LSU’s blowout loss to Texas A&M was the final straw for Brian Kelly in Baton Rouge.
Kelly has been fired as LSU’s head coach, the school announced Sunday after multiple reports emerged that it was moving from its head coach. Frank Wilson, LSU’s associate head coach and running backs coach, will serve as the interim head coach, LSU also announced.
Kelly was in the middle of his fourth season with the program, posting a 34-14 record during his tenure.
“When Coach Kelly arrived at LSU four years ago, we had high hopes that he would lead us to multiple SEC and national championships during his time in Baton Rouge,” LSU athletic director Scott Woodward said in a statement. “Ultimately, the success at the level that LSU demands simply did not materialize, and I made the decision to make a change after last night’s game.
“I am grateful for the ongoing consultations and support of the LSU Board of Supervisors and Interim President Matt Lee in this decision. We wish Coach Kelly and his family the very best in their future endeavors. We will continue to negotiate his separation and will work toward a path that is better for both parties.”
While Kelly’s record as LSU’s head coach was 20 games over .500, the Tigers struggled to compete at college football’s highest level with him at the helm. LSU didn’t reach the College Football Playoff in each of Kelly’s first three seasons, and Saturday’s loss likely knocked the Tigers out of playoff contention as they fell to 5-3 on the year.
Saturday’s loss marked LSU’s third straight loss to a ranked opponent. It fell to 13th-ranked Ole Miss (24-19), 17th-ranked Vanderbilt (31-24) and third-ranked Texas A&M (49-25) in each of its last three games. Those losses dropped Kelly’s record against opponents to 4-11 during his time at LSU.
“As a proud alum, and as the current caretaker of our athletics programs, I will not compromise in our pursuit of excellence and we will not lower our standards,” Woodward said. “I continue to believe that LSU is the best football program in America and that our head coach position is among the best considering our investment, our ability to attract and retain talent, our unbelievable fans, and our institutional and statewide commitment to — and love for –– LSU Football.”
Before Kelly’s last loss ended, LSU fans were chanting, “Fire Kelly!” Those fans’ wishes have been granted, but it’ll cost the program a pretty penny to move on from Kelly. LSU will owe Kelly $53,293,333, according to USA Today’s database. That makes the firing of Kelly the second-costliest buyout in college football history, surpassing the near-$50 million mark for Penn State after it fired James Franklin earlier in October. Texas A&M’s firing of Jimbo Fisher in 2023 remains the most costly firing ($77 million).
The pay for Kelly’s buyout would be made in monthly payments and offset by his next job in football, unless he and LSU negotiated a different payment structure upon his firing, The Athletic reported.
LSU poached Kelly from Notre Dame in a seemingly unprecedented move in the college football coaching landscape in November 2021. At the time, Kelly said he felt he had a better chance to compete at the highest level and win a national championship at LSU than Notre Dame, where he went 113-40 over 12 seasons as head coach (including vacated wins). Kelly also helped the Fighting Irish play in the national championship game in 2012 and reached the College Football Playoff twice (0-2).
As Kelly has floundered in big games at LSU, Marcus Freeman has flourished at Notre Dame. The Fighting Irish reached the national championship game last season in a surprise playoff run and appear poised to make the College Football Playoff again in 2025, adding to the angst among LSU fans.
Now, LSU will look for a coach who will have similar success to Freeman in big games. It’ll also likely be one of the top head coach openings, if not the top opening, in this season’s coaching carousel due to the program’s history and resources. Prior to Kelly, each of LSU’s last three head coaches had led the Tigers to a national title.
LSU will “immediately begin a national search for a new head football coach,” Woodward said.
“I am confident in our ability to bring to Baton Rouge an outstanding leader, teacher and coach, who fits our culture and community and who embraces the excellence that we demand,” Woodward said.
“While there will certainly be speculation and reports on candidates and the process, together we will celebrate and welcome a new coach at the appropriate time. I urge all in the LSU community to continue to support our student-athletes and coaches as they compete the rest of the season.”
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