EXCLUSIVE: LSU clarifies Ausberry’s role as AD

By Matt Moscona

LSU is moving forward with Verge Ausberry as the school’s athletic director.

“Verge Ausberry is THE athletic director at LSU. Period,” a source within the president’s office told LouisianaSports.net. “There is no intent or desire to play word games with this issue. Athletics needs a stable hand at the helm, and that is Verge Ausberry. Verge is fully empowered to find our next football coach and to run the athletic department.”

The source said there are no plans to conduct a search for a new athletic director once the football coach is hired.

Rousse posted a photo with Ausberry on his X account. The two were on the Tiger Stadium field.

I just had a terrific meeting with LSU’s AD Verge Ausberry. I can’t wait to get to work with him and our world-class athletic department! Now, let’s beat ‘bama this weekend! Geaux Tigers!! pic.twitter.com/zkD08YcCMn

— LSU System President Dr. Wade Rousse (@LSUpresident) November 6, 2025

Hours after being selected by the LSU Board of Supervisors as the new system president, Dr. Wade Rousse removed the interim tag from Ausberry’s title. A day later in an interview with the Louisiana Illuminator, Rousse appeared to backtrack.

I asked incoming #LSU President Wade Rousse on decision to name Verge Ausberry the permanent AD. “I’ll remove the interim [title] and then we’ll assess the situation. I can’t make a very good decision after being on that on the job for eight hours…”

— Piper Hutchinson (@ByPiperHutch) November 5, 2025

“Dr. Rousse has been consistent that he will demand excellence at LSU – across every department and for every employee, and each of us will be evaluated based on our performance,” the source said. “That is the sentiment he intended to convey, but clearly did not communicate it well.”

Rousse is tentatively set to begin his tenure at LSU on November 17.

LSU is searching for a new head football coach after firing Brian Kelly amid his fourth season at the helm in Baton Rouge.