Louisiana Governor Floats Letting Donald Trump Pick LSU’s New Football Coach After Brian Kelly’s Firing

Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry says he’d rather have former President Donald Trump choose Louisiana State University’s next football coach than let the school’s athletic director, Scott Woodward, make the decision.

Speaking to reporters on Wednesday, Oct. 29, the 54-year-old governor made his feelings clear about the search for a new coach following LSU’s recent firing of Brian Kelly.

The university dismissed Kelly on Sunday, Oct. 26, one day after a 49-25 loss to Texas A&M at home. The Tigers have dropped three of their past four games, falling to 5-3 for the season. Kelly’s four-year record ends at 34-14.

“No, I can tell you right now Scott Woodward is not selecting our next coach,” Landry said, referencing the athletic director’s decision to give Kelly a 10-year, $95 million contract — a deal that could now require LSU to pay a $54 million buyout.

“Maybe we’ll let President Trump pick it,” Landry added. “He loves winners.”

Trump attended multiple LSU games during his presidency, including the LSU-Alabama matchup in November 2019 and the 2020 national championship against Clemson.

Although Landry clarified that he wouldn’t personally choose the next coach, he promised the hire would be made carefully: “I can promise you we’re gonna pick a coach and we’re gonna make sure that coach is successful.”

He also voiced frustration over the financial burden left by failed hires. “I’m tired of rewarding failure in this country and then leaving the taxpayers to foot the bill,” he said.

The governor pointed out that part of Kelly’s salary was publicly funded, since LSU is a state university. “I was not happy that we were raising ticket prices while having a losing season and paying a coach $100 million without the results,” he said.

“Right now, we’ve got a $53 million liability. We are not doing that again,” Landry continued. “And you know what? I believe that we’re gonna find a great coach.”

Landry confirmed that LSU’s Board of Supervisors will form a selection committee to oversee the hiring process, and that he has requested Woodward not be involved.

He said the next coach will be compensated fairly, but with clear performance goals. “We’re going to make sure the next contract makes sense. We’re done writing blank checks,” Landry explained.

The governor emphasized he has no personal animosity toward Kelly. “Now, look, I have no animus against Brian Kelly. I don’t dislike Brian Kelly,” he said. “But I think it had gotten to the point where the spirit of the team needed a change.”

Unlike his predecessors Nick Saban, Les Miles and Ed Orgeron, Kelly did not secure a national championship in his first four seasons at LSU.