LSU Fires Athletic Director Amid Feud With Louisiana Governor

March 23, 2022: LSU Athletic Director Scott Woodward address the crowd as new LSU Head Basketball Coach Matt McMahon holds his first press conference and meets with the media for the first time at Tiger Stadium’s Bill Lawton Room in Baton Rouge, LA. Jonathan Mailhes/CSM(Credit Image: © Jonathan Mailhes/CSM via ZUMA Press Wire) (Cal Sport Media via AP Images)

The LSU athletic department on Wednesday evening announced that it had made the decision to let go of athletic director Scott Woodward.

Days earlier, Woodward fired LSU football coach Brian Kelly following a disastrous loss to Texas A&M. Then Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry suddenly got involved when he announced that Woodward would not be selecting the team’s next head coach. Landry stated that taxpayers were responsible for Kelly’s salary, making it a matter that the state should be concerned with. In his press conference, the governor also openly trashed the athletic director.

On Wednesday, LSU released a statement announcing Woodward’s departure:

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

Woodward, a Baton Rouge native and LSU alumnus, began his tenure as Director of Athletics at his alma mater in April 2019.

“We thank Scott for the last six years of service as athletic director,” said Scott Ballard, Board of Supervisors Chair. “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.”

In Woodward’s place, the statement continued, executive deputy athletic director Verge Ausberry will serve as interim AD.