Ex-LSU Coach Brian Kelly Files Lawsuit Against School for $54M Buyout
Former LSU football coach Brian Kelly is taking legal action against the university, claiming he is owed nearly $54 million in buyout compensation after being allegedly terminated without cause on October 26.
The university asserts that Kelly, 64, was not officially terminated and claims to possess grounds for his dismissal, as reported in a petition for declaratory judgment acquired by ESPN on Tuesday, November 10. Should this hold true, LSU would not be obligated to pay Kelly the aforementioned buyout.
Kelly’s lawsuit seeks “a declaratory judgment confirming that LSU’s termination of [him] is without cause and that [he] is entitled to receive the full liquidated damages detailed in (his contract).”
LSU contends that then-athletic director Scott Woodward lacked the authority to terminate Kelly’s contract or negotiate its terms, indicating that he was never officially dismissed without cause.
The university, which terminated Woodward just four days following Kelly’s dismissal, has not clarified the specific reasons for its attempt to terminate Kelly for cause. His contract, as shared with Us Weekly, lists potential grounds including NCAA violations, felony convictions, or “serious misconduct.”
“Coach Kelly’s representatives have informed LSU that Coach Kelly disagrees with each of LSU’s new positions,” the legal filing notes, “including (i) the assertion that he has not been terminated, (ii) that then-Athletic Director Woodward lacked authority (in a meeting attended by several LSU athletics officials, including the current Athletics Director Ausberry), and (iii) that there are grounds for a termination with cause (or that LSU could fabricate any such grounds post-termination), necessitating this action.”
According to Kelly’s contract, if terminated without cause, he is entitled to 90% of his base salary along with all remaining supplemental compensation. His current contract is valid until 2031.
LSU relieved the seasoned head coach after the Tigers suffered a 49-25 loss to Texas A&M, marking a 5-3 season record. They have also succumbed to Alabama under interim head coach Frank Wilson.
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Kelly was in his fourth season as LSU’s head coach, having guided the Tigers to three successive bowl victories and an appearance in the 2022 SEC championship game.
“We had high expectations that [Kelly] would lead us to multiple SEC and national championships during his tenure in Baton Rouge,” Woodward stated in a release at the time, announcing a “leadership change” in the football program. “Ultimately, the success at the level that LSU demands simply did not materialize.”
The week following Kelly’s alleged firing, The Athletic reached out to several former players and staff members, who criticized Kelly for not being sufficiently invested in the program for someone under a 10-year, $95 million contract.
“You need to approach your players differently,” former Tigers player Charles Turner remarked during an interview published on October 31. “You have to show your players that you truly support them.”
“The effort isn’t there,” one staff member observed, “especially in comparison to what this place stands for and against our competition. We consistently had to recruit around him.”
