LSU is firing fourth-year coach Brian Kelly, the varsity introduced Sunday night. The transfer comes after the Tigers didn’t ship on excessive expectations in a disappointing 2025 season. The 64-year-old Kelly is within the midst of a 5-3 season in Baton Rouge. His buyout of $50-plus million would be the second most ever paid to a school soccer coach.
“When Coach Kelly arrived at LSU 4 years in the past, we had excessive hopes that he would lead us to a number of SEC and nationwide championships throughout his time in Baton Rouge,” LSU athletic director Scott Woodward stated in a press release launched by the varsity. “Finally, the success on the stage that LSU calls for merely didn’t materialize, and I made the choice to make a change after final evening’s recreation. I’m grateful for the continued consultations and help of the LSU Board of Supervisors and Interim President Matt Lee on this determination. We want Coach Kelly and his household the easiest of their future endeavors. We are going to proceed to barter his separation and can work towards a path that’s higher for each events.”
A contentious Sunday of conferences in Baton Rouge culminated in Kelly’s exit. CBS Sports activities had beforehand reported that Kelly arrived on the soccer facility within the morning with the expectation of firing offensive coordinator Joe Sloan:
Kelly, 64, arrived on the facility round 8:30-8:45 a.m. native time intent on evaluating his workers and, in accordance with sources, exploring vital potential modifications to the teaching workers. By early afternoon, although, after a gathering with Woodward that didn’t go nicely, in accordance with sources, the dialog round Kelly’s future started to vary. A number of workers members informed CBS Sports activities that Kelly left the power shortly thereafter.
The day ends with Kelly’s ousting. Operating backs coach Frank Wilson would be the interim coach.
A 15-day switch portal window for LSU gamers will open 5 days after the Tigers rent their subsequent coach. (the NCAA’s single window for this cycle is Jan. 2-16).
The high-profile management change by Woodward, who made the splashy rent of Kelly in 2021, is the newest in what has already been a whirlwind of a training carousel cycle. LSU jumps towards the entrance of the road of packages in search of a home-run rent, together with Penn State, Florida, Virginia Tech and quite a few others on the Energy 4 stage.
Woodward, by the best way, is similar AD who employed Jimbo Fisher to Texas A&M — setting the stage for Fisher to obtain an all-time-rich $76.8 million buyout. Louisiana governor Jeff Landry was concerned within the deliberations, sources informed CBS Sports activities. Landry referred to as out the soccer program after Saturday evening’s 49-25 loss to Texas A&M, tweeting that LSU wanted to “rethink their actions to lift ticket costs for subsequent yr after tonight’s exhibiting!”
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With its sights set on reaching the Faculty Soccer Playoff, LSU invested closely in its roster by way of the switch portal and loaded up on expertise with the No. 1-ranked class within the cycle, per 247Sports. That recruiting push indicated LSU was all-in on competing for an SEC championship and its first CFP berth of the Kelly period.
The Tigers’ protection improved considerably with the inflow of instant-impact playmakers, however in a reversal from earlier years, it was the offense that struggled to carry up its finish of the cut price this season. LSU is averaging its fewest factors per recreation since 2009 and its fewest yards per recreation since 2011.
To fall wanting lofty expectations, and to take action for a fourth time in as a few years, was the ultimate straw for Kelly to finish his reign in Baton Rouge. The angst across the LSU program reached palpable ranges with the Week 9 loss to No. 3 Texas A&M. Chants of “Fireplace Kelly” echoed all through Tiger Stadium as LSU squandered a halftime lead and fell in blowout vogue to the Aggies in a 49-25 loss. LSU has a bye this weekend after which performs at rival Alabama.
LSU’s recruiting class for the 2026 cycle ranks No. 11 general, per 247Sports. In 2025 the Bayou Bengals signed a No. 7 class that ranked increased earlier than the decommitment from No. 1 recruit Bryce Underwood, who has began each recreation at QB for Michigan this fall.
Kelly’s buyout ranks among the many largest in faculty soccer. Packages haven’t been deterred by colossal buyouts on this hectic cycle, although, and LSU is the newest to eat a large chunk of cash to make a change. The athletic division owes Kelly greater than $52 million for parting methods with him throughout the season. The buyout requires Kelly to obtain 90% of the wage owed by way of the rest of his contract, which measures $52,380,000 at season’s finish.
Most costly buyouts in faculty soccer historical past
| Rank | Coach | Faculty | Buyout |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jimbo Fisher | Texas A&M | $76.8 million |
| 2 | Brian Kelly | LSU | $53.8 million |
| 3 | James Franklin | Penn State | $49 million |
| 4 | Gus Malzahn | Auburn | $21.4 million |
| 5 | Billy Napier | Florida | $21.2 million |
| 6 | Charlie Weis | Notre Dame | $18.9 million |
| 7 | Willie Taggart | Florida State | $18 million |
| 8 | Ed Orgeron | LSU | $16.9 million |
| 9 | Tom Allen | Indiana | $15.5 million |
| 10 | Tom Herman | Texas | $15.4 million |
As a result of LSU fired Kelly in the course of the marketing campaign, it should additionally pay him 90% of the remaining $9.4 million wage owed for the 2025 season.
Who’s subsequent at LSU?
Any teaching search that Scott Woodward has his palms on ought to contain a slew of big-hitters. For higher or worse, that is the kind of rent he goes after. That is why names like Lane Kiffin and James Franklin are within the checklist of LSU’s candidates, in accordance with CBS Sports activities’ Chris Hummer. Three main wild playing cards will draw consideration, although.
- Jimbo Fisher: I do know suggesting Fisher right here appears absurd. However keep in mind it is Woodward who employed Fisher at Texas A&M and believed in him to such a level he gave Fisher a traditionally profitable contract to lure him from Florida State. Fisher’s star has clearly dimmed. However Woodward actively pursued Fisher when he carried out LSU’s search in 2021. Fisher has deep ties to LSU and is a nationwide championship-winning coach. It is a marriage that makes a variety of sense in case you can ignore Fisher’s final two seasons in Faculty Station.
- Dabo Swinney: Swinney is amid his worst season as Clemson’s head coach since 2010. May Woodward comply with his Texas A&M playbook and lure a nationwide champion to Baton Rouge? Swinney is a confirmed program builder and would appear to slot in at LSU culturally in a means Kelly by no means managed to. If Swinney needs a recent begin, you would choose a lot worse locations than Baton Rouge to take action. However like Fisher, you could marvel if Swinney could be an attractive sufficient rent at this level in his profession.
- Nick Saban: It was solely earlier this week when Saban stated, “I wish to keep retired.” But when there was a non-Alabama job that might tempt Saban, it would be LSU, the place he received his first nationwide championship. Would he take the job if supplied? In all probability not. However Woodward’s historical past tells you he’ll no less than ask.
Breakthrough season evades Brian Kelly
LSU is a proud program with nationwide championship expectations (its three prior coaches received one) and thus confronted inherent threat when it employed Kelly forward of the 2022 season. The longtime Notre Dame coach didn’t recover from the championship hump at his earlier spot and solely as soon as reached the CFP. The identical troubles adopted him to LSU and have been in the end what spelled the tip of his tenure.
By no means did the Tigers win greater than 9 regular-season video games beneath Kelly’s management. They often hovered close to SEC title rivalry however commonly fell simply quick, dropping no less than two convention video games in every of Kelly’s 4 years on the helm. Significantly irritating for the Tiger devoted was to see this system fall wanting championships regardless of a terrific run on the quarterback spot with Heisman Trophy-winner Jayden Daniels and future NFL Draft choose Garrett Nussmeier.
LSU peaked at No. 3 within the AP High 25 this season, reaching its highest rating of the Kelly period. The Tigers climbed into the highest 10 in every of his 4 years, indicating that they typically got here near incomes a playoff berth however had their hopes dashed by premature losses.
Brian Kelly faces crossroads in teaching profession
One of many greatest questions going through Kelly shifting ahead is whether or not he’ll search a brand new job or hit the pause or cease buttons on his profession. The 64-year-old could have his choose of a number of jobs given the widespread motion on the teaching carousel however might additionally emerge as a extra engaging goal in future cycles if he takes break day.
If Kelly have been to spend the 2026 season away from the sidelines, it could mark his first yr and not using a head teaching job since 1990, earlier than he made his debut. That is the primary time in Kelly’s profession that he has been fired. He left every of his earlier stops — Grand Valley State, Central Michigan, Cincinnati and Notre Dame — to simply accept presents elsewhere.
Kelly went 34-14 at LSU and has a profession mark of 297-109-2 spanning all of his 5 jobs. He received two Division II nationwide championships at Grand Valley State and reached the BCS Nationwide Championship Recreation as soon as throughout his Notre Dame tenure.
2025 teaching carousel spinning at historic fee
Kelly is the twelfth head coach fired this yr and is the tenth in-season. The ten coaches fired earlier than November is essentially the most within the FBS period (since 1978).
Moreover, Kelly is the eighth energy convention head coach fired this season. Solely 4 of that selection have been canned a yr in the past. The present variety of eight — and there is a methods to go — is essentially the most since 2022.
LSU is high job accessible on teaching carousel
Previous to Kelly, the three most up-to-date LSU head coaches had all received nationwide championships. That is why it has to high Florida for the perfect job in the marketplace. As CBS Sports activities’ Shehan Jeyarajah writes:
This system has recruited itself within the twenty first Century because of its virtually magical connection to the state of Louisiana, which ranks among the many high talent-producing states within the nation. Something you’ll be able to’t discover within the state, yow will discover a brief jaunt away to Houston. Previous to Kelly, the final three coaches received nationwide championships with this system. There are some gentle questions on whether or not LSU is ready to compete on the zenith of financial funding throughout faculty soccer, however it is a job that does not simply have championship upside — they’ve championship expectations.
247Sports’ Brandon Huffman likewise ranks LSU No. 1 amongst accessible jobs, saying “despite the fact that the Sunshine State has extra expertise, LSU retains whoever it needs residence.”
