LSU officially terminates former coach Brian Kelly and agrees to pay him full buyout following legal dispute

Brian Kelly has concluded his legal dispute with LSU, as the university formally terminated him and agreed to pay his full buyout. LSU delivered a termination letter on Wednesday, stating that Kelly was dismissed without cause, according to Yahoo Sports journalist Ross Dellenger.

The university confirmed that it will pay Kelly $54 million over six years, provided he makes a good-faith, reasonable and sustained effort to secure another coaching position. Should he find a new role, the buyout could be partially offset.

Kellys separation from LSU initially occurred on October 26, after a home loss to Texas A&M that left the team at 5-3 and essentially out of College Football Playoff contention. During his four seasons with LSU, Kelly compiled a 34-14 record.

Initially, LSU contested Kellys buyout, which would rank as the second-largest in college football history if fully paid. The university claimed it had not formally terminated him and sought to dismiss him for cause. At the time, former LSU athletic director Scott Woodward described Kellys dismissal as performance-related, citing unmet expectations for SEC and national championships. Woodward was dismissed shortly afterward and faced criticism from Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry, who stated he would not participate in hiring Kellys replacement.

Earlier this month, Kelly filed a lawsuit to secure his full buyout, noting that LSUs legal actions had made it nearly impossible for him to obtain another coaching position. Meanwhile, LSU is actively pursuing Kellys successor, reportedly preparing a multi-million-dollar offer for Ole Miss head coach Lane Kiffin.

Despite his challenges at LSU, Kelly remains a highly regarded coach in college football. Before joining LSU for the 2022 season, he spent 12 years at Notre Dame. With several high-profile coaching openings expected after the regular season concludes, Kelly is positioned to continue advancing his career following his departure from LSU.

Author: Sophia Brooks