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Mark Schlabach
Former LSU football head coach Brian Kelly has turned down two settlement proposals from the university, and his legal team has issued a Monday deadline for LSU officials to confirm in writing that they will fulfill the $54 million owed to him as per his contract.
Kelly, dismissed on Oct. 26, was in his fourth year of a 10-year, $95 million agreement.
As per documents acquired by the Baton Rouge Advocate, ex-LSU athletic director Scott Woodward proposed a one-time payment of $25 million on the day of Kelly’s termination. Woodward also suggested eliminating the mitigation clause in Kelly’s contract, which would have lowered the buyout amount should he take another coaching position.
Texas A&M’s athletic director. The Aggies had to pay football coach Jimbo Fisher over $76 million when they let him go in November 2023, nearly three times the highest-known coaching contract buyout at a public institution at that time.
Nonetheless, it was Ross Bjork, who took over from Woodward at Texas A&M in 2019, who granted Fisher a four-year extension just prior to the 2021 season, raising his 10-year deal to over $90 million. Woodward initially signed Fisher to a 10-year, $75 million contract when he was recruited from Florida State.
Ausberry, LSU’s previous deputy athletic director, was appointed as interim AD and subsequently elevated to succeed Woodward on Nov. 4.
Frank Wilson serves as LSU’s interim head coach. The Tigers lost 20-9 against No. 4 Alabama on Saturday, bringing their record to 5-4.
