LSU AD Woodward out amidst political power struggle

**LSU Athletic Director Scott Woodward Out Amid Intense Power Struggle with Gov. Jeff Landry**

BATON ROUGE, La. – Scott Woodward is out as LSU’s Athletic Director, a dramatic shift officially announced on March 20, 2024, that directly follows an intense power struggle with Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry. The high-stakes conflict highlights the deep entanglement of college football and state politics in a state where LSU athletics holds immense cultural and economic sway.

Woodward, whose contract as AD was set to expire on June 30, 2024, will transition to a new role as a “special assistant to the president” for one year, followed by a year as an “advisor to the athletic department.” While these positions ensure he remains on the university payroll for two more years, his duties as Athletic Director effectively ended on the day of the announcement, paving the way for a national search for his successor.

The change caps a tense few weeks in March, sources close to the university and the governor’s office indicate. Governor Landry, who took office in January with a mandate for assertive leadership, reportedly pushed Woodward to secure a substantial amount of private funding—potentially up to $300 million—for ambitious renovations to LSU’s football facilities or even the construction of a new one. Woodward, known for his deliberate and strategic fundraising approach, was said to favor a more measured pace, leading to a direct clash with the governor’s demand for rapid results.

The situation escalated dramatically on March 13, 2024, when State Senator Caleb Kleinpeter, a known ally of Governor Landry, introduced Senate Bill 432. The proposed legislation was widely interpreted as a direct political maneuver to curb the LSU athletic department’s traditional autonomy. SB 432 sought to grant LSU System President William Tate IV ultimate authority over the athletic budget, personnel decisions, and contracts, effectively stripping the AD of significant power and bringing the lucrative and high-profile athletics program firmly under university—and by extension, state political—control.

Tensions flared visibly during a heated LSU Board of Supervisors meeting on March 14, 2024. Reports from the meeting described spirited exchanges, with Woodward reportedly questioning the qualifications and motivations of several new board appointees, many of whom were seen as allies of Governor Landry, including entrepreneur Jay Ducote.

Just days later, on March 19, President Tate met with Woodward. The following day, the university publicly announced Woodward’s transition out of the Athletic Director role.

Beyond the immediate dispute over stadium funding, other reported points of friction included the hefty contract extensions for football coach Brian Kelly and women’s basketball coach Kim Mulkey, which the governor’s office had reportedly scrutinized. These contracts, totaling hundreds of millions of dollars, are central to the success of LSU’s highest-profile teams, and their review suggested a broader reach of gubernatorial oversight into athletic operations.

In the immediate aftermath of Woodward’s departure, the controversial Senate Bill 432 was temporarily pulled from consideration. Political observers suggest its primary purpose, to exert pressure and undermine the sitting AD, was no longer necessary with Woodward out of the position.

LSU will now begin the critical search for a new Athletic Director at a pivotal time for both college athletics and the university’s relationship with state leadership. The outcome of this search, and the operational changes that may follow, will undoubtedly be closely watched across Louisiana and the national college sports landscape.