Gov Landry intervenes in LSU coach selection

**Gov. Landry Vows to Block AD Woodward from Picking Next LSU Football Coach, Citing “Failed Path” and “Buddy System” Concerns**

**BATON ROUGE, LA – February 29, 2024** – Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry delivered a stark challenge to the leadership of LSU athletics this past Wednesday, February 28th, asserting that Athletic Director Scott Woodward will be sidelined from selecting the university’s next head football coach. In a move that signals unprecedented gubernatorial intervention into the Tigers’ athletic operations, Landry declared, “We are not going down a failed path,” a clear and pointed critique of Woodward’s prior hiring decisions.

The governor’s forceful comments come on the heels of a turbulent week for LSU, following former head coach Les Miles’ lawsuit filed on Monday, February 26th. Miles’ suit seeks to restore 37 wins vacated by the NCAA between the 2012 and 2015 seasons, a penalty stemming from recruiting violations involving former player Vadal Alexander and booster John Paul Funes. This recent legal action has intensified scrutiny on the university’s athletic department and its oversight.

Landry explicitly stated his intent to see an external group involved in the critical hiring process for the next football coach, singling out former LSU player and national champion Kevin Faulk as an essential voice. “He knows what a good coach looks like,” Landry emphasized, underscoring his desire to embed authentic program insight into the decision-making. The governor’s motivation is to “avoid any hint of ‘the buddy system’ or nepotism” in selecting a leader for one of college football’s most storied programs.

The “failed path” Landry referred to appears to be a direct reference to Woodward’s track record of high-profile coaching hires that ultimately led to dismissals at his previous institutions and at LSU. These include the firing of Jimmy Lake from the University of Washington’s football program, Kevin Sumlin from Texas A&M football, and most notably, Will Wade from the LSU men’s basketball program. These instances have reportedly raised questions within state leadership regarding Woodward’s judgment in identifying and vetting top-tier coaching talent.

Typically, the hiring of a head football coach for a major university falls squarely within the purview of the athletic director, often with the approval of the university president and board of regents. Governor Landry’s public declaration represents a significant departure from this traditional structure, injecting the state’s highest office directly into future athletic department personnel decisions.

Scott Woodward, who took the helm as LSU’s AD in 2019, has overseen a period of significant change, including the 2021 hiring of current head football coach Brian Kelly. While there is no immediate vacancy for the head coaching position, Landry’s comments are preemptive, signaling his intent to reshape the process when the eventual search commences.

Kevin Faulk, an LSU legend, served as a running back for the Tigers from 1995-1998, leaving as the SEC’s all-time leading rusher at the time. He later played for the New England Patriots, winning three Super Bowls. After his NFL career, Faulk returned to LSU as a director of player development and later as a running backs coach before transitioning to an ambassadorial role. His deep ties to the program and understanding of LSU’s unique culture make him a favored figure among many fans and now, the governor, for involvement in future leadership decisions.

LSU Athletics and Scott Woodward have not yet released an official statement in response to Governor Landry’s remarks. The governor’s direct intervention casts a long shadow over the future of LSU’s athletic leadership and the highly scrutinized process of selecting its next head football coach.