LSU selects Wade Rousse as new president

By Matt Moscona

The LSU Board of Supervisors has selected Wade Rousse as the school’s next president. He replaces William Tate who left for the same position at Rutgers last May.

Rousse had been considered the overwhelming favorite to land the job thanks to the backing of Gov. Jeff Landry.

Big day for @LSU! Excited to welcome President Wade Rousse and Baton Rouge Campus Provost and Chancellor Jim Dalton to our flagship university. Thank you to the LSU Board of Supervisors for your leadership throughout this process. This new structure allows LSU to meet the demands…

— Governor Jeff Landry (@LAGovJeffLandry) November 4, 2025

The Board voted 12-1 in favor of Rousse with only Laurie Lipsey Aronson voting against the hire.

The Board also announced Alabama Provost Jim Dalton as the Chancellor of the LSU campus, the first since the president and chancellor roles were merged in 2012.

The hire comes at a crucial time in LSU athletics. Following head football coach Brian Kelly’s firing and athletic director Scott Woodward’s departure, there was an obvious leadership void. Rousse will select a permanent athletic director and will likely join the search committee to hire Kelly’s replacement.

Verge Ausberry is currently serving as interim AD and has been given authority by the Board to hire the school’s next football coach.