LSU AD Woodward Exit Tied to Kelly Deal Pressure

**LSU Athletic Director Scott Woodward Reportedly Out Amid Brian Kelly Contract Backlash**

BATON ROUGE, LA – Scott Woodward, the highly successful yet controversial athletic director for Louisiana State University, is reportedly on the verge of departing his post, sources close to the university’s athletic department indicate. The news, which began circulating intensely on Thursday, March 28, 2024, appears to be a direct consequence of the recent massive contract extension for head football coach Brian Kelly and the subsequent public outcry from Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry.

Official confirmation from LSU has not yet been released regarding Woodward’s rumored exit. However, multiple reports suggest an imminent departure, with pressure mounting significantly following the contentious approval of Kelly’s new deal.

The LSU Board of Supervisors greenlit Kelly’s contract extension on March 20, 2024. The agreement adds two years to his tenure, securing him through the 2033 season, and is reportedly valued at a staggering $100 million. Kelly has compiled a respectable 20-7 record during his two seasons leading the Tigers, including an SEC West title in 2022.

Just one day after the board’s approval, on March 21, Governor Landry publicly denounced the deal. He expressed his “concerns,” labeling the contract “unacceptable” and questioning the process. Governor Landry explicitly stated that the Board of Supervisors was not sufficiently involved in the negotiations and asserted that Kelly, at this juncture, was not “owed anything” that necessitated such a significant new agreement. The governor’s sharp rebuke highlighted a rare public intrusion of state politics into the often-autonomous world of LSU athletics, underscoring the high stakes involved in the state’s flagship football program.

The LSU Board did convene a meeting on March 22, but no immediate public action or decision related to Kelly’s contract or Woodward’s position was announced following that gathering.

Woodward, who arrived in Baton Rouge in 2019 from Texas A&M, quickly established a reputation as a shrewd and aggressive dealmaker. His current contract, extended in 2023, was set to run through 2029 and pays him $1.65 million annually. During his tenure, he has been the architect behind several high-profile financial agreements that have both elevated LSU’s athletic profile and drawn scrutiny for their scale. These include the substantial buyout of former football coach Ed Orgeron, groundbreaking contracts for national championship-winning women’s basketball coach Kim Mulkey and baseball coach Jay Johnson, and, of course, Brian Kelly’s original hiring and now his controversial extension.

The decision to extend Kelly for such a substantial amount and length just two seasons into his tenure, particularly given the ongoing financial discussions within the state, seems to have been the flashpoint. Sources suggest that while Woodward has consistently delivered top-tier coaching talent and resources to LSU, the political fallout from the Kelly extension proved to be an insurmountable hurdle.

Woodward’s departure, if confirmed, would mark a significant shift in LSU’s athletic leadership and could potentially impact future strategic decisions across all sports programs. The focus will now turn to an official announcement from LSU and the subsequent search for a new athletic director to navigate the complex landscape of collegiate athletics and state political oversight.