On Oct. 26, LSU decided to fire head coach Brian Kelly a day after a disastrous 49-25 loss to No. 3 Texas A&M at home that dropped the program to 5-3.
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In 2021, the Tigers gave Kelly a 10-year contract worth $95 million. The hope was that the former Notre Dame head coach could turn LSU into an annual College Football Playoff contender.
Instead, the school is on the hook for a buyout of nearly $53 million before he finished his fourth season in Baton Rouge.
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Per an open records request obtained by WAFB 9, the firing email between Kelly and LSU shows the head coach’s willingness to negotiate the terms of his buyout. He also thanked LSU Athletics administrators Verge Ausberry, Julie Cromer, and Austin Thomas for allowing him to coach the Tigers.
“As we discussed in our meeting, I’m open to your desire to reach a settlement of what’s owed to me under the contract, although of course it would have to make sense financially,” Kelly wrote.
Despite your decision to let me go today, I am grateful to have had the opportunity to lead this program over the last four years and wish you all the best going forward. Best, Brian.”
The settlement has reportedly not been finalized, and there is speculation that the matter could go to court.
Last week, Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry called Kelly’s contract and buyout a “failed path” and suggested that the buyout could be paid with taxpayers’ money.
“We are not going down a failed path,” Landry said. “I want to tell you something. This is a pattern. The guy that’s here now that wrote that contract (athletic director Scott Woodward) cost Texas A&M $70-something million. Right now, we’ve got a $53 million liability. We are not doing that again.”
Kelly’s email to Woodward, Ausberry, Cromer and Thomas included a few housekeeping items, including the return of possessions to the proper parties.
“Sending a quick note to confirm that following my termination during our meeting today, I will return all LSU materials in my possession as required by my contract,” Kelly wrote. “Let me know if it’s better for me to clean out my office, or if you would prefer to pack everything up and send it to me.
“I assume HR will be in touch regarding any other housekeeping matters out there, but let me know if you need anything else from me in the meantime.”
Kelly went 34-14 overall and 19-10 in SEC play during his time at LSU. With a contract valued at $95 million, that adds up to approximately $2.97 million per win.
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