LSU sever the ties with Brian Kelly as Tigers fire their head coach after day-long buyout negotiations
Hours after we reported that LSU was in discussions to fire head coach Brian Kelly “imminently“, the Tigers officially cut the cord. LSU is now in negotiations to finalize a buyout number that was set to be at $54 million, and the final details of the move are ongoing. What’s final, though, is that Kelly’s […]
Hours after we reported that LSU was in discussions to fire head coach Brian Kelly “imminently“, the Tigers officially cut the cord. LSU is now in negotiations to finalize a buyout number that was set to be at $54 million, and the final details of the move are ongoing. What’s final, though, is that Kelly’s disastrous tenure at LSU is over.
The 64-year-old coach came from Notre Dame with the reputation of being a tough-nosed, old-school presence who struggled to get over the hump in big matchups. He was a strange culture fit at LSU from the jump, especially after following up guys with regional ties like Ed Orgeron, Les Miles, and Nick Saban. Unlike those three, Kelly leaves LSU without a National Championship ring.
Instead, he leaves with a fat wallet and embarrassment. He berated his players on the field countless times and deflected blame in press conferences. The Tigers will move on immediately and look to rebuild their image with one of the top coaches in the market for a move.
LSU Tigers fire Brian Kelly after blowout loss to Texas A&M
LSU will compete with the likes of Florida and Penn State for the best coaching candidates in the country. Lane Kiffin will surely get calls, and LSU feels like the best fit for him if he does depart Ole Miss. However, there’s still plenty of time for other jobs and more names to enter the fray.
It wouldn’t even be surprising if some NFL head coaches look to transition to the college game. Could you imagine Mike Tomlin or John Harbaugh in Baton Rouge? Who knows if it’s likely, but the Tigers must swing big and cast a wide, thorough net.
There’s no guarantee LSU’s best option will be a high-profile coach like Kelly was. James Franklin, for example, would be a poor fit. Jon Sumrall of Tulane, though, would be a Curt Cignetti-esque hire with local ties and a big personality to fit in.
Who do you want to see at LSU next? We’ll continue tracking leads and the latest whispers to keep you updated.
