Top college football coach job rankings
The Snap previously ranked the top four head coaching candidates in college football, including LSU, Penn State, Florida State and the University of Arkansas.
Days after LSU fired football coach Brian Kelly, athletic director Scott Woodward is leaving the university following disparaging comments from the Louisiana governor.
The school announced his departure in a release Thursday. Associate Athletic Director Verge Ausberry will serve as interim athletic director and lead the search for Kelly’s replacement.
“We would like to thank Mr. Scott for his service as athletic director over the past six years,” LSU Board of Supervisors Chairman Scott Ballard said in a statement. “He has had a lot of success at LSU, and we wish him the best in his future endeavors. Our focus now is to move the athletic department forward and put LSU in the best position to reach its full potential.”
The decision followed remarks from Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry, who criticized Woodward’s decision-making. Woodward was the one who hired Kelly in 2021, but LSU owed Kelly about $54 million after a rather disappointing tenure that ended with the coach being fired on Oct. 26. Both parties are currently considering the exact acquisition method.
Landry told reporters that Woodward will not be part of LSU’s search for its next coach because of the large-scale acquisition. He also noted that Woodward hired Jimbo Fisher during his time at Texas A&M, resulting in a $77 million buyout when he was fired in 2023 (though Woodward was not responsible for that number; current Ohio State AD Ross Bjork is writing Fisher’s contract extension).
“I can tell you right now, Scott Woodward hasn’t chosen the next head coach. Hell, I’m going to let Donald Trump choose before I decide,” Landry said. “The Board of Supervisors is going to form a committee and go find us a coach.”
Landry reportedly played a role in LSU’s firing of Kelly and is credited with appointing nine of the 18 supervisory board members who will lead the search for a new coach.
Woodward, a Baton Rouge, Louisiana native and LSU graduate, has been the Tigers’ athletic director since 2019. During his tenure, he hired women’s basketball coach Kim Mulkey and baseball coach Jay Johnson, both of whom won national championships at LSU.
Before arriving at LSU, Woodward served as athletic director at Texas A&M from 2016-2019 and at Washington from 2008-2016.
