LSU alum and Baton Rouge native Scott Woodward is no longer the athletics director at LSU after Governor Landry said he did not want Woodward to hire the next football coach. It was announced on Thursday night that Woodward and the LSU Board of Supervisors mutually agreed to party ways. LSU Board of Supervisors member John Carmouche denies that Landry had anything to do with Woodward’s departure.
“His concern had to do with the state contract. LSU Board of Supervisors and Mr. Woodward decided jointly to part ways,” Carmouche said.
Woodward still had three years left on his contract and LSU owes him $6 million.
LSU Board Chairman Scott Ballard says a lot of factors went the decision to move on from Scott Woodward.
“It was a mutual agreement after conversations with all the things that come into that: energy and family and what you’re doing, and nothing’s off the table of why Scott and LSU had a mutual agreement,” Ballard said.
Woodward spent six years as LSU’s athletics director and LSU won six titles during his leadership. He hired three coaches that won national championships; Jay Johnson, Kim Mulkey and Jay Clark.
But Landry was upset with the contract Woodward gave to Kelly and the $54 million buyout Kelly could receive as a result of his firing. The governor has said state taxpayers may have to pay that cost, if private donors do not step up. But Carmouche disagrees with Landry’s claim the state is liable.
“The governor had a right to be concerned, and we’re working towards solutions. Everything’s on the table. But let me make it clear: The state has never, and the taxpayers have never paid for a coach, and never will,” Carmouche noted.
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