Gov. Landry: Woodward ‘is not selecting the next coach’ at LSU

REUTERS/Carlos Barria/File Photo

By Hunt Palmer

LSU’s athletics director will not be hiring the next football coach, according to Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry.

Governor Jeff Landry says in no uncertain terms that Scott Woodward will NOT select the next LSU Football coach. pic.twitter.com/rdqh8tuSWp

— Matt Moscona (@MattMoscona) October 29, 2025

Gov. Landry held a press conference Wednesday and criticized Woodward for his time at Texas A&M and LSU, specifically the buyouts his football hires were contractually afforded.

“We are not going down a failed path,” Landry said. “Let me tell you something. The guy that’s here now (Woodward) that wrote that contract cost Texas A&M $70-something million dollars. Right now, (LSU’s) got a $53 million dollar liability.”

Landry is referencing Jimbo Fisher’s contract at Texas A&M and Brian Kelly’s at LSU. Both coaches were fired prior to their contracts expiring.

Woodward did ink Kelly to the 10-year $95 million deal that was terminated on Sunday. Woodward hired Fisher at Texas A&M in December of 2017. In 2021, after Woodward had been at LSU for two years, then Aggie Athletic Director Ross Bjork extended Fisher’s deal by four seasons and fully guaranteed the extension which doubled the buyout from $45.6 million to $95.6 million. Fisher ultimately got $76.8 million when he was fired in 2023.

Landry said Wednesday that the Board of Supervisors, which the Governor is in charge of appointing, would take the lead in the hiring of LSU’s next coach.

“The Board of Supervisors is going to come up with a committee, and they’re going to find us a coach.” Landry said. “I believe that we’re going to find a great coach. Maybe we’re going to let President Trump pick the coach. He loves winners. I’m not going to be picking the next coach. But I can promise you that we’re going to pick a coach, and we’re going to make sure that that coach is successful. We’re going to make sure that he’s compensated properly. We’re going to put metrics on it because I’m tired of rewarding failure in this country and then leaving the taxpayers to foot the bill.”

Because Landry had not mentioned Woodward by name in his answer, he was asked a follow up about the sitting athletic director and minced no words in his response.

“I can tell you right now, Scott Woodward is not selecting the next coach,” Landry said. “Hell, I’ll let Donald Trump select it before I let him do it.”