LSU interim athletic director Verge Ausberry was given “full authority” to rent the subsequent Tigers soccer coach by the varsity’s board of supervisors on Friday, punctuating a frenetic week in Baton Rouge that included the departures of head coach Brian Kelly and the AD who employed him.
Ausberry and board members John Carmouche and Scott Ballard met with reporters for about 10 minutes, trying to current a peaceful and united entrance two days after Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry blasted now-former athletic director Scott Woodward and tasked the board with discovering a brand new soccer coach for LSU.
Ausberry stated his focus was on “stabilizing” LSU athletics.
“LSU shouldn’t be damaged,” stated Ausberry, a former LSU soccer participant and longtime athletics administrator on the college. “LSU athletic division shouldn’t be damaged.”
LSU introduced Thursday night time that it had mutually parted methods with Woodward, who gave Kelly a 10-year, $95 million contract after which fired the coach on Sunday, lower than 4 full seasons into the deal. Kelly remains to be owed $53 million.
Earlier within the week, Landry criticized the deal and urged LSU athletics ought to rethink how future contracts are structured.
Woodward additionally has a $6 million contract buyout.
“The governor was not concerned,” Carmouche stated of Woodward’s departure. “The governor is fearful in regards to the state of Louisiana. His concern needed to do with the state contract.”
Ballard stated the state and taxpayers are usually not and have by no means been on the hook for athletic division contracts, that are funded by athletics income and donor contributions.
“It doesn’t come from state {dollars} which might be allotted towards different issues,” Ballard stated.
Ausberry downplayed any concern that Landry’s feedback about LSU altering the way in which it does enterprise would restrict candidates for the teaching job.
“Our job, I used to be advised, was to get the perfect soccer coach there’s, and don’t fear about that in any respect,” Ausberry stated.
Kelly was fired Sunday after a 49-25 loss to Texas A&M at Tiger Stadium dropped LSU’s file to 5-3. Ausberry stated he was on the sphere in the course of the sport, staring into the stands at empty seats and suites as followers poured out between the third and fourth quarters.
“This program can’t have apathy,” Ausberry stated.
LSU interim AD Verge Ausberry: “LSU must be within the playoff yearly in soccer.”
— Ralph D. Russo (@ralphDrussoATH) October 31, 2025
The Tigers have 4 video games left, together with at No. 4 Alabama on Nov. 8, with Frank Wilson main the crew as interim coach.
LSU additionally at the moment has an interim college president, although the board is anticipated to select from three finalists subsequent week. Board members stated the presidential course of wouldn’t gradual the teaching search and per week’s value of volatility wouldn’t be an impediment in attracting high quality candidates.
Ausberry stated a search committee is being fashioned that may embody Ballard and Carmouche to help within the search.
“We’re LSU. Our cellphone remains to be ringing,” Ausberry stated. “It’s probably the greatest jobs within the nation. It’s the finest job within the nation right now. I don’t see any issues bringing the correct individual to LSU.”
