Additional Coverage:
LSU Officially Fires Brian Kelly “Without Cause,” Owes $54 Million
BATON ROUGE, LA – The saga surrounding Brian Kelly’s departure from Louisiana State University has reached a definitive conclusion, as the university officially informed him Wednesday that he has been fired “without cause.” This decision means LSU is now on the hook for the full $54 million remaining on Kelly’s contract.
Kelly was initially relieved of his duties on October 26, with public statements from LSU at the time implying the dismissal was performance-related. However, subsequent weeks saw a shift in the university’s stance, particularly after pointed comments from Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry regarding the financial implications of Kelly’s contract.
On Wednesday evening, new LSU President Wade Rousse sent a signed letter confirming Kelly will be owed the liquidated damages as stipulated in his contract. The agreement also places an onus on Kelly to make “good-faith, reasonable, and sustained efforts to obtain qualifying employment for as long as liquidated damages are due” for the remaining six years of the deal.
The ambiguity surrounding the firing prompted Kelly’s lawyers to file a petition for a declaratory judgment. In that filing, Kelly’s legal team stated that unspecified LSU officials had previously indicated Kelly had not been “formally terminated.”
The attorneys also pushed back against claims they said LSU officials had raised: that Kelly hadn’t been terminated, that then-athletic director Scott Woodward lacked the authority to fire him, and that there were no grounds for termination with cause. The legal filing further outlined how LSU failed to follow proper contractual procedures if it had attempted to pivot to a “for cause” termination.
This resolution comes as LSU is reportedly at a critical stage in its pursuit of Ole Miss coach Lane Kiffin, who is expected to announce his decision this weekend. Despite Governor Landry’s previous strong objections to guaranteeing large sums of money in coaching contracts – stating, “We are not doing that again” – LSU appears ready to offer a significant guaranteed amount to Kiffin should he choose to leave Ole Miss.
Since Kelly’s exit, LSU has seen leadership changes, with Wade Rousse taking over as president and Verge Ausberry promoted to athletic director. Kelly has expressed his desire to return to coaching next year.