LSU, Scott Woodward Part Ways After Brian Kelly Firing, Louisiana Governor's Comments

LSU Athletics and athletic director Scott Woodward have agreed to part ways, effective immediately, the department announced Thursday.

Executive deputy athletic director Verge Ausberry will serve as interim director of athletics moving forward.

"We thank Scott for the last six years of service as athletic director," Scott Ballard, Board of Supervisors Chair, said in a statement. "He had a lot of success at LSU, and we wish him nothing but the best in the future. Our focus now is on moving the athletic department forward and best positioning LSU to achieve its full potential."

Woodward addressed the news in his own statement Thursday:

The move comes after Ross Dellenger of Yahoo Sports reported LSU and Woodward were finalizing an exit agreement.

Woodward's departure comes just one day after Louisiana governor Jeff Landry issued scathing remarks on Woodward in the aftermath of LSU firing head coach Brian Kelly and issuing a $54 million buyout, to the point where he said he wouldn't hire the team's next football head coach.

Landry told reporters that the "Board of Supervisors is going to come up with a committee and they are going to find us a coach."

LSU Board of Supervisor's chair Scott Ballard was asked about those remarks. He said he hadn't heard those comments but then said that his group would get the job done.

Woodward was hired as LSU's athletic director in 2019. He's hired some coaches who have led the Tigers to national championships, including Kim Mulkey (women's basketball), Jay Johnson (baseball) and Jay Clark (women's gymnastics). In short, it's hard to ignore that Woodward's hires have led to great success throughout the athletics program.

However,, Woodward also hired Kelly, who showed some promise early on after a solid 10-win season in 2022 (following a six-win season in the year prior to his arrival). However, Kelly's teams went in the wrong direction as his tenure went on, and this year began with a 5-3 record (2-3 SEC) capped by an ugly 49-25 loss vs. No. 3 Texas A&M.

Football is also king at LSU, and it's clear Gov. Landry isn't pleased with the team's recent results or the massive buyout. Apparently, Gov. Landry also has an issue with Woodward, per Dellenger.

"He's got it out for him," a "leading Louisiana political figure with knowledge of their relationship" told Dellenger. "This governor picks fights and he never forgets a slight."

The governor also apparently had an issue with Woodward not re-hiring ex-men's basketball head coach Will Wade (h/t Aaron Torres of Fox Sports Radio).

Now Woodward's time at LSU is coming to an end after the governor's very public remarks.