The LSU board of supervisors Friday authorized new school president Wade Rousse to send former coach Brian Kelly written notice that he has been fired, the first step in its response to a lawsuit that Kelly filed against the board.
In the lawsuit, Kelly said LSU has taken the position that it did not “formally terminate” him because Woodward did not have the authority to do so. The lawsuit seeks a declaratory judgment that Kelly has been fired without cause and is owed his full buyout of nearly $54 million.
Carmouche is the chair of the athletics committee and has been a key figure in the buyout negotiations with Kelly’s representatives. The request was passed without an objection. Carmouche, Rousse and board chair Scott Ballard declined further comment.
Kelly was dismissed as LSU’s head coach Oct. 26, the day after a 49-25 home loss to Texas A&M. Then-athletic director Scott Woodward said in a statement at the time “ultimately, the success at the level that LSU demands simply did not materialize, and I made the decision to make a change after last night’s game.”
Woodward and the school parted ways four days later after Gov. Jeff Landry criticized Woodward in a public news conference and said he would not hire the next head coach.