LSU AD Woodward Exits After Kelly Firing

**FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE**

**LSU Athletic Director Scott Woodward Departs for Texas A&M Amid Coaching Turmoil**

BATON ROUGE, LA – Just days after firing its head football coach, LSU announced Thursday that Athletic Director Scott Woodward is leaving the university to return to Texas A&M in a significant leadership role. The sudden departure of Woodward, effective immediately, leaves LSU searching for two of its most critical athletic leadership positions as the football offseason rapidly approaches.

Woodward’s exit on Thursday, December 5th, comes just three days after the university parted ways with head football coach Brian Kelly on Monday, December 2nd. Reports indicate Woodward is heading back to College Station, where he previously served as Texas A&M’s AD from 2016 to 2019, before making the move to Baton Rouge.

LSU President William F. Tate IV acknowledged the dual vacancies in a statement released Thursday afternoon. “Scott Woodward has been a transformative leader for LSU Athletics, bringing two national championships and elevating our programs to new heights,” Tate said. “While we are certainly surprised by his decision to return to Texas A&M, we respect his choice and wish him the very best. We are now tasked with the critical responsibility of identifying and recruiting two exceptional leaders to guide our football program and our entire athletics department forward.”

During his tenure at LSU, which began in 2019, Woodward quickly established a reputation for making bold and impactful hires. He notably brought Kim Mulkey to lead the women’s basketball program and Jay Johnson to coach baseball, both of whom delivered national championships in 2023, solidifying LSU’s status as an athletic powerhouse. His most high-profile hire in football was Brian Kelly in 2021, a move that brought national attention and high expectations to the Tigers’ gridiron program.

Woodward, 61, expressed his gratitude for his time at LSU. “My time at LSU has been incredibly rewarding, and I am immensely proud of what we accomplished together, particularly the national championships in women’s basketball and baseball,” Woodward said in a statement. “The passion of the LSU fan base is unmatched, and I will always cherish my memories here. The opportunity to return to Texas A&M in a new leadership capacity was a compelling one, and I look forward to contributing to that institution once again.”

Sources close to the Texas A&M program, who spoke on background due to the fluidity of the situation, indicated that Woodward’s return signifies a strategic move to leverage his deep experience and connections within the SEC. An official announcement from Texas A&M regarding Woodward’s specific role is expected in the coming days.

The timing of Woodward’s departure creates an unprecedented challenge for LSU. The university must now launch simultaneous national searches for a new athletic director and a new head football coach, all while navigating the early signing period for football recruits and the transfer portal. The athletic director position is paramount, as the new AD will ultimately be responsible for leading the search and hiring of Kelly’s replacement.

LSU will likely name an interim athletic director to oversee operations while a comprehensive search for Woodward’s successor begins. The university is expected to engage a national search firm to assist in identifying top candidates for both critical roles.

This leadership vacuum marks a significant turning point for LSU Athletics, with the university now poised to define the trajectory of its storied programs for years to come.