LSU AD Woodward Resigns After Kelly Firing

Baton Rouge, LA – LSU Athletic Director Scott Woodward has resigned from his position, a significant development that comes just four days after the university fired head football coach Brian Kelly. Woodward, who arrived in Baton Rouge in 2019 to lead the Louisiana State University athletics program, was the architect behind several high-profile coaching hires, including bringing Kelly to guide the Tigers’ football team.

While the official reason cited for Woodward’s departure is “personal reasons,” the timing immediately following Kelly’s dismissal has certainly drawn intense attention around the program and in the wider college sports world, fueling speculation regarding the intertwined decisions.

University officials confirmed Woodward’s resignation on [Date of Woodward’s resignation, e.g., Wednesday], acknowledging his service and outlining the immediate steps to maintain continuity in the athletics department. LSU President [Insert Fictional President’s Name if needed, or stick to “University officials”] released a statement praising Woodward’s tenure, which saw significant successes in several sports, but made no direct comment on the proximity of his departure to Kelly’s firing.

Woodward’s arrival at LSU in August 2019 marked a period of aggressive and often successful leadership in coaching changes. He swiftly made a national splash with hires such as Kim Mulkey for women’s basketball in 2021, who led the Tigers to a national championship in 2023. He also brought in Jay Johnson for baseball in 2021, a move that also culminated in a College World Series title in 2023, and Matt McMahon for men’s basketball in 2022.

However, his most scrutinized hire, Brian Kelly, brought an abrupt end to Woodward’s high-stakes tenure. Kelly was fired on [Date of Kelly’s firing, e.g., Saturday] after a challenging 5-7 season and a tenure that, despite flashes of success, ultimately fell short of the program’s lofty expectations in the ultra-competitive SEC West. Kelly’s contract, negotiated by Woodward, was among the most lucrative in college football.

The confluence of these events leaves the LSU Tigers in a unique and challenging spot, needing to fill two critical leadership roles simultaneously: a new athletic director and a new head football coach for their high-profile football program. The dual searches present an unprecedented challenge for the university, particularly in a state where football success is not just desired, but expected.

University officials are reportedly moving quickly to appoint an interim athletic director while launching a national search for Woodward’s permanent replacement. The search for a new head football coach, initially expected to be a top priority, will now likely run concurrently with, or even be influenced by, the athletic director search. Many observers believe a new athletic director would prefer to make their own coaching hire, potentially extending the timeline for securing a permanent football coach.

LSU has historically been a program that attracts top talent, but the current leadership vacuum adds a layer of complexity to both searches. The next athletic director will inherit a program with immense resources and passionate support, but also one facing significant pressure to quickly restore its football prowess. The incoming AD will also need to navigate the successful, but also highly demanding, landscape of other championship-contending sports programs established under Woodward’s leadership.

The university has not yet indicated a timeline for either search but is expected to engage a national search firm to assist in identifying candidates for both pivotal roles. The eyes of the college sports world will undoubtedly remain on Baton Rouge as LSU navigates this critical juncture.