Report: LSU, AD Scott Woodward expected to part ways following Jeff Landry criticism
- - Report: LSU, AD Scott Woodward expected to part ways following Jeff Landry criticism
Jordan Mendoza, USA TODAY October 31, 2025 at 1:59 AM
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Days after LSU fired football coach Brian Kelly, athletic director Scott Woodward is reportedly also soon to be on his way out of the university after disparaging comments from the Louisiana governor.
ESPN reported on Thursday, Oct. 30 LSU and Woodward are expected to separate "in the near future."
The expected departure comes swiftly following remarks from Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry that criticized Woodward's decision making. Woodward was the one that hired Kelly in 2021, but after a rather disappointing tenure that resulted in the coach's dismissal on Oct. 26, LSU owed Kelly approximately $54 million; the two sides are working on what the exact buyout would be.
LSU athletics director Scott Woodward introduces Brian Kelly as the head coach of the LSU Tigers during a news conference at Tiger Stadium on December 01, 2021 in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.
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Because of the large buyout, Landry told reporters Woodward would not be part of the search for LSU's next coach. He also noted how Woodward hired Jimbo Fisher when he was at Texas A&M, which ended in $77 million buyout when he was fired in 2023 (though Woodward was not responsible for that number, with now-Ohio State AD Ross Bjork penning Fisher's extension).
"I can tell you right now, Scott Woodward is not selecting the next head coach. Hell, I'll let Donald Trump select it before I let him do it," Landry said. "The board of supervisors is going to come up with a committee and they go find us a coach."
Landry reportedly had a hand in LSU firing Kelly, and has appointed nine of the 18 board of supervisors members that will apparently lead the search for a new coach.
Stanford coach Troy Taylor was fired prior to the 2025 season following allegations of mistreating staff. He was 6-18 in two seasons with the Cardinal and was replaced by interim coach Frank Reich.
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Stanford coach Troy Taylor was fired prior to the 2025 season following allegations of mistreating staff. He was 6-18 in two seasons with the Cardinal and was replaced by interim coach Frank Reich.
">Stanford coach Troy Taylor was fired prior to the 2025 season following allegations of mistreating staff. He was 6-18 in two seasons with the Cardinal and was replaced by interim coach Frank Reich.
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1 / 12College football coaches fired already in 2025 season. See who's on the growing listLSU fired Brian Kelly on Oct. 26 after an embarrassing home loss to Texas A&M the night before.
A Baton Rouge, Louisiana native and an LSU grad, Woodward has been the Tigers’ athletic director since 2019. In his tenure, he hired women's basketball coach Kim Mulkey and baseball coach Jay Johnson, both of which won national championships at LSU.
Prior to his arrival at LSU, Woodward was the athletic director at Texas A&M from 2016-19 and Washington from 2008-16.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Report: LSU AD Scott Woodward expected to leave after Gov. criticism
Source: “AOL Sports”
