director.
In 2015, Ausberry was promoted to Deputy Athletics Director under Joe Alleva. A few months after Woodward became LSU Director of Athletics in 2019, Ausberry received two new positions.
Ausberry was named the Executive Deputy Director of Athletics and the Executive Director of External Relations for the university. Ausberry assisted the Office of the LSU President in external affairs.
Ausberry served a suspension four years ago when an investigation revealed he mishandled a 2018 incident between a Tigers football player and his girlfriend, a LSU tennis player. There were other incidents of this type involving LSU athletic department officials.
Obviously, Ausberry’s first order of business is finding a head football coach. Notre Dame head coach Marcus Freeman could now be seriously considered by LSU. Ausberry’s son Jaiden is in his third season as a linebacker for the Fighting Irish.
Having so much experience at LSU, Ausberry knows that an athletic director’s success is tied in with the head football coach’s success. Ausberry’s first hiring will set the tone for his tenure as LSU’s Director of Athletics.
